Scribd
Upload
579 views21 pages

Amplifier Classes

This document discusses different classes of amplifiers based on transistor biasing conditions: - Class A amplifiers conduct throughout the entire input cycle and have the highest linearity but lowest efficiency of 25-30%. - Class B amplifiers conduct for half of the input cycle and have higher efficiency of 78.5% but introduce crossover distortion. - Class AB amplifiers conduct slightly more than half the cycle, improving both efficiency and linearity compared to Class B. - Class C amplifiers conduct for less than half the cycle, producing significant distortion but have the highest efficiency above 80%. Different classes trade off linearity for efficiency.

Uploaded by

Obaloluwa Sowande
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
579 views21 pages

Amplifier Classes

This document discusses different classes of amplifiers based on transistor biasing conditions: - Class A amplifiers conduct throughout the entire input cycle and have the highest linearity but lowest efficiency of 25-30%. - Class B amplifiers conduct for half of the input cycle and have higher efficiency of 78.5% but introduce crossover distortion. - Class AB amplifiers conduct slightly more than half the cycle, improving both efficiency and linearity compared to Class B. - Class C amplifiers conduct for less than half the cycle, producing significant distortion but have the highest efficiency above 80%. Different classes trade off linearity for efficiency.

Uploaded by

Obaloluwa Sowande
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

EIE323

Analogue Electronics

Amplifier Classes

1
 Based on its input (signal gain)
i. Small Signal Amplifiers ii. Large Signal Amplifier
 Based on its output
i. Voltage Amplifiers ii. Power Amplifier
 Based on its frequency response
i. Audio frequency Amplifiers
ii. Radio frequency Amplifiers
iii. Intermediate frequency Amplifiers
 Based on transistor configuration
i. Common-base ii. Common-collector iii. Common-emitter
 Based on its biasing conditions
i. Class A ii. Class B iii. Class AB iv. Class C
2
 Refers to the design of the circuitry (transistor biasing).
 Refers to how much the output signal varies for a full
cycle of input signal.
 Measures the amount of time the current flows in the
output, in relation to the input signal.
 Refers to the current conduction angle i.e. the portion of
the RF cycle in which the transistor conducts(not in
cutoff ).
 These Classes range from a near linear output but with
low efficiency to a non-linear output but with high
efficiency.
 These classes are: Class A, Class B, Class AB and Class C.
3
 The transistor is perfectly biased within its active region,
thereby never reaching its Cut-off or Saturation regions.
 Conducts throughout the entire cycle (360°) of the input
signal (device always on)
 Ic is non zero 100% of the time (except for the
instantaneous zero crossings)
 The output, Ic(t), is an amplified version of the input Ib(t)
 Has low efficiency (25-30%) but good signal reproduction
and linearity. (large, bulky, very hot)
 75 % or more of the supplied power is dissipated by D.C.
 Suitable for low power applications
 Most linear class with least amount of distortion
 Employs a single transistor which conducts in 1 direction.4
5
6
Merits
 Circuit simplicity
 Most linearity, Least distortion
 Excellent stability and phase over audio frequencies.
 Does not require any frequency compensation
 Constant and low output impedance

Demerits
 Always has current flowing through it, even if it has no
audio signal.
 Very inefficient and generally runs very hot even when
there is no audio output.
7
•(Push-pull)
•(complementary symmetry)

 Conducts for only half-cycle of the input signal


 Conduction angle is, 180°
 Uses two complementary transistors for each half of the
output waveform
 Each transistor spends half of its time in the active
region and half its time in the cut-off region thereby
amplifying only 50% of the input signal.
 High efficiency (about 78.5 %)
 Each transistor dissipates zero, or almost zero power
 Restricted to low power applications
 Not very linear; cross-over distortion can be significant.
 Not used for audio. 8
•Bulky Transformer
•Two Input Signals
9
Complementary Symmetry Configuration

10
Class B collector current waveform
To compensate for the negative cycle,
with a single transistor
we use two transistor

Expecting But due to


to get this Crossover Distortion,
we have this

Crossover Distortion,
is a disadvantage of
Class B Amplifiers.

The two transistors


don’t turn ON and
OFF at the same
time.
11
•A small base-emitter voltage is needed to turn on a transistor
•Q1 conducts when Vin > 0.7V
•Q2 conducts when Vin < -0.7V
•When 0.7V > Vin > -0.7V, none conducts and output is zero
•Output is distorted near the collector current zero crossing
•Hence, the input-output relationship is non-linear 12
 The transistors are biased “ON” for slightly more than half
a cycle thereby eliminating crossover distortion
 Both transistors are biased in between the extremes of
Class B and Class A (i.e between 180° and 360°).
 Each transistor is biased at a Q-point that is slightly above
the cutoff region
 It eliminates Class B’s non-linearity, and A’s inefficiency
 Improves both the efficiency and linearity.
 Its good efficiency (~50%) and linearity makes it the most
popular.

13
Class AB collector current waveform
with a single transistor

14
 To overcome crossover distortion, the biasing is adjusted to just overcome
the VBE of the transistors
 In class AB operation, the push-pull stages are biased into slight
conduction, even when no input signal is present.
 This can be done with a voltage-divider and diode arrangement, as shown

15
 Biased below threshold so that conduction occurs for
much less than 180° (i.e. 120°-150° conduction angle.)
 Produces great distortion which is unsuitable for audio
reproduction.
 Commonly used in oscillators and RF circuits which
employ filtering so that the final signal is acceptable
 Only a very small portion of the input signal is amplified
 Greater efficiency than B, but more distortion than A & B.
 It is non-linear and the output signal bears very little
resemblance to the input (worst signal reproduction).
 Applications: AM, FM transmitters, RF circuits
 Efficiency > 80%
16
17
18
 Reduce the conduction angle.
 Change the bias condition from fully on (class A) to
partially in cutoff.

19
20
21

You might also like