ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

EXPERIMENT 3: Darlington and Cascode Amplifier Circuits

Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Activity

a. ability to apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve
engineering problems
b. ability to design and conduct fieldworks, as well as to analyse and
interpret data
c. ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
d. ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice

Activity’s Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)

At the end of this activity, the student shall be able to:
a. identify parameters of a Darlington Configuration
b. calculate different standards of a Cascode Amplifier circuits
c. evaluate the precision of the experiment conducted

OBJECTIVE

-To measure DC and AC voltages in Darlington and cascode connection circuits.

EQUIPMENTS

Instruments

Oscilloscope
DMM
Function Generator
DC Supply

Components

Resistors
100-Ω 5.6-kΩ
51-Ω, 1 W 6.8-kΩ
1-kΩ 50-kΩ pot
1.8-kΩ 100-kΩ
4.7-kΩ
 Capacitors

0.001-µF
(4) 10-µF

Transistors

(2) 2N3904, (or equivalent general purpose npn.)

TIP120 (npn Darlington)

RESUME OF THEORY

Darlington Circuit: A Darlington connection (as shown in fig. 23.1) provides a pair of
BJT transistors in a single IC package with effective beta (βD) equal to the product of the
individual transistor betas.

βD= β1 β2

The Darlington emitter-follower has higher input impedance than that of an emitter-
follower. The Darlington emitter-follower input impedance is

Zi=RBII(βDRE)

The output impedance of the Darlington emitter-follower is

Zo=re

The voltage gain of a Darlington emitter-follower circuit is

Av=R E/(R E+re)

Cascode Circuit: A cascode circuit, as shown in fig. 23.2, provides a common-emitter

amplifier using Q1 directly connected to a common-base amplifier using Q 2. The voltage
gain of stage Q1 is approximately 1, with the voltage V o1 being opposite in polarity to that
applied as Vi.

Av1=-1

The voltage gain of stage Q2 is non-inverted and of magnitude

Av2=RC/re2

Resulting in an overall gain

Av=Av1Av2=-RCre2
PROCEDURES
Part 1. Darlington Emitter-Follower Circuit
a. For the circuit of fig. 23.1 calculate the DC bias voltages and currents.

Calculated VB= 6.45 V

Calculated VE= 2.36 V

Calculate the theoretical values of voltage gain, input and output impedance.

Calculated Av= 0.9891

Calculated Zi= 1.3399.2788
Calculated Zo= 0.5616
 b. Construct the Darlington circuit of fig. 23.1. Adjust the 50-kΩ potentiometer (R B)
to provide an emitter voltage, VE=5V. Using a DMM, measure and record the DC
bias values:

Measured VB= 3.79 V

Measured VE= 4.99 V

Calculate the base and emitter DC currents.

Calculated I B= 1.52 mA
Calculated IE= 9.78 mA

Calculate the values of transistor beta at this Q-point:

Calculated βD= 645.40

c. Apply an input signal Vsig=1V, peak at f=10kHz. Using the oscilloscope observe
and record the output voltage to assure that the signal is not clipped or distorted.
(Reduce the input signal amplitude if necessary.)

Measured Vi= 993.209 mV

Measured Vo= 825.606 mV

Calculate and record the AC voltage gain.

Av=Vo/Vi= 0.8313

Part 2. Darlington Input and Output Impedance

a. Calculate the input impedance

Calculated Zi= 19848.786

Calculate the circuit output impedance

Calculated Zo= 0.2658

b. Connect a measurement resistor. R x=100-kΩ, in series with Vsig. Measure and

record input voltage, Vi.

Measured Vi= 994.610 mV

Calculate the circuit input impedance using

 Zi=(Vi/Vsig+Vi)(Rx)

Calculated Zi= 49864.886

Remove measurement resistor, R x.

c. Measure the output voltage Vo with no load connected.

Measured Vo= 727.299 mV

Connect load resistor, R L=100-Ω. Measure and record resulting output voltage.

Measured Vo=VL= 85.164 mV

Calculate the output impedance using

Zo=[(Vo -VL)/VL][R L]

Calculated Zo= 953.998

Compare the calculated and measured values of Z i and Zo.

Part 3. Cascode Amplifier

a. Calculate DC bias voltages and currents in the cascode amplifier of fig. 23-2
(assuming base currents are less than the voltage divider current.)

Calculated VB1= 12.046 V

Calculated VE1= 11.346 V
 Calculated VC1= 11.37 V
Calculated VB2= 5.497 V
Calculated VE2= 4.797 V
Calculated VC2= 11.346 V

Calculate the DC bias emitter currents

Calculated IE1= 4.797 mA

Calculated IE2= 4.797 mA

Calculate the transistor dynamic resistances

Calculated re1= 5.42

Calculated re2= 5.42

b. Connect the cascode circuit of fig. 23.2. Measure and record DC bias voltages.

Measured VB1= 11.9 V

Measured VE1= 11.2 V
Measured VC1= 11.7 V
Measured VB2= 5.35 V
Measured VE2= 4.64 V
Measured VC2= 11.2 V

Calculate the values of emitter current

IE1= 4.61 mA
IE2= 4.64 mA
And the values of dynamic resistance

Calculated re1= 5.64

Calculated re2= 5.60

c. Using eqs. (23.5) and (23.6) calculate the AC voltage gain of each transistor stage:

Calculated Av1= 0.995

Calculated Av2= 0.995

d. Apply input signal, Vsig=10mV, peak at f=10kHz. Using the oscilloscope observe
the output waveform Vo to make sure that no signal distortion occurs. If the
output is clipped or distorted reduce the input signal until the clipping or
distorting disappears.

Using the DMM measure, record the AC signals.

 Measured Vi= 989.489 mV
Measured Vo1= 8.253 V
Measured Vo2= 375.293 mV

Calculate the measured voltage gains.

Av1=Vo1 /Vi= 8.34

Av2=Vo2 /Vo1= 0.045
Av=Vo2 /Vi= 0.379

Compare the measured voltage gains with those calculated in step c and d.

e. Using the oscilloscope, observe and record waveforms for the input signal, Vi,
output of stage 1, Vo1, and output of stage 2, Vo2. Show amplitude and phase
relations clearly.
 𝑉𝐵 6.45
𝑉𝐵 = 6.45 𝐼𝐵 = = = 1.29 × 10−4
𝑅𝐵 50𝑘

𝑉𝐸 2.36
𝑉𝐸 = 2.36 𝐼𝐸 = = = 4.63 × 10−2
𝑅𝐸 51

𝐼𝐸 4.63 × 10−2
𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑎 (𝛽 ) = = = 358.915
𝐼𝐵 1.29 × 10−4

26𝑚𝑉 26 × 10−3
𝑟𝑒 ′ = = = 0.5616
𝐼𝐸 4.63 × 10−2

𝑅𝐸 51
𝐴𝑉 = = = 0.9891
(𝑅𝐸 + 𝑟𝑒 ′ ) (51 + 0.5616)

𝑍𝑖 = 𝑅𝐵 || (𝛽𝑅𝐸 ) = 50𝑘||(358.915)(51) = 13399.2788

𝑍𝑜 = 𝑟𝑒 ′ = 0.5616
Adjust the 50-kΩ potentiometer (R B) to provide an emitter voltage, VE=5V.

𝑉𝐵 3.79
𝑉𝐵 = 3.79 𝑉 𝐼𝐵 = = = 1.52 × 10−4
𝑅𝐵 50𝑘

𝑉𝐸 4.99
𝑉𝐸 = 4.99 𝑉 𝐼𝐸 = = = 9.78 × 10−2
𝑅𝐸 51

𝐼𝐸 9.78 × 10−2
𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑎 (𝛽 ) = = = 645.40
𝐼𝐵 1.52 × 10−4

26𝑚𝑉 26 × 10−3
𝑟𝑒 ′ = = = 0.2658
𝐼𝐸 9.78 × 10−2

𝑅𝐸 51
𝐴𝑉 = ′
= = 0.9948
(𝑅𝐸 + 𝑟𝑒 ) (51 + 0.2658)

𝑍𝑖 = 𝑅𝐵 || (𝛽𝑅𝐸 ) = 50𝑘||(645.40)(51) = 19848.786

𝑍𝑜 = 𝑟𝑒 ′ = 0.2658
Apply an input signal Vsig=1V, peak at f=10kHz. Using the oscilloscope observe and record
the output voltage to assure that the signal is not clipped or distorted.

𝑉𝑖 = 993.209 𝑚𝑉 𝑉𝑜 = 825.606 𝑚𝑉

𝑉𝑜 825.606 𝑚𝑉
𝐴𝑉 = = = 0.8313
𝑉𝑖 993.209 𝑚𝑉
Connect a measurement resistor. R x=100-kΩ, in series with Vsig. Measure and record input
voltage, Vi

𝑉𝑖 = 994.610 𝑚𝑉

𝑉𝑖 994.610 × 10−3 𝑉
𝑍𝑖 = ( ) (𝑅𝑥 ) = ( ) (100𝑘 ) = 49864.886
𝑉𝑠𝑖𝑔 + 𝑉𝑖 1𝑉 + 994.610 × 10−3 𝑉
Measure the output voltage Vo with no load connected

𝑉𝑜 = 727.299 𝑚𝑉
Connect load resistor, R L=100-Ω. Measure and record resulting output voltage.

𝑉𝐿 = 85.164 𝑚𝑉

𝑉𝑜 − 𝑉𝐿 727.299 × 10−3 − 85.164 × 10−3

𝑍𝑜 = ( ) (𝑅𝐿 ) = ( ) (100) = 953.998
𝑉𝐿 85.164 × 10−3
Measured
𝑉𝐵1 = 11.9𝑉 𝑉𝐶1 = 11.7𝑉 𝑉𝐸1 = 11.2 𝑉
𝐼𝐵1 = 1.20𝑚𝐴 𝐼𝐶1 = 4.59𝑚𝐴 𝐼𝐸1 = 4.61 𝑚𝐴

𝑉𝐵2 = 5.35𝑉 𝑉𝐶2 = 11.2𝑉 𝑉𝐸2 = 4.64𝑉

𝐼𝐵1 = 1.17𝑚𝐴 𝐼𝐶1 = 4.61𝑚𝐴 𝐼𝐸1 = 4.64𝑚𝐴

26𝑚𝑉 26×10−3 26𝑚𝑉 26×10−3

𝑟𝑒 ′ = = = 5.64 𝑟𝑒 ′ = = = 5.60
𝐼𝐸1 4.61×10−3 𝐼𝐸2 4.64×10−3

Calculated

(𝑅3 + 𝑅4 ) (5.6𝑘 + 4.7𝑘)

𝑉𝐵1 = (𝑉𝐶𝐶 ) = (20𝑉 ) = 12.046 𝑉
(𝑅1 + 𝑅3 + 𝑅4 ) (6.8𝑘 + 5.6𝑘 + 4.7𝑘)

𝑉𝐸1 = 𝑉𝐵1 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸 = 12.046 𝑉 − 0.7𝑉 = 11.346𝑉

𝑉𝐸2 4.797𝑉
𝐼𝐸1 ≅ 𝐼𝐸2 = = = 4.797𝑚𝐴
𝑅𝐸 1𝑘

𝑉𝐶1 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − (𝐼𝐶 )(𝑅𝐶 ) = 20𝑉 − (4.797𝑚𝐴)(1.8𝑘) = 11.37 𝑉

𝐼𝐸 4.797𝑚𝐴
𝐼𝐵1 = = = 2.8104
𝛽 170.681922

𝐼𝐶1 ≅ 𝐼𝐸1 = 4.797𝑚𝐴

 𝐼𝐶
𝛽= = 170.681922
𝐼𝐵
(𝑅4 ) (4.7𝑘)
𝑉𝐵2 = (𝑉𝐶𝐶 ) = (20𝑉 ) = 5.497𝑉
(𝑅1 + 𝑅3 + 𝑅4 ) (6.8𝑘 + 5.6𝑘 + 4.7𝑘)

𝑉𝐸2 = 𝑉𝐵2 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸 = 5.497𝑉 − 0.7𝑉 = 4.797 𝑉

𝑉𝐶2 = 𝑉𝐸1 = 11.346𝑉

𝐼𝐸 4.797𝑚𝐴
𝐼𝐵2 = = = 2.8104
𝛽 170.681922

𝐼𝐶2 ≅ 𝐼𝐸2 = 4.797𝑚𝐴

26𝑚𝑉 26×10−3 26𝑚𝑉 26×10−3

𝑟𝑒 ′ = = = 5.42 𝑟𝑒 ′ = = = 5.42
𝐼𝐸1 4.797×10−3 𝐼𝐸2 4.797×10−3

𝑅𝐸 1𝑘
𝐴𝑉1 = ′
= = 0.995
(𝑅𝐸 + 𝑟𝑒 ) (1𝑘 + 5.42)

𝑅𝐸 1𝑘
𝐴𝑉2 = ′
= = 0.995
(𝑅𝐸 + 𝑟𝑒 ) (1𝑘 + 5.42)
 a. Apply input signal, Vsig=10mV, peak at f=10kHz. Using the oscilloscope observe
the output waveform Vo to make sure that no signal distortion occurs. If the
output is clipped or distorted reduce the input signal until the clipping or
distorting disappears.

𝑉𝑖 = 989.489 𝑚𝑉 𝑉𝑂1 = 8.253 𝑉

 𝑉𝑂2 = 375.293 𝑚𝑉

𝑉𝑜1 8.253 𝑉
𝐴𝑉1 = = = 8.34
𝑉𝑖 989.489 𝑚𝑉

𝑉𝑜2 375.293 𝑚𝑉
𝐴𝑉2 = = = 0.045
𝑉𝑜1 8.253 𝑉

𝑉𝑜2 375.293 𝑚𝑉
𝐴𝑉 = = = 0.379
𝑉𝑖 989.489 𝑚𝑉

Using the oscilloscope, observe and record waveforms for the input signal, Vi,
output of stage 1, Vo1, and output of stage 2, Vo2 . Show amplitude and phase
relations clearly.