POWER AMPLIFIERS

Provide large amount of power to the load

Such as
Loud Speaker
Motor
Public address systems
 applications

Commonly known as
audio amplifier
Which is used in
PAS
Tape recorders
Stereo systems
Television receivers
Radio receivers
Broadcast transmitters
 Why it is called as power
convertor
It is d.c to a.c power convertor whose action is
controlled by the input signal
It is not actually amplify the power
It takes the power from the d.c power supply
connected to the output circuit and converts it
into useful a.c signal power.
 Large signal amplifiers.
Large signal
Use a large part of their a.c load line for
operation
But small signal amplifiers uses only 10% of their
a.c load line for operation
 Different between voltage amp.
And power amp.
Voltage amplifier Power amplifier
output Increased voltage Increased power or
appreciable amount of
current flow

High resistance load Low resistance load

Current gain 100 20 and 50

Input resistance low High
Output resistance high Low
Physical size of transistor Small known as low or Large size. Power
medium power transistor. amplifiers. Required to
dissipate heat
Coupling medium RC coupling Transformer coupling
 Performance parameters
1. Circuit efficiency
A figure of merit for the power amplifier is its efficiency,
h.
Efficiency ( h ) of an amplifier is defined as the ratio of ac
output power (power delivered to load) to dc input
power .
By formula :
ac output power P (ac)
h 100% o 100%
dc input power Pi (dc)

As we will see, certain amplifier configurations have much

higher efficiency ratings than others.
This is primary consideration when deciding which type of
power amplifier to use for a specific application.
 2.Distortion

The difference between the input and output of

an amplifier is known as distortion.
There are two types
1. Amplitude or harmonic distortion
Due to non-linearity of the transistor
2. Crossover distortion
Occurs when transistor s do not operate in the
correct phase with each other.
 3.Power dissipation capability
The ability of power transistor to
dissipate heat is known as Power
dissipation capability.
Heat in the transistor is due excessive
current passing through it during
amplification
PDC can be increased by connecting
heat sink to the transistor and increase
the surface area of the transistor.
These two keeps the temp. within
permissible limit.
 Amplifier Power Dissipation
The total amount of power VCC
being dissipated by the
amplifier, Ptot , is I CC

Ptot = P1 + P2 + PC + PT +
PE
I1
The difference between I CQ
this total value and the P1 = I12R1 R1 RC PC = I2CQR C
total power being drawn
from the supply is the
power that actually goes PT = I2TQ R T
to the load i.e. output
power. I EQ
P2 = I22R2 R2 RE PE = I2EQ R E

I2
A.C load line
D.C load line
To find d.c load line
 To find ICQ and VCEQ
Voltage drop across R2 is
V R2= VCC(R2/( R1+R2)
Q point Emitter current is
IEQ=VR2-VBE/RE
Q point collector current is
ICQ= IEQ
Q point collector-to-emitter voltage is
VCEQ=VCC-ICC(RC+RE)
A.C. equivalent circuit
 To find A.C load line
From the A.C equivalent circuit, the resistance
driving the base is
rB=Rs//(R1//R2)
The load resistance seen from the collector is
rl=Rc//Rl
Now summing up the voltage around the collector
of the a.c equivalent circuit is
Vce+ic.rl=0
Therefore Ic=-vce/rl--------------------------------- (i)
Where, ic=A.C collector current
 Vce=A.C collector-to-emitter voltage
ICQ=The d.c collector current at Q point
VCEQ= the d.c collector-to-emitter voltage at Q point
IC(sat)=the d.c saturation current
VCE(cut-off)= the d.c cut-off voltage
Then the a.c collector current is
ic=IC=IC-ICQ
the a.c collector-to-emitter voltage
vce=VC=VCE-VCEQ
by substituting these two values in eqn.( i )
IC-ICQ= (VCE-VCEQ)/ rl
=-VCE/ rl +VCEQ / rl
 or
IC = ICQ (-VCE/ rl +VCEQ / rl) ------------------------------------------
---------------------- (ii)
The above is equation is the equation of straight line
called a.c load line
for saturation VCE=0
IC = ICQ +VCEQ / rl=IC(sat) this is the upper end point for a.c
load line
For cut-off IC=0
0 = ICQ (-VCE/ rl +VCEQ / rl) from this
VCE(cut-off)= VCEQ+ IC. rl this is the lower end point for a.c
load line
By joining these two points a.c load line can be obtained.
A.C. load line
 What does the ac load line tell you?
The ac load line is used to tell you the
maximum possible output voltage swing for a
given common-emitter amplifier.
In other words, the ac load line will tell you the
maximum possible peak-to-peak output
voltage (Vpp ) from a given amplifier.
This maximum Vpp is referred to as the
compliance of the amplifier.
(AC Saturation Current Ic(sat) , AC Cutoff Voltage
VCE(off) )
 AC Saturation Current and AC Cutoff
Voltage

IC(sat) = ICQ + (VCEQ/rC)

ac load line
rC IC
vin vce

R1//R2
VCE(off) = VCEQ + ICQrC

VCE
rC = RC//RL

Ref:080314HKN EE3110 DC and AC Load Line 20

 Amplifier Compliance
The ac load line is used to tell the maximum
possible output voltage swing for a given
common-emitter amplifier. In another words,
the ac load line will tell the maximum possible
peak-to-peak output voltage (VPP) from a given
amplifier. This maximum VPP is referred to as the
compliance of the amplifier.
The compliance of an amplifier is found by
determine the maximum possible of IC and VCE
from their respective values of ICQ and VCEQ.

Ref:080314HKN EE3110 DC and AC Load Line 21

 Maximum Possible Compliance

Ref:080314HKN EE3110 DC and AC Load Line 22

 Compliance
The maximum possible transition for VCE is equal to the
difference between VCE(off) and VCEQ. Since this transition is
equal to ICQrC, the maximum peak output voltage from the
amplifier is equal to ICQrC. Two times this value will give
the maximum peak-to-peak transition of the output
voltage:
VPP = 2ICQrC (A)

VPP = the output compliance, in peak-to-peak voltage

ICQ = the quiescent value of IC
rC = the ac load resistance in the circuit

Ref:080314HKN EE3110 DC and AC Load Line 23

 Compliance
When IC = IC(sat), VCE is ideally equal to 0V. When IC = ICQ, VCE is at
VCEQ. Note that when IC makes its maximum possible transition
(from ICQ to IC(sat)), the output voltage changes by an amount
equal to VCEQ. Thus the maximum peak-to-peak transition would
be equal to twice this value:

VPP = 2VCEQ (B)

Equation (A) sets the limit in terms of VCE(off). If the value
obtained by this equation is exceed, the output voltage will try
to exceed VCE(off), which is not possible. This is called cutoff
clipping, because the output voltage is clipped off at the value of
VCE(off).
Equation (B) sets of the limit in terms of IC(sat). If the value
obtained by this equation is exceed, the output will experience
saturation clipping.

Ref:080314HKN EE3110 DC and AC Load Line 24

 Cutoff and Saturation Clipping
When determining the output compliance for a given
amplifier, solve both equation (A) and (B). The lower of
the two results is the compliance of the amplifier.

Ref:080314HKN EE3110 DC and AC Load Line 25

 Amplifier Classifications
Power amplifiers are classified according to the percent
of time that collector current is nonzero.
The amount the output signal varies over one cycle of
operation for a full cycle of input signal.

vin Av vout Class-A

vin Av vout Class-B

vin Av vout Class-C

 Efficiency Ratings
The maximum theoretical efficiency ratings
of class-A, B, and C amplifiers are:
Amplifier Maximum Theoretical
Efficiency, hmax
Class A 25%
Class B 78.5%
Class C 99%
 Class A Amplifier
vin Av vout

output waveform same shape input waveform +

phase shift.

The collector current is nonzero 100% of the time.

inefficient, since even with zero input signal, ICQ is
nonzero
(i.e. transistor dissipates power in the rest, or quiescent,
condition)
 Basic Operation
Common-emitter (voltage-divider) configuration (RC-coupled amplifier)
+VCC

I CC

I CQ RC
I1
R1

RL

v in R2
RE
 Typical Characteristic Curves for
Class-A Operation

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 30

 Typical Characteristic

Previous figure shows an example of a

sinusoidal input and the resulting collector
current at the output.
The current, ICQ , is usually set to be in the
center of the ac load line. Why?
(DC and AC analyses discussed in previous sessions)

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 31

 DC Input Power +VCC

The total dc power, Pi(dc) , that an amplifier I CC

draws from the power supply :
I CQ RC
I1
R1

Pi (dc) VCC I CC RL

I CC I CQ I 1
v in R2
I CC I CQ ( I CQ I 1 ) RE

Pi ( dc ) VCC I CQ
Note that this equation is valid for most amplifier power analyses. We can rewrite for the
above equation for the ideal amplifier as

Pi (dc) 2VCEQ I CQ
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 32
 AC Output Power
AC output (or load) power, Po(ac) ic

2 vo
vo ( rms)
Po (ac) ic ( rms) vo ( rms)
RL vin vce
rC RC//RL

Above equations can be used to R1//R2

calculate the maximum possible
value of ac load power. HOW??

Disadvantage of using class-A amplifiers is the fact that their efficiency

ratings are so low, hmax 25% .
Why?? A majority of the power that is drawn from the supply by a
class-A amplifier is used up by the amplifier itself.
Class-B Amplifier

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 33

 IC(sat) = VCC/(RC+RE) IC(sat) = ICQ + (VCEQ/rC)

DC Load Line ac load line

IC
IC
(mA)
VCE(off) = VCC
VCE(off) = VCEQ + ICQrC

VCE VCE

ac load line VCEQ I CQ 1 VPP2

Po ( ac) VCEQ I CQ
IC Q - point 2 2 2 8 RL
dc load line 1
Po ( ac ) VCEQ I CQ
h 100% 2 100% 25%
Pi ( dc ) 2VCEQ I CQ

VCE

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 34

 Limitation

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 35

 Example +VCC = 20V

Calculate the input power [Pi(dc)], output power [Po(ac)],

and efficiency [h] of the amplifier circuit for an input RB IC
RC
20
voltage that results in a base current of 10mA peak. 1k
Vo

VCC VBE 20V 0.7V 25

IBQ 19.3mA
RB 1k
Vi
ICQ I B 25(19.3mA) 482.5mA 0.48 A
VCEQ VCC ICRC 20V (0.48 A)( 20) 10.4V
V 20V
I c ( sat) CC 1000mA 1A
RC 20
VCE ( cu to ff ) VCC 20V
IC ( p ea k) Ib ( p ea k) 25(10mA peak ) 250mA peak

Po ( ac)
I C2 ( peak )
RC
250 10 A)
3 2

(20) 0.625W
2 2
Pi ( dc) VCC I CQ (20V )(0.48 A) 9.6W
Po ( ac)
h 100% 6.5%
Pi ( dc)

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 36

 Transformer-Coupled Class-A Amplifier
+VCC
A transformer-coupled class-A amplifier
uses a transformer to couple the output N1:N2
signal from the amplifier to the load. RL
Z1
R1
The relationship between the primary
Z2 = RL
and secondary values of voltage,
current and impedance are summarized
as:
N 1 V1 I 2

N 2 V2 I 1 Input R2
N1
2
RE
Z Z
1 1
N2 Z 2 RL

N1, N2 = the number of turns in the primary and secondary

V1, V2 = the primary and secondary voltages
I1, I2 = the primary and secondary currents
Z1, Z2 = the primary and seconadary impedance ( Z2 = RL )
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 37
 Transformer-Coupled Class-A Amplifier

An important characteristic of the transformer

is the ability to produce a counter emf, or kick
emf.
When an inductor experiences a rapid change
in supply voltage, it will produce a voltage with
a polarity that is opposite to the original voltage
polarity.
The counter emf is caused by the
electromagnetic field that surrounds the
inductor.

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 38

 Counter emf
SW1 + -

+ +
10V 10V 10V 10V
- -

- +

This counter emf will be present only for an instant.

As the field collapses into the inductor the voltage decreases in value
until it eventually reaches 0V.

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 39

 DC Operating Characteristics
The dc biasing of a transformer-coupled class-A amplifier is very similar to any
other class-A amplifier with one important exception :
the value of VCEQ is designed to be as close as possible to VCC.
+VCC
The dc load line is very close to being a vertical line N1:N2

indicating that VCEQ will be approximately equal to VCC Z1 RL

R1
for all the values of IC. Z2 = RL

The nearly vertical load line of the transformer-

coupled amplifier is caused by the extremely low dc Input R2
RE
resistance of the transformer primary.
VCEQ = VCC ICQ(RC + RE)
The value of RL is ignored in the dc analysis of the
transformer-coupled class-A amplifier. The reason for DC load line

this is the fact that transformer provides dc isolation I C

between the primary and secondary. Since the load

resistance is in the secondary of the transformer it IB = 0mA

dose not affect the dc analysis of the primary VCE

circuitry.
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 40
 AC Operating Characteristics
1. Determine the maximum possible change in VCE +VCC
N1:N2
Since VCE cannot change by an amount RL
Z1
greater than (VCEQ 0V), vce = VCEQ. R1
Z2 = RL
2. Determine the corresponding change in IC
Find the value of Z1 for the transformer: Z1 =
R2
(N1/N2)2Z2 and ic = vce / Z1 Input
RE

3. Plot a line that passes through the Q-point and

IC
the value of IC(max).
IC(max) = ??
IC(max) = ICQ + ic DC load line

4. Locate the two points where the load line

passes through the lies representing the minimum Q-point

and maximum values of IB. These two points are ac load line

then used to find the maximum and minimum

values of IC and VCE IB = 0mA
VCE

~ VCEQ ~ VCC ~ 2VCC

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 41
 +VCC
N1:N2

Z1 RL
R1
IC
Z2 = RL
IC(max) = ??

DC load line

Input R2
RE

ICQ Q-point

ac load line
ic
IB = 0mA
VCE
Z1 vo ~ VCEQ ~ VCC ~ 2VCC
vin vce

R1//R2

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 42

 Maximum load power and efficiency

The Power Supply for the amplifier : PS = VCCICC

Maximum peak-to-peak voltage across the primary of the transformer
is approximately equal to the difference between the values of VCE(max)
and VCE(min) : VPP = VCE(max) VCE(min)
N1 : N2
Maximum possible peak-to-peak load voltage is
found by V(P-P)max = (N2 / N1)V PP VPP RL V(P-P) max

The actual efficiency rating of a transformer-coupled class-A amplifier

will generally be less than 40%.

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 43

 There are several reasons for the
difference between the practical and
theoretical efficiency ratings for the
amplifier :
1. The derivation of the h = 50% value assumes
that VCEQ = VCC . In practice, VCEQ will always
be some value that is less the VCC .
2. The transformer is subject to various power
losses. Among these losses are couple loss
and hysteresis loss. These transformer power
losses are not considered in the derivation of
the h = 50% value.

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 44

 One of the primary advantages of using the
transformer-coupled class-A amplifier is the
increased efficiency over the RC-coupled class-A
circuit.
Another advantage is the fact that the
transformer-coupled amplifier is easily converted
into a type of amplifier that is used extensively in
communications :- the tuned amplifier.
A tuned amplifier is a circuit that is designed to
have a specific value of power gain over a specific
range of frequency.

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 45

CLASS B POWER AMPLIFIER
Class-B amplifier provides an output signal
varying over one-half the input
signal cycle + zero phase shift.
?? Where is the Q-point on the load line ???
The dc bias point for class-B amplifier is
therefore at 0 volt.

i.e. biased at cutoff :-

CLASS B PUSH PULL AMPLIFIER
CROSSOVER DISTORTION
COMPLEMENTARY SYMMETRY
CLASS B PUSH PULL AMPLIFIER