UNIVERSITY OF
LIVINGSTONIA
Computer engineering
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ANALOG ELECTRONICS
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Bipolar junction
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transistor amplifiers
Single stage amplifier
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AMPLIFICATION is the process of raising a weak signal without
changing its shape
An AMPLIFIER is therefore an electronic device which is used
or employed to carry out amplification process.
By a stage we mean a single transistor with its bias and auxiliary
equipment.
It may be emphasised here that a practical amplifier is always a
multistage amplifier.
However, it is profitable to consider the multistage amplifier in terms
of single stages that are connected together
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4 Introduction to Amplifiers
The BJT is an excellent amplifier when biased in the forward-active
region.
In these regions, the transistors can provide high voltage, current and
power gains.
DC bias is provided to stabilize the operating point in the desired
operation region.
The DC Q-point also determines
The small-signal parameters of the transistor
The voltage gain, input resistance, and output resistance
The maximum input and output signal amplitudes
The overall power consumption of the amplifier
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5 Single stage amplifiers
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 analysing carefully only a single stage and using this single
stage analysis repeatedly, we can effectively analyse the
complex circuit.
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6 The work of transistor as 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.
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7 Transistor as amplifier
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The action of transistor amplifier can be beautifully explained
by referring to Fig. 10.1 above.
Suppose a change of 0.1V in signal voltage produces a
change of 2 mA in the collector current. Obviously, a signal of
only 0.1V applied to the base will give an output voltage = 2
mA × 5 kΩ = 10V.
Thus, the transistor has been able to raise the voltage level of
the signal from 0.1V to 10V i.e. voltage amplification or stage
gain is 100.
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Practical Circuit of Transistor Amplifier
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a transistor can accomplish faithful amplification only if proper
associated circuitry is used with it. The following are the
associated circuitry.
(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 (j 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.
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(iii) Emitter bypass capacitor CE. An emitter bypass capacitor CE (j
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 (j 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.
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Various circuit currents
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It is useful to mention the various currents in the complete amplifier
circuit.
(i) Base current. When no signal is applied in the base circuit, d.c.
base current IB 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 iB is given by:
(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 iC is given by:
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13 Emitter current
When no signal is applied, a d.c. emitter current IE flows. With the application of
signal, total emitter current iE is given by
:
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D.C. And A.C. Equivalent Circuits
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In a transistor amplifier, both d.c. and a.c. conditions prevail.
The d.c. sources set up d.c. currents and voltages whereas the a.c.
source (i.e. signal) produces fluctuations in the transistor currents and
voltages.
Therefore, a simple way to analyse the action of a transistor is to split
the analysis into two parts viz. a d.c. analysis and an a.c. analysis. In
the d.c. analysis, we consider all the d.c. sources at the same time
and work out the d.c. currents and voltages in the circuit.
For a.c. analysis, we consider all the a.c. sources at the same time
and work out the a.c. currents and voltages.
By adding the d.c. and a.c. currents and voltages, we get the total
currents and voltages in the circuit.
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16 DC and AC Analysis -- Application of
Superposition
DC analysis:
Find the DC equivalent circuit by replacing all capacitors by open circuits
and inductors (if any) by short circuits.
Find the DC Q-point from the equivalent circuit by using the appropriate
large-signal transistor model.
AC analysis:
Find the AC equivalent circuit by replacing all capacitors by short circuits,
inductors (if any) by open circuits, dc voltage sources by ground
connections and dc current sources by open circuits.
Replace the transistor by its small-signal model (to be developed).
Use this equivalent circuit to analyze the AC characteristics of the amplifier.
Combine the results of dc and ac analysis (superposition) to yield the total
voltages and currents in the circuit.
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17 DC and AC equivalent circuits
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Load Line Analysis
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The output characteristics are determined experimentally and indicate
the relation between VCE and IC. However, the same information can
be obtained in a much simpler way by representing the mathematical
relation between IC and VCE graphically. As discussed before, the
relationship between VCE and IC is linear so that it can be
represented by a straight line on the output characteristics.
This is known as a load line. The points lying on the load line give the
possible values of VCE and IC in the output circuit. As in a transistor
circuit both d.c. and a.c. conditions exist, therefore, there are two
types of load lines, namely ; d.c. load line and a.c. load line.
The former determines the locus of IC and VCE in the zero signal
conditions and the latter shows these values when the signal is
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19 d.c. load line.
d.c. load line. It is the line on the output
characteristics of a transistor circuit which gives the
values of IC and VCE corresponding to zero signal
or d.c. conditions. As for a given circuit, VCC and
(RC + RE) are constant, therefore, it is a first
degree *equation and
can be represented by a straight line on the output
characteristics. This is known as d.c. load line and
determines the loci of VCE and IC points in the
zero signal conditions.
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The d.c. load line can be readily plotted by locating two end
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points of the straight line.
The value of VCE will be maximum when IC = 0. Therefore,
by putting IC = 0 in exp. (i), we get, Max. VCE = VCC
This locates the first point B (OB = VCC) of the d.c. load line
The value of IC will be maximum when VCE = 0.
∴ Max. IC = VCC/RC +RE
This locates the second point A (OA = VCC/RC + RE) of the
d.c. load line. By joining points A and B, d.c. load line AB is
constructed [See Fig. 10.13 (ii)].
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a.c. load line.
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a.c. load line. This is the line on the output characteristics
of a transistor circuit which gives the values of iC and vCE
when signal is applied.
To add a.c. load line to the output characteristics, we again
require two end points–one maximum collector-emitter
voltage point and the other maximum collector current point.
Under the application of a.c. signal, these values are Max.
collector-emitter voltage = VCE + IC RAC. This locates the
point C of the a.c. load line on the collector-emitter voltage
axis.
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Example 10.5. For the transistor amplifier shown in Fig. 10.15, R1 = 10 kΩ, R2 = 5 kΩ, RC =
1 kΩ, RE = 2 kΩ and RL = 1 kΩ.
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(i) Draw d.c. load line (ii) Determine the operating point (iii) Draw a.c. load line.
Assume VBE = 0.7 V.
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24 Dc line
Solution. (i) d.c. load line :
To draw d.c. load line, we require two end points viz maximum VCE point and
maximum IC point
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26 ac load line
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27 Voltage gain
The basic function of an amplifier is to raise the
strength of an a.c. input signal.
The voltage gain of the amplifier is the ratio of a.c.
output voltage to the a.c. input signal voltage.
Therefore, in order to find the voltage gain, we
should consider only the a.c. currents and voltages
in the circuit. For this purpose, we should look at the
a.c. equivalent circuit of transistor amplifier
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28 Ac Voltage gain
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load RC appears in parallel with RL. Therefore, effective load for a.c. is given by :
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In the circuit shown in Fig. 10.20, find the voltage gain.
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Given that β = 60 and input resistance Rin = 1 kΩ.
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In a transistor amplifier, when the signal changes by
0.02V, the base current changes by 10 μA and
collector current by 1mA. If collector load RC = 5 kΩ
and RL = 10 kΩ, find:
(i) current gain
(ii) input impedance
(iii) a.c. load (iv) voltage gain
(v) power gain.
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33 A.C. Emitter Resistance
The ac or dynamic resistance of emitter-base junction diode
of a transistor is called ac emitter resistance. It is defined as
the change in base-emitter voltage divided by change in
corresponding emitter current.
The ac resistance of emitter diode is given by:
where IE = dc emitter current (= VE/RE)
It is a usual practice to represent ac emitter resistance by re′.
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Determine the ac emitter resistance for the transistor circuit
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below
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35 Voltage Gain of CE Amplifier
The voltage gain (Av) of an amplifier is equal to a.c.
output voltage (vout) divided by a.c. input voltage
(vin) i.e. Av = vout/vin. We have already seen that
voltage gain of a CE amplifier is given by;
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The above formula for Av can be used if we know the
values of RC (or RAC), β and Rin. Generally, all these
values are not known. In that case, we can find the
value of Av in terms of total a.c. collector resistance
and total a.c. emitter resistance. For the circuit
shown in Fig. 10.25 (with CE connected across RE),
it can be proved that the voltage gain is given by:
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Input Impedance of CE Amplifier
When one CE amplifier is being used to drive another, the
input impedance of the second amplifier will serve as the
load resistance of the first.
Therefore, in order to calculate the voltage gain (Av) of the
first amplifier stage correctly, we must calculate the input
impedance of the second stage. The input impedance of an
amplifier can be found by using the ac equivalent circuit of
the amplifier
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Determine the input impedance of the amplifier circuit
39shown in Fig. 10.35.
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41 Exercise
Discuss classification of amplifiers
In the circuit shown in Fig. 10.46,
VCC = 30 V, R1 = 2 kΩ, R2 = 1 kΩ,
RC = 2 kΩ, RL = 2 kΩ, RE = 1 kΩ.
Draw the ac and DC equivalent
circuits
Draw the d.c. and a.c. load lines.
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For more details and readings refer to principles of electronics – Chapter 10. I
believe I shared the book and others can also share with others.
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