NAME: Abdul-Hamid Opeoluwa Arowona

MATRIC NUMBER: 23120211035

GROUP NUMBER: 5
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: DR. JERIMIAH BANDELE
DATE: Wednesday, November 13th, 2024.

JFET Circuits: Common-Source and Common-Drain Circuit

Introduction
Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) are crucial components in analogue and digital circuits
due to their high input impedance, low power consumption, and excellent frequency
response. Unlike Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs), which are current-controlled
devices, FETs are voltage-controlled, with the gate voltage (VGS) regulating the current
flow between the drain and source (ID). This unique characteristic allows FETs to
operate efficiently, making them suitable for applications such as amplification and
buffering.
This experiment focuses on two essential JFET amplifier configurations:
Common-Source Circuit (CS): Known for providing significant voltage gain, the
Common-Source circuit is ideal for amplification applications. It features a 180° phase
shift between the input and output signals.

Figure 1. Common-Source Circuit Configuration.

Common-Drain Circuit (CD): Commonly referred to as the source follower, the
Common-Drain circuit provides unity gain (Av ≈ 1) and no phase inversion. It is primarily
used for buffering and impedance matching.

Figure 2. Common-Drain Circuit Configuration.

Aim
To construct and analyse the AC performance of Common-Source and Common-Drain
JFET circuits and to measure and calculate the voltage gain (Av) for both configurations.

Materials and Methods

Materials
• DC Power Supply (0–20V)
• Digital multimeter
• Oscilloscope
• Signal Generator
• Resistors: 2 × 2.7KΩ, 120KΩ, 1MΩ, 5.6MΩ
• 15 V Capacitors: 0.02µF, 0.1µF, 10µF
• Low‐current n channel JFET Transistor: BF245B
• Breadboard
Procedure
Experiment 1: Common-Source Circuit
The experiment began with the construction of the Common-Source Circuit as shown
in Figure 3. The circuit components were assembled on a breadboard, including the
BF245B JFET, resistors, and capacitors. Initially, the signal generator and oscilloscope
were left disconnected to focus on DC measurements.
The DC power supply was switched on, and VDD was set to 25V. Using a multimeter, the
following DC voltages were measured and recorded:
• Gate voltage (VG)
• Source voltage (VS)
• Drain voltage (VD)
Next, the signal generator was connected to the circuit input, providing a sinusoidal
signal with a frequency of 3 kHz and an amplitude of 1 V. The output waveform was
observed on the oscilloscope. The peak input and output voltages were recorded, and
the phase relationship between the input and output signals was analysed.

Figure 3. Common-Source Circuit.

Experiment 2: Common-Drain Circuit (Source Follower)

The circuit was then modified to transform the Common-Source Circuit into a
Common-Drain Circuit as shown in Figure 4. This reconfiguration involved changing the
connection of components to align with the Common-Drain configuration.
Once the circuit was modified, the DC power supply was turned on, ensuring VDD
remained at 25V. Using the same sinusoidal input signal (3 kHz, 1 V amplitude), the
input and output waveforms were again observed on the oscilloscope. The peak input
and output voltages were measured, and the phase relationship between the input and
output was analysed. The Common-Drain circuit was expected to exhibit no phase
inversion (0° phase shift).
 Figure 4. Common-Drain Circuit.

Results

Experiment 1: Common-Source Configuration

Table 1. Common-Source Circuit

Parameter Value
VG (V) 3.9
VS (V) 6.2
VD (V) 19.3
Peak Input (V) 1.00
Peak Output (V) 6.05
Voltage Gain 6.05

Experiment 2: Common-Drain Circuit (Source Follower)

Table 2. Common-Drain Circuit

Parameter Value
Peak Input (V) 1.00
Peak Output (mV) 938.88
Voltage Gain 0.94
Discussion

Common-Source Circuit
The Common-Source Circuit demonstrated significant voltage gain (6.05), as expected.
The measured output voltage showed amplification of the input signal, confirming the
circuit’s suitability for applications requiring signal amplification. The observed 180°
phase shift between the input and output signals is characteristic of the Common-
Source configuration, where the output voltage decreases as the input voltage
increases.
The DC voltages (VG, VS, VD) confirmed proper biasing of the JFET, ensuring stable
operation in the active region. This stable biasing is critical for achieving linear
amplification, which aligns with the theoretical behaviour of JFET amplifiers in this
configuration.
Common-Drain Circuit (Source Follower)
The Common-Drain Circuit exhibited a voltage gain close to unity (0.94), where the
output voltage closely followed the input voltage. The phase relationship between the
input and output signals showed no phase inversion (0° phase shift). These
characteristics make the Common-Drain configuration ideal for buffering and
impedance matching applications, where signal integrity is crucial.
Phase Relationship Analysis
The phase relationship between input and output waveforms is a defining
characteristic of amplifier configurations. The Common-Source Circuit exhibited a 180°
phase shift, where an increase in gate voltage caused a decrease in drain voltage,
resulting in signal inversion. This makes it ideal for amplification applications such as
differential amplifiers, where phase inversion is advantageous. In contrast, the
Common-Drain Circuit, or source follower, showed no phase inversion (0° phase shift)
as the source voltage followed the gate voltage proportionally.

Conclusion
This experiment successfully demonstrated the AC performance of Common-Source
and Common-Drain JFET circuits. The Common-Source Circuit provided significant
voltage gain with a 180° phase shift, making it ideal for amplification applications. In
contrast, the Common-Drain Circuit delivered unity gain and no phase inversion,
emphasizing its role in buffering and impedance matching.
The experimental results aligned closely with theoretical expectations, reinforcing the
understanding of JFET amplifier configurations and their practical applications in
electronic circuits.
References
Boylestad, R. L. (2014). Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory (11th ed.). Pearson.
Floyd, T. L., & Pearson. (2018). Electronic Devices: Conventional Current Version.
Pearson Education Limited.
Sedra, A. S., & Smith, K. C. (2020). Microelectronic Circuits (8th ed.). Oxford University
Press.
Manufacturer Datasheets for BF245B.

Appendix

Appendix A: Experiment 1
Appendix B: Experiment 2