Single Stage Transistor Amplifier

When only one transistor with associated circuitry is used for amplifying a weak signal, the
circuit is known as single stage transistor amplifier.
A single stage transistor amplifier has one transistor, bias circuit and other auxiliary
components. Although a practical amplifier consists of a number of stages, yet such a complex
circuit can be conveniently split up into separate single stages. By analyzing carefully only a
single stage and using this single stage analysis repeatedly, we can effectively analyse the
complex circuit. It follows, therefore, that single stage amplifier analysis is of great value in
understanding the practical amplifier circuits.
Fig. 10.1 shows a single stage transistor amplifier.

When a weak a.c. signal is given to the base of transistor, a small base current (which is a.c.)
starts flowing. Due to transistor action, a much larger (β times the base current) a.c. current
flows through the collector load RC. As the value of RC is quite high (usually 4-10 kΩ), therefore,
a large voltage appears across RC. Thus, a weak signal applied in the base circuit appears in
amplified form in the collector circuit. It is in this way that a transistor acts as an amplifier.
Graphical Demonstration of Transistor Amplifier
Fig. 10.2 shows the output characteristics of a transistor in CE configuration.

Suppose the zero signal base current is 10 µA i.e. this is the base current for which the
transistor is biased by the biasing network. When an a.c. signal is applied to the base, it makes
the base, say positive in the first half-cycle and negative in the second half cycle.
Therefore, the base and collector currents will increase in the first half-cycle when base-emitter
junction is more forward-biased. However, they will decrease in the second half-cycle when the
base-emitter junction is less forward biased.
Practical Circuit of Transistor Amplifier
It is important to note that a transistor can accomplish faithful amplification only if proper
associated circuitry is used with it.
 Fig. 10.3 shows a practical single stage transistor amplifier. The various circuit elements and
their functions are described below:
(i) Biasing circuit. The resistances R1, R2 and RE form the biasing and stabilisation
circuit. The biasing circuit must establish a proper operating point otherwise a part
of the negative half-cycle of the signal may be cut off in the output.
(ii) Input capacitor Cin. An electrolytic capacitor Cin (10 μF) is used to couple the signal
to the base of the transistor. If it is not used, the signal source resistance will come
across R2 and thus change the bias. The capacitor Cin allows only a.c. signal to flow
but isolates the signal source from R2.
(iii) Emitter bypass capacitor CE. An emitter bypass capacitor CE (100µF) is used in
parallel with RE to provide a low reactance path to the amplified a.c. signal. If it is
not used, then amplified a.c. signal flowing through RE will cause a voltage drop
across it, thereby reducing the output voltage.
(iv) Coupling capacitor CC. The coupling capacitor CC (10μF) couples one stage of
amplification to the next stage. If it is not used, the bias conditions of the next stage
will be drastically changed due to the shunting effect of RC. This is because RC will
come in parallel with the upper resistance R1 of the biasing network of the next
stage, thereby altering the biasing conditions of the latter. In short, the coupling
capacitor CC isolates the d.c. of one stage from the next stage, but allows the
passage of a.c. signal.

Various circuit currents.

 It is useful to mention the various currents in the complete amplifier circuit. These are
shown in the circuit of Fig. 10.3.
(i) Base current.
When no signal is applied in the base circuit, d.c. base current I B flows due to biasing
circuit. When a.c. signal is applied, a.c. base current ib also flows. Therefore, with the
application of signal, total base current i B is given by:
i B = I B + ib
(ii) Collector current.
When no signal is applied, a d.c. collector current IC flows due to biasing circuit. When a.c.
signal is applied, a.c. collector current ic also flows. Therefore, the total collector current i C
is given by:
i C = IC + i c
where IC = β IB = zero signal collector current
i c = β i b = collector current due to signal.
(iii) Emitter current.
When no signal is applied, a d.c. emitter current IE flows. With the application of signal,
total emitter current i E is given by:
i E = IE + i e
It is useful to keep in mind that: IE = IB + IC
i e = i b + ic

Multistage Transistor Amplifier

A transistor circuit containing more than one stage of amplification is known as multistage
transistor amplifier.
In a multistage amplifier, a number of single amplifiers are connected in *cascade arrangement
i.e. output of first stage is connected to the input of the second stage through a suitable
coupling device and so on. The purpose of coupling device (e.g. a capacitor, transformer etc.) is
(i) to transfer a.c. output of one stage to the input of the next stage and
(ii) to isolate the d.c. conditions of one stage from the next stage.
Fig. 11.1 shows the block diagram of a 3-stage amplifier.
 Each stage consists of one transistor and associated circuitry and is coupled to the next stage
through a coupling device.
The name of the amplifier is usually given after the type of coupling used. e.g.
Name of coupling Name of multistage amplifier
RC coupling R-C coupled amplifier
Transformer coupling Transformer coupled amplifier
Direct coupling Direct coupled amplifier

(i) In RC coupling, a capacitor is used as the coupling device. The capacitor connects the
output of one stage to the input of the next stage in order to pass the a.c. signal on
while blocking the d.c. bias voltages.
(ii) In transformer coupling, transformer is used as the coupling device. The transformer
coupling provides the same two functions (viz. to pass the signal on and blocking d.c.)
but permits in addition impedance matching.
(iii) In direct coupling or d.c. coupling, the individual amplifier stage bias conditions are so
designed that the two stages may be directly connected without the necessity for d.c.
isolation.
Role of Capacitors in Transistor Amplifiers
The capacitors serve the following two roles in transistor amplifiers:
1. As coupling capacitors
2. As bypass capacitors

1. As coupling capacitors.
In most applications, you will not see a single transistor amplifier. Rather we use a multistage
amplifier i.e. a number of transistor amplifiers are connected in series or cascaded. The
capacitors are commonly used to connect one amplifier stage to another. When a capacitor is
used for this purpose, it is called a coupling capacitor.
Fig. 11.2 shows the coupling capacitors (CC1; CC2; CC3 and CC4) in a multistage amplifier.

A coupling capacitor performs the following two functions:

(i) It blocks d.c. i.e. it provides d.c. isolation between the two stages of a multistage
amplifier.
(ii) It passes the a.c. signal from one stage to the next with little or no distortion.

2. As bypass capacitors.
Like a coupling capacitor, a bypass capacitor also blocks d.c. and behaves as a short or wire (due
to proper selection of capacitor size) to an a.c. signal. But it is used for a different purpose.
A bypass capacitor is connected in parallel with a circuit component (e.g. resistor) to bypass the
a.c. signal and hence the name.
Fig. 11.3 shows a bypass capacitor CE connected across the emitter resistance RE.
 Since CE behaves as a short to the a.c. signal, the whole of a.c. signal (ie) passes through it. Note
that CE keeps the emitter at a.c. ground. Thus for a.c. purposes, RE does not exist. We have
already seen in the previous chapter that CE plays an important role in determining the voltage
gain of the amplifier circuit. If CE is removed, the voltage gain of the amplifier is greatly reduced.
Note that Cin is the coupling capacitor in this circuit.
Important Terms
(i) Gain. The ratio of the output *electrical quantity to the input one of the amplifier.
The gain of a multistage amplifier is equal to the product of gains of individual stages. For
instance, if G1, G2 and G3 are the individual voltage gains of a three-stage amplifier, then
total voltage gain G is given by: *G = G1 × G2 × G3
It is worthwhile to mention here that in practice; total gain G is less than G1 × G2 × G3 due
to the loading effect of next stages.
(ii) Frequency response.
The voltage gain of an amplifier varies with signal frequency. It is because reactance of the
capacitors in the circuit changes with signal frequency and hence affects the output voltage.
The curve between voltage gain and signal frequency of an amplifier is known as
frequency response.
Fig. 11.4 shows the frequency response of a typical amplifier.
The gain of the amplifier increases as the frequency increases from zero till it becomes
maximum at fr, called resonant frequency. If the frequency of signal increases beyond f r, the
gain decreases. The performance of an amplifier depends to a considerable extent upon its
frequency response.
While designing an amplifier, appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that gain is
essentially uniform over some specified frequency range. For instance, in case of an audio
amplifier, which is used to amplify speech or music, it is necessary that all the frequencies in
the sound spectrum (i.e. 20 Hz to 20 kHz) should be uniformly amplified otherwise speaker
will give a distorted sound output.
(iii) Decibel gain.
Although the gain of an amplifier can be expressed as a number, yet it is of great practical
importance to assign it a unit. The unit assigned is bel or decibel (db).

iv) Bandwidth.
The range of frequency over which the voltage gain is equal to or greater than *70.7% of
the maximum gain.
The voltage gain of an amplifier changes with frequency. Referring to the frequency
response in Fig. 11.7, it is clear that for any frequency lying between f1 and f2, the gain is
equal to or greater than 70.7% of the maximum gain.
Therefore, f1 − f2 is the bandwidth. It may be seen that f1 and f2 are the limiting frequencies.
The former (f1) is called lower cut-off frequency and the latter (f2) is known as upper cut-off
frequency. For distortion less amplification, it is important that signal frequency range must
be within the bandwidth of the amplifier.