Chapter 4.

Multi-stage
Transistor Amplifiers
Pham Duy Hung, PhD
Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications,
VNU-University of Engineering and Technology
Email: [email protected]
Outline
 Introduction
 RC-coupled multi-stage amplifier
 DC-coupled multi-stage amplifier
 Compound configurations
 Differential amplifier
 RF selective amplifier and wideband amplifier
 Output stage and power amplifiers

2
4.1 Introduction

Input and output resistances

3
Overall voltage gain:

Decibel gain:

4
4.2 RC-coupled transistor amplifier

5
• Frequency responce

The voltage gain drops off at low (< 50 Hz) and high (> 20 kHz) frequencies
whereas it is uniform over mid-frequency range (50 Hz to 20 kHz)

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• Example 1: RC-Coupled Transistor Amplifier with three stages

7
• Example 1: RC-Coupled Transistor Amplifier with three stages

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  DC Analysis

 AC Analysis 𝑅 = 𝑅1 ∥ 𝑅2 and 𝑅 = 𝑅3 ∥ 𝑅4

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  AC Analysis

Hybrid-𝝅 equivalent circuit

Overall Voltage gain: where

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Hybrid-𝝅 equivalent circuit
 Where 𝑅 =𝑅 ∥𝑅 , 𝑅 =𝑟

Where 𝑅 =𝑅 ∥𝑅 , 𝑅 =𝑟 + (𝛽 + 1)𝑅

81 ∗ 232
𝑅 = 598Ω ∥ 2.39𝑘 = 478Ω 𝑅 = 4310Ω ∥ (1000 + (81) ∗ 232) = 3.54𝑘 𝐴 = = 0.95
𝑔 = 0.01 𝑔 = 62.8 1000 + 81 ∗ 232

→𝐴 = −0.01 ∗ 478 = −4.78 →𝐴 = −62.8 ∗ 3.54𝑘 = −222 Input Resistance

Overall Voltage gain:

Output Resistance

Output resistance of the three-stage amplifier Thevenin Equivalent source resistance for stage 3

𝑅 is equal to the parallel combination

of inter stage resistance 𝑅 and the
output resistance of Q2 (𝑟 ):

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Current gain and power gain
vi v
ii   4 i 6  9.90  107 vi
RI  Rin 10  10

14
4.3 DC-coupled transistor amplifier
• The coupling capacitors in the multistage amplifier limit the low-frequency response of the amplifier
and prevent its application as a dc amplifier.
• For the amplifier to provide gain at DC or very low frequency, capacitors in series with the signal
path must be eliminated. Such as amplifier is called DC-coupled, or direct-couple amplifier.

Example: cascaded circuit with 2

transistor connected directly.
Both are Common Emitter

15
DC analysis 𝑉 𝑜𝑛 = 0.7𝑉 and 𝛽 = 100 for both transitors
Determine Q-point?
AC analysis
Drift effect in DC amplifier
The problem need be resolved in a dc coupling amplifier is suppressing of drift effects due to e.g.
temperature change. How is a temperature drift ?

• Give initial conditions:

=>
• If the temperature changes by 𝟎
situation?
 changes by 2mV/

 and
=> Q1 is in saturation and Q2 is cut-off
4.4 Compound configuration
• Darlington pair
DC analysis
𝐼 =𝐼 +𝐼 = 𝛽 𝐼 + 𝛽 𝐼 = 𝛽 𝐼 + 𝛽 (𝛽 + 1)𝐼
1 1
→ 𝐼 = 𝛽 𝛽 (1 + + )𝐼 ≅ 𝛽 𝛽 𝐼
𝛽 𝛽

→ 𝜷 = 𝜷𝟏 𝜷𝟐

19
 Darlington amplifiers

AC analysis

𝑟 = 𝑟 + 𝛽 + 1 𝑟 (1)
𝑖 =𝛽 𝑖 ↔𝑖 =𝛽 𝑖 →𝑟 =𝛽 𝑟 (2)
𝑟 ≅ 𝛽 𝑟 (3)
(1) and (2) => 𝑟 ≅ 2𝛽 𝑟 =2𝑟
𝑟 = 𝑟 ∥ 𝑟 (4)
(3) and (4)=> 𝑟 ≅ 𝑟
(𝛽 + 1)𝑟 𝑣
𝑣 =𝑣 ≅
𝑟 + (𝛽 + 1)𝑟 2
𝑔 ≅𝛽 𝑔
𝑣 𝑣
𝑔 𝑣 =𝑔 +𝑔
2 2
𝑔 𝑔 𝑔 𝑔 𝑔
→𝑔 = + = + ≅
2 2 2∗𝛽 2 2
• Cascode circuit
Cascode circuit is useful in wide-band amplifiers used in RF communications as well as high-output
resistance current sources and high gain amplifiers.

Cascode circuit with DC bias source VBB Cascode circuit as a two – port
𝑉 =𝑉 −𝑉 ≥𝑉 or 𝑉 ≥ 2𝑉

𝑟 = (𝑦 ) = 𝑟
𝑦 ≅0 𝑦
𝛽 = =𝑔 𝑟 ≅𝛽
𝑔 =𝑦 =𝛼 𝑔 ≅𝑔 𝑦
𝑟 = (𝑦 ) ≅ 𝑟 (1 + 𝑔 (𝑟 ∥𝑟 )≅𝛽 𝑟 𝑣
𝜇 = =𝑔 𝑟 =𝑔 𝛽 𝑟 ≅𝛽 𝜇
𝑣
4.5 Differential Amplifier

Differential-mode input signal: 𝑣 = 𝑣 − 𝑣

Common-mode input signal: 𝑣 =
Differential-mode gain: 𝐴
Common-mode gain: 𝐴

Output voltage:

Representing the input signals to a differential

Common-mode rejection ration (CMRR): amplifier in terms of their differential and
common-mode components
4.5 Differential Amplifier
 Differential Amplifier

DC analysis
 Differential Amplifier

AC analysis
 Differential Amplifier

AC analysis

𝐴
𝐴
 Differential Amplifier

Small signal model

 Differential Amplifier

Small signal model

 Differential Amplifier

Differential-mode gain

• Summing currents at the emitter node:

These equations have been simplified by representing resistances r and REE

by their equivalent conductance g and GEE. The base-emitter voltages are:

Combining: 𝑣 (𝐺 + 2𝑔 + 2𝑔 )=0 which requires 𝑣 = 0

• For a purely DM input voltage, the voltage at the emitter node is identically zero. This is an extremely
important result. The emitter node in the differential amplifier represents a virtual ground for DM
input signal.
Differential Amplifier
 Differential Amplifier
Differential – mode input and output resistance
 Differential Amplifier

Common-mode gain and input resistance

 Differential Amplifier

Common-mode gain and input resistance

Purely CM input signals are applied to the differential amplifier as

figure, both sides of the amplifier are completely symmetrical.
Thus the two base currents, emitter currents, collector currents,
and two collector voltages must be equal.

For small signal model:

The output voltage at collectors:

The voltage at the emitter:

 Differential Amplifier

Common-mode gain

The CM output voltage 𝑣 : (Because  >>1)

where it is assumed that F = 0

and IcRc = Vcc / 2.

The differential output voltage vod is identically zero because the voltages are
equal at two collectors: vod = vc1 – vc2 = 0, therefore, the CM conversion gain for
a differential output is also zero:
 Differential Amplifier

Common-mode input resistance

Common-mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)

⁄
CMRR= = = 𝑔 𝑅 ∗ ⁄
=𝑔 𝑅
Differential Amplifier with MOSFET
4.6 RF selective amplifier (further reading)
• In radio communication, waves have frequencies of the order of hundreds of kHz or higher. Amplifiers
operating in this frequency range is called high-frequency or RF ones (Radio Frequency Amplifier).
• Information in this waveband is usually set in a narrow frequency range around a certain frequency
called the carrier. In this case, the amplifier should only is required to amplify the received signals
about the carrier’s frequency or the neighboring, and then remove the other ones which are far from
that narrow range. Such amplifier is called the selective amplifier.
• The resonant frame LC has the selective character about the critical frequency w = 1 /LC is the
good selection using it as a resonant load for a transistor-based amplifiers.
 RF selective amplifier

Scheme of an input stages of the RF receiver

4.7 Wide-Band Amplifier (further reading)
• Such a video amplifier requires a wideband to 6.5 MHz. Meanwhile the frequency response of a
typical RC-coupled amplifier is limited at some tens of kHz. It is only uniform over mid-frequency
range (e.g.50 Hz to 20 kHz) but is dropped off at two ends of bandwidth:
 Lower the low-range, signal is attenuated due to the high-impedance of coupled capacitors.
 Over the high-range, signal is shunt-dropped due to parallel parasitic capacitors in circuit.
4.8 Power Amplifiers
• Class A power amplifiers
• Class B power amplifiers
• Class AB push-pull amplifiers
• Class C power amplifiers

Textbook: Thomas L. Floyd, Electronic devices, 9th edition, Prentice Hall (Section 7)
Class A power amplifiers
• Operating in linear region.
• Q-Point is centered on the AC load line

Amplitude of 𝑉 and 𝐼 limited by cutoff (left) and saturation (right)

Class A power amplifiers
• Power Gain: where and

Where

• Example: Common – Collector Amplifier has an input resistance 10k

and a load resistance of 100 ohm. Since a CC amplifier has a voltage
gain of approximately 1, what is the power gain?
Class A power amplifiers
• DC Quiescent Power: Power dissipation of transistor with no signal input (by Q-Point)

• Output Power: CE Amplifiers with a centered Q-Point

 -> rms value:
 ->rms value:

• DC power: (Supply voltage is at least 2VCEQ)
. In practice, is
• Maximum efficiency: less about 10%
Exercise 4.81
• Determine the voltage gain and the power gain of the class A power
amplifier in below figure. Assume
Exercise 4.82
• Determine the efficiency of the power amplifier in Exercise 4.81.
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• Class B Amplifiers is in cutoff for
• Q-Point is at cutoff: amplifier is biased at the cutoff point, ;
( ).
• Only conduct for positive half of cycle.

Emitter-Follower circuit
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• Class B push-full operation
 Transformer coupled push-pull amplifiers:

Q1 conduct during the positive half-cycle; Q2 conducts during the negative

half-cycle. The two halves are combined by the output transformer
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• Class B push-full operation
 Complementary Symmetry Transistors:
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• Class B push-full operation

Crossover distortion
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• Biasing Push-Pull Amplifier for Class AB Operation
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• AC Operation
 Q-Point is slightly above cutoff
AC saturation current for two-supply operation with
push-pull amplifier:
( )
Exercise 4.83
• Determine the ideal maximum peak output voltage and current for
the circuit shown in below figure.
Class B and Class AB Push-Pull Amplifiers
• Single-Supply Push-Pull Amplifier
Exercise 4.84
• Determine the maximum ideal peak values for the output voltage and
current in below figuree:
 Class B and Class AB push-pull Amplifiers
• Class B/AB Power
 Maximum Output Power:
Pout=Iout(rms)Vout(rms)=0.707Ic(sat)*0.707VCEQ=0.5Ic(sat)VCEQ
VCEQ=VCC/2 => Pout=0.25Ic(sat)Vcc
 DC Input Power: PDC=ICCVCC and ICC=Ic(sat)/ (because each transistor operates a half-cycle of signal)
( )
=>
. ( )
 Efficiency: ⁄
( )
Exercise 4.85
• Find the maximum ac output power and the dc input power of the
amplifier in below figure.
Class C Amplifiers
• Be biased so that conduction occurs for much
less than 180o.
• More efficient than either class A or push-pull
class B and class AB.
• not used for linear amplification.
Class C Amplifiers
• Power dissipation during the on time
PD(on)=Ic(sat)Vce(sat)
• Power dissipation averaged over the
entire cycle:
Class C Amplifiers
• Tuned Operation
Class C Amplifiers
• Maximum output power:

• Total power of the ciruit

• Efficiency:

When Pout>>PD(avg), the class C efficiency closely approaches 1 (100%)

Exercise 4.86
• A class C amplifier is driven by a 200kHz signal. The transistor is on for
1us and the amplifier is operating over 100 percent of its load line. If
Ic(sat)=100mA and Vce(sat)=0.2V, what is the average power dissipation
of the transistor?
Exercise 4.87
• Suppose the class C amplifier described in exercise 4.86 has a VCC
equal to 24V and RC is 100 ohm. Determine the efficiency.