Large Signal Amplifiers

Unit 2

1 22nd september 2021

 Outline
 Introduction

 Concept of Power Amplifier

 Power Amplifier Classification

 Single-stage Transistor Amplifier

 BJTs Power Amplifier

 Class A Power Amplifier

2 22nd september 2021

 Introduction
 Power amplifiers are used to deliver a relatively high amount of power,
usually to a low resistance load.

 Typical load values range from 300W (for transmission antennas) to 8W

(for audio speaker).

 Although these load values do not cover every possibility, they do

illustrate the fact that power amplifiers usually drive low-resistance
loads.

 Typical output power rating of a power amplifier will be 1W or higher.

 Ideal power amplifier will deliver 100% of the power it draws from the
supply to load. In practice, this can never occur.

 The reason for this is the fact that the components in the amplifier will all
dissipate some of the power that is being drawn form the supply.
3 22nd september 2021
 Concept of Power Amplifier
 Provide sufficient power to an output load to drive other
power device.

 To deliver a large current to a small load resistance e.g.

audio speaker;

 To deliver a large voltage to a large load resistance e.g.

switching power supply;

 To provide a low output resistance in order to avoid loss of

gain and to maintain linearity (to minimize harmonic
distortion)

 To deliver power to the load efficiently

4 22nd september 2021
 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 amplifier.

 A Single stage transistor

amplifier has one transistor,
bias circuit and other
auxiliary components.

5 22nd september 2021

  When a weak input signal is given to the
base of the transistor as shown in the figure,
a small amount of base current flows.

 Due to the transistor action, a larger current

flows in the collector of the transistor. (As
the collector current is β times of the base
current which means IC = βIB).

 Now, as the collector current increases, the

voltage drop across the resistor RC also
increases, which is collected as the output.

 Hence a small input at the base gets

amplified as the signal of larger magnitude
and strength at the collector output. Hence
this transistor acts as an amplifier.

6 22nd september 2021

 Practical Circuit of a Transistor Amplifier

Biasing Circuit
The resistors R1, R2 and RE form the biasing and
stabilization circuit, which helps in establishing a
proper operating point.

Input Capacitor Cin

This capacitor couples the input signal to
the base of the transistor.

The input capacitor Cin allows AC signal,

but isolates the signal source from R2.

If this capacitor is not present, the input

signal gets directly applied, which changes
the bias at R2.
7 22nd september 2021
  Coupling Capacitor CC
 This capacitor is present at the end
of one stage and connects it to the
other stage.

 As it couples two stages it is called

as coupling capacitor.
 This capacitor blocks DC of one
stage to enter the other but allows
AC to pass. Hence it is also called
as blocking capacitor.
 Due to the presence of coupling
capacitor CC, the output across the
resistor RL is free from the
collector’s DC voltage.
 If this is not present, the bias
conditions of the next stage will be
drastically changed due to the
shunting effect of RC, as it would
come in parallel to R2 of the next
8
stage. 22nd september 2021
 Emitter by-pass capacitor CE
This capacitor is employed in parallel
to the emitter resistor RE.

The amplified AC signal is by passed

through this.

If this is not present, that signal will

pass through RE which produces a
voltage drop across RE that will feedback
the input signal reducing the output
voltage.

The Load resistor RL

The resistance RL connected at the

output is known as Load resistor.

 When a number of stages are used,

then RL represents the input resistance of
9 the next stage. 22nd september 2021
 Various Circuit currents
Base Current
 When no signal is applied in the base circuit, DC base current I B flows due to biasing
circuit.
 When AC signal is applied, AC base current ib also flows.
 Therefore, with the application of signal, total base current i B is given by
iB=IB+ib

Collector Current
 When no signal is applied, a DC collector current I C flows due to biasing circuit.
 When AC signal is applied, AC collector current i c also flows.
 Therefore, the total collector current iC is given by
iC=IC+ic
Where
IC=βIB = zero signal collecor current
ic=βib = collecor current due to signal

10 22nd september 2021

 Various Circuit currents
Emitter Current
 When no signal is applied, a DC emitter current IE flows.
 With the application of signal, total emitter current iE is given
by iE=IE+ie
 It should be remembered that
IE=IB+IC
ie=ib+ic
 As base current is usually small, it is to be noted that
IE≅IC and ie≅ic

11 22nd september 2021

 CE Amplifier
Construction

The common emitter amplifier circuit using

NPN transistor is as shown .

 The input signal being applied at emitter base

junction and the output signal being taken from
collector base junction.
Operation
The emitter base junction is forward biased by When no input is applied, the quiescent conditions
VEE and collector base junction is reverse biased are formed and no output is present.
by VCC.
When positive half of the signal is being applied,
the voltage between base and emitter Vbe is increased
 The operating point is adjusted with the help of because it is already positive with respect to ground.
resistors Re and Rc.
As forward bias increases, the base current too
Thus the values of Ic, Ib and Icb are decided by increases accordingly. Since IC = βIB, the collector

VCC, VEE, Re and Rc. current increases as well.

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 CE amplifier with self-bias circuit
 The collector current when flows through RC, the voltage drop increases.

VC=ICRC
 As a consequence of this, the voltage between collector and emitter decreases.
Because,
VCB=VCC−ICRC
 Thus, the amplified voltage appears across R C.

 Therefore, in a CE amplifier, as the positive going signal appears as a negative

going signal, it is understood that there is a phase shift of 180o between input
and output.

 CE amplifier has a high input impedance and lower output impedance than CB
amplifier. The voltage gain and power gain are also high in CE amplifier and
hence this is mostly used in Audio amplifiers.

13 22nd september 2021

Power Amplifier Power Dissipation
VCC
The total amount of power being I CC
dissipated by the amplifier, Ptot , is

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

I2

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 Terms Considering Performance
 The primary objective of a power amplifier is to obtain maximum output power.
 In order to achieve this, the important factors to be considered are
 collector efficiency,
 power dissipation capability and
 distortion.

Collector Efficiency
 This explains how well an amplifier converts DC power to AC power. When the DC supply is
given by the battery but no AC signal input is given, the collector output at such a condition is
observed as collector efficiency.

 The collector efficiency is defined as

ac output power Po (ac)

 
 For example, dc  100 %   100%
if the battery
input supplies 15W P
power and
i
( dcAC
) output power is 3W. Then the transistor
efficiency will be 20%.
 The main aim of a power amplifier is to obtain maximum collector efficiency. Hence the higher
the value of collector efficiency, the efficient the amplifier will be.

15 22nd september 2021

 Power Dissipation Capacity
 Every transistor gets heated up during its operation.

 As a power transistor handles large currents, it gets more heated up.

 This heat increases the temperature of the transistor, which alters the operating
point of the transistor.

 So, in order to maintain the operating point stability, the temperature of the
transistor has to be kept in permissible limits.

 For this, the heat produced has to be dissipated. Such a capacity is called as
Power dissipation capability.

 Power dissipation capability can be defined as the ability of a power transistor

to dissipate the heat developed in it.

 Metal cases called heat sinks are used in order to dissipate the heat produced in
power transistors.

16 22nd september 2021

 Distortion
 A transistor is a non-linear device.

 When compared with the input, there occur few variations in the
output.

 In voltage amplifiers, this problem is not pre-dominant as small

currents are used. But in power amplifiers, as large currents are in use,
the problem of distortion certainly arises

 Distortion is defined as the change of output wave shape from the

input wave shape of the amplifier.

 An amplifier that has lesser distortion, produces a better output and

hence considered efficient.

17 22nd september 2021

 Power Amplifiers Classification

Class A - The transistor conducts Class B - The transistor

during the whole cycle of conducts during one-half cycle
sinusoidal input signal of input signal

Class AB - The transistor Class C - The transistor conducts

conducts for slightly more than for less than half a cycle of input
half a cycle of input signal signal
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 Efficiency Ratings
The maximum theoretical efficiency ratings of class-
A, B, and C amplifiers are:

Amplifier Maximum Theoretical

Efficiency, max
Class A 25%
Class B 78.5%
Class C 99%

19 22nd september 2021

BJT Power Amplifier
 Comparison of the characteristics and maximum ratings of a
small-signal and power BJT

Small-signal BJT Power BJT Power BJT

Parameter
(2N2222A) (2N3055) (2N6078)
VCE (max) (V) 40 60 250
IC (max) (A) 0.8 15 7
PD (max) (W) 1.2 115 45
 35 – 100 5 – 20 12 – 70
fT (MHz) 300 0.8 1

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 Typical dc beta characteristics (hFE versus
Ic) for 2N3055

21 22nd september 2021

 BJTs Power Amplifier
 Current gain is smaller in power amplifier BJT.
 The gain depends on IC and temperature may be related to the
following:
 maximum current that connecting wires can handle
 at which current gain falls below a stated value
 current which leads to maximum power dissipation.
 maximum voltage limitation associated with avalanche
breakdown in reverse-biased collector-base junction.
 second breakdown in BJT operating at high voltage and
current.

22 22nd september 2021

 VCE(sus) =115 volt at which these curve
merge and the minimum voltage
necessary to sustain the transistor in
breakdown.

The breakdown voltage, VCE0

~130 volt when the base terminal
is open circuited, IB=0

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 Instantaneous power dissipation

pQ  vCE iC  vBE iB  vCE iC

 The average power over one cycle
1 T
PQ 
T 
0
vCE iC dt

 The maximum rated power,

PT  VCE I C
22nd september 2021 24
 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)

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 Basic Operation
Common-emitter (voltage-divider) configuration (RC-coupled amplifier)

+VCC

I CC

I CQ RC
I1
R1

RL

v in R2
RE

26 22nd september 2021

 Typical Characteristic Curves for Class A
Operation
Configuration : No inductor @ transformer are used
(a) Common-emitter amplifier,
(b) dc load line (the Q point is at centre of the load line)
(c) instantaneous power dissipation versus time in the transistor

27 22nd september 2021

 DC Input Power +VCC

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

amplifier 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
28 22nd september 2021
 AC Output Power
AC output (or load) power, Po(ac) ic

vo
vo2( rms )
Po ( ac )  ic ( rms ) vo ( rms ) 
Above equations can be usedRto L
vin vce
rC RC//RL
calculate the maximum possible
R1//R2
value of ac load power.

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

efficiency ratings are so low, max  25% .

A majority of the power that is drawn from the supply by a class-A

amplifier is used up by the amplifier itself.

29 22nd september 2021

 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 8RL
dc load line 1
Po ( ac ) VCEQ I CQ
  100%  2  100%  25%
Pi ( dc ) 2VCEQ I CQ

VCE

30 22nd september 2021

 Limitation

31 22nd september 2021

 Example +VCC = 20V

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

RC
[Po(ac)], and efficiency [] of the amplifier circuit for RB IC
20
1k
an input voltage that results in a base current of Vo

10mA peak.   25
VCC  VBE 20V  0.7V
IBQ    19.3mA Vi
RB 1k
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 ( cutoff )  VCC  20V
IC ( peak )  Ib ( peak )  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 )
  100%  6.5%
32 Pi ( dc ) 22nd september 2021
 Example
 The common source circuit parameters are
VDD=10V, RD=5kΩ and the transistor
parameters are Kn=1mA/V2, VTN=1V and
=0.
 Assume the output voltage swing is limited
to the range between the transition point
and vDS=9V to minimize nonlinear
distortion.
 Calculate the actual efficiency of a class A
output stage.

33 22nd september 2021

 Exercise
The Q-point of common source circuit is
VDSQ=4V
a) Find IDQ
b) Determine the max peak to peak
amplitude of a symmetrical sinusoidal
output voltage if the min value of
instantaneous drain current must be no
less than 0.1IDQ and the min value of
instantaneous drain source voltage must
be no less than vDS=1.5V.
c) Calculate the power conversion
efficiency where the signal power is the
power delivered to RL. Ans:
60mA,
5V,
31.25mW, 5.2%
34 22nd september 2021
 Design of Class A C-E Amplifier
To find R1, R2, RE, RC use the DC analysis and design
formula;
VCC VCC RE
VEQ  ; VCQ  ; R2 
10 2 10
I C  I CQ  given in data sheet.
If have R L ; I C  10 I L

To find Zi, Zo, Av, Ai use AC analysis (without loading

effect)

To find Zi, Zo, Avs, Ai use AC analysis (with loading effect if
have Ri and RL

35 22nd september 2021

 Class B Power Amplifier
 Consists of complementary pair electronic devices

 One conducts for one half cycle of the input signal and the
other conducts for another half of the input signal

 When the input is zero, both devices are off, the bias currents
are zero and the output is zero.
 Ideal voltage gain is unity

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  For input larger than zero, A turn ON and supplies current to the
load.

 For input less than zero, B turn ON and sinks current from the
load

37 22nd september 2021

 Complimentary Push-Pull Circuit

38 22nd september 2021

 CROSSOVER DISTORTION

DEAD BAND

39 22nd september 2021

The Ideal Class B
Vp
iCn  sin t
i Cn RL
Vp
iCn  sin t
RL

vo  V p sin t

i Cp

vo  VP sin t

22nd september 2021 40

• Maximum possible value of Vp is VCC
vCEn  VCC  V p sin t
• The instantaneous power in Qn is;

pQn  vCEniCn
 Vp 
pQn  VCC  V p sin t  sin t 
 RL 

22nd september 2021 41

 2
VCCV p Vp
 The average power in Qn is PQn  
RL 4 RL

 Differentiating for maximum PQn with respect to Vp equal to

zero gives us dPQn VCC 2V p
  0
dV p RL 4 RL
2VCC
then VP 
 2
VCC
 Maximum average power dissipation; PQn  max   2
 RL

22nd september 2021 42

 2
V
1 p
 The average power delivered to the load is PL 
2 RL
Vp
 Power source supplies half sinewave of current, IS 
RL
the average value is;
 Vp 
PS   Ps   VCC I S  VCC  
 RL 
 The total power supplied by the two sources is
 Vp 
PS  2VCC I S  2VCC  
 RL 

22nd september 2021 43

The efficiency is 2

PL
V
1 P
2 RL V p
  
PS 2V  
VP
CC RL 4VCC
 maximum efficiency when VP  VCC 

   0.785  78.5%
4

22nd september 2021 44

 Class AB Power Amplifier

Small quiescent bias

on each output
transistor to
eliminate crossover
distortion

45 22nd september 2021

 Class C Power Amplifier

46 22nd september 2021

 Class AB Voltage Transfer Curve

47 22nd september 2021

 Collector Currents & Output Current

iCn  iL  iCp

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 Example

The parameters are

VDD=10V, RL=20Ω. The
transistor are matched and
K=0.2A/V2, VT=1V, IDQ=0.05
when vo=5V.
Determine the required
biasing in a MOSFET class
AB output stage.

49 22nd september 2021

 Inductively Coupled Amplifier

50 22nd september 2021

  The maximum possible average signal power delivered to the load
2
1 2 1 VCC
PL (max)  I CQ RL 
2 2 R
 The possible average signal power supply by V L
CC

2
VCC
PS  VCC I CQ 
RL
 The maximum possible power conversion efficiency

2
1 VCC
PL (max) 2 RL 1
 (max)   VCC 2
  0.5  50%
PS RL
2

51 22nd september 2021

 Transformer Coupled Amplifier
• The theoretical maximum efficiency of a basic RC-
coupled class-A amplifier is limited to 25%.
• In practical circuit, the efficiency is less than 25%.
• Used for output power of about 1 W only.
• Transformer coupling can increase the maximum
efficiency to 50%
• Disadvantage of transformer coupling – expensive
& bulky.
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 Neglecting transformer resistance and assuming RE is small;
VCEQ  VCC
53 22nd september 2021
For ideal transformer;
v1
iL  aiC and v2 
a

 N1  iC
 a  turn ratio  
 N2 

v2 v1 / a
RL  
iL aiC

v1 1 v1
RL   2 RL ' RL ' a 2 RL
iC a iC

54 22nd september 2021

Turn ratio is designed for
maximum symmetrical
swing, hence;

2VCC VCC
RL '    a 2 RL
2 I CQ I CQ

The maximum average power delivered to load equals

maximum average power delivered to the primary of the
transformer

1 (VCC and ICQ are maximum

PL  max   VCC I CQ
2 possible amplitudes of signal)

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 The average power supplied by the VCC source is;

PS  VCC I CQ

The maximum possible efficiency is;

PL  max 
  0.5  50%
PS

56 22nd september 2021