Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 1

Lecture 8
Power Amplifier (Class A)

I!"#$io of Power Amplifier

Power a! Effi#ie#%

Amplifier Classifi#a$io

&asi# Class A Amplifier

'rasformer Co"ple! Class A Amplifier

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 2
Introduction

Power amplifiers are "se! $o !eli(er a rela$i(el% high amount of

power) "s"all% to a low resistance load*

'%pi#al loa! (al"es ra+e from 300, (for $rasmissio

a$eas) $o 8, (for a"!io spea-er)*

Al$.o"+. $.ese loa! (al"es !o o$ #o(er e(er% possi/ili$%) $.e%

!o ill"s$ra$e $.e fa#$ $.a$ power amplifiers usually drive low-
resistance loads*

'%pi#al o"$p"$ power ra$i+ of a power amplifier will /e 1 or

higher*

Ideal power amplifier will !eli(er 1!!" of $.e power i$ !raws

from $.e s"ppl% $o loa!* I practice) $.is #a e(er o##"r*

'.e reaso for $.is is $.e fa#$ $.a$ $.e #ompoe$s i $.e
amplifier will all dissipate some of $.e power $.a$ is /ei+
!raw form $.e s"ppl%*
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 3
Amplifier Power #issipation
P
1
0 I
1
2
R
1
P
2
0 I
2
2
R
2
I
C1
R
C
R
E
R
1
R
2
2
CC
I
1
I
2
I
CC
P
C
0 I
C1
2
R
C
P
'
0 I
'1
2
R
'
P
E
0 I
E1
2
R
E
I
E1
'.e total amo"$ of power
/ei+ !issipa$e! /% $.e
amplifier) P
tot
, is
P
tot
= P
1
+ P
2
+ P
C
+ P
T
+ P
E

'.e !iffere#e /e$wee $.is
$o$al (al"e a! $.e $o$al power
/ei+ !raw from $.e s"ppl%
is $.e power $.a$ a#$"all% +oes
$o $.e load $ i%e% output
power*
Amplifier &fficiency
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 3
Amplifier &fficiency

A figure of merit for $.e power amplifier is i$s effi#ie#%) *

&fficiency ( ) of a amplifier is !efie! as $.e ra$io of a#

o"$p"$ power (power !eli(ere! $o loa!) $o !# ip"$ power *

&% form"la :

As we will see) #er$ai amplifier #ofi+"ra$ios .a(e m"#.

.i+.er effi#ie#% ra$i+s $.a o$.ers*

'.is is primar% #osi!era$io w.e !e#i!i+ w.i#. $%pe of

power amplifier $o "se for a spe#ifi# appli#a$io*
Amplifier Classifications
4 100
) (
) (
4 100 = =
dc P
ac P
power input dc
power output ac
i
o

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 5

Amplifier Classifications

Power amplifiers are #lassifie! a##or!i+ $o $.e per#e$ of

$ime $.a$ #olle#$or #"rre$ is non'ero*

'.e amo"$ $.e output si+al (aries o(er one cycle of

opera$io for a full cycle of input si+al*
v
i
v
o"$
A
v
Class-A
v
i
v
o"$
A
v
Class-(
v
i
v
o"$
A
v
Class-C
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 6
&fficiency )atings

'.e ma*imum theoretical efficiency

ra$i+s of #lass7A) &) a! C amplifiers are:
Amplifier 8a9im"m '.eore$i#al
Effi#ie#%)
ma*

Class A 254
Class & 78*54
Class C ::4
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 7
Class A Amplifier

o"$p"$ wa(eform same shape ip"$

wa(eform +
phase shift%

'.e #olle#$or #"rre$ is non'ero 1004 of $.e $ime*

inefficient) si#e e(e wi$. ;ero ip"$ si+al) IC1 is
o;ero
(i*e* $rasis$or !issipa$es power i $.e res$) or <"ies#e$)
#o!i$io)
v
i
v
o"$
A
v
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 8
(asic ,peration
Commo7emi$$er ((ol$a+e7!i(i!er) #ofi+"ra$io (RC7#o"ple! amplifier)
R
C
=2
CC
R
E
R
1
R
2
R
>
v
i
I
C1
I
1
I
CC
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) :
-ypical Characteristic Curves
for Class-A ,peration
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 10
-ypical Characteristic

Pre(io"s fi+"re s.ows a e9ample of a

si"soi!al ip"$ a! $.e res"l$i+ #olle#$or
#"rre$ a$ $.e o"$p"$*

'.e #"rre$) I
C1
) is "s"all% se$ $o /e i $.e
center of $.e a# loa! lie* ,.%?
(#C and AC analyses !is#"sse! i pre(io"s sessios)
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 11
#C Input Power
R
C
=2
CC
R
E
R
1
R
2
R
>
v
i
I
C1
I
1
I
CC
'.e $o$al !# power) P
i
(dc) ) $.a$ a
amplifier !raws from $.e power
s"ppl% :
CC CC i
I V dc P = ) (
1
I I I
CQ CC
+ =
CQ CC
I I ) (
1
I I
CQ
>>
CQ CC i
I V dc P = ) (
.ote $.a$ $.is e<"a$io is (ali! for mos$ amplifier power aal%ses*
,e #a rewri$e for $.e a/o(e e<"a$io for $.e ideal amplifier as
CQ CEQ i
I V dc P 2 ) ( =
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 12
AC ,utput Power
R
1
@@R
2
v
#e
v
i
v
o
i
#
R
C
@@R
>
r
C
AC o"$p"$ (or loa!) power) P
o
(ac)
A/o(e e<"a$ios #a /e "se! $o
#al#"la$e $.e ma*imum possi/le
(al"e of a# loa! power* HA,??
L
rms o
rms o rms c o
R
v
v i ac P
2
) (
) ( ) (
) ( = =
#isadvantage of "si+ #lass7A amplifiers is $.e fa#$ $.a$ $.eir
effi#ie#% ra$i+s are so low)
max
/0" *
hy11 A maBori$% of $.e power $.a$ is !raw from $.e s"ppl% /% a
#lass7A amplifier is "se! "p /% $.e amplifier i$self*
Class-( Amplifier
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 13
I
C
(mA)
2
CE
2
CE(off)
0 2
CC
I
C(sa$)
0 2
CC
@(R
C
=R
E
)
#C Load Line
I
C
2
CE
I
C(sa$)
0 I
C1
= (2
CE1
@r
C
)
2
CE(off)
0 2
CE1
= I
C1
r
C
ac load line
I
C
2
CE
1 7 poi$
ac load line
!# loa! lie
L
PP
CQ CEQ
CQ CEQ
o
R
V
I V
I V
ac P
8 2
1
2 2
) (
2
= =

=
4 25 4 100
2
2
1
4 100
) (
) (
= = =
CQ CEQ
CQ CEQ
dc i
ac o
I V
I V
P
P

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 13

Limitation
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 15
&*ample
Cal#"la$e $.e ip"$ power CP
i
(dc)D) o"$p"$ power
CP
o
(ac)D) a! effi#ie#% CD of $.e amplifier #ir#"i$ for a
ip"$ (ol$a+e $.a$ res"l$s i a /ase #"rre$ of 10mA pea-*
R
C
R
&
=2
CC
0 202
I
C
2
i
25 =
20
k 1
2
o
( )
4 5 * 6 4 100
6 * : ) 38 * 0 )( 20 (
625 * 0 ) 20 (
2
10 250
2
250 ) 10 ( 25
20
1 1000
20
20
3 * 10 ) 20 )( 38 * 0 ( 20
38 * 0 5 * 382 ) 3 * 1: ( 25
3 * 1:
1
7 * 0 20
) (
) (
) (
2
3
2
) (
) (
) (
) ( ) (
) (
= =
= = =
=

= =
= = =
= =
= =

= =
= = =
= = =
=

dc i
ac o
CQ CC dc i
C
peak C
ac o
C
CC
sat c
B
P
P
W A V I V P
W
A
R
I
P
peak mA peak mA I I
V V V
A mA
V
R
V
I
V A V R I V V
A mA mA I I
mA
k
V V
R
V V
I
peak b peak C
CC cuto CE
C C CC CEQ
CQ
B
BE CC
BQ

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 16

-ransformer-Coupled Class-A Amplifier
Ip"$
=2
CC
R
E
R
1
R
2
R
>
N
1
:N
2
E
2
0 R
>
E
1
A $rasformer7#o"ple! #lass7A amplifier
"ses a $rasformer $o #o"ple $.e o"$p"$
si+al from $.e amplifier $o $.e loa!*
'.e rela$ios.ip /e$wee $.e primar%
a! se#o!ar% (al"es of (ol$a+e) #"rre$
a! impe!a#e are s"mmari;e! as:
L
R
!
!
!
"
"
I
I
V
V
"
"
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
= =

= =
N
1
) N
2
0 $.e "m/er of $"rs i $.e primar% a! se#o!ar%
2
1
) 2
2
0 $.e primar% a! se#o!ar% (ol$a+es
I
1
) I
2
0 $.e primar% a! se#o!ar% #"rre$s
E
1
) E
2
0 $.e primar% a! se#oa!ar% impe!a#e ( E
2
0 R
>
)
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 17
-ransformer-Coupled Class-A Amplifier

A important #.ara#$eris$i# of $.e $rasformer

is $.e a/ili$% $o pro!"#e a counter emf) or 2ic2
emf*

,.e a i!"#$or e9perie#es a rapi! #.a+e i

s"ppl% (ol$a+e) i$ will pro!"#e a (ol$a+e wi$. a
polari$% $.a$ is opposi$e $o $.e ori+ial (ol$a+e
polari$%*

'.e #o"$er emf is #a"se! /% $.e

ele#$roma+e$i# fiel! $.a$ s"rro"!s $.e
i!"#$or*
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 18
Co"$er emf
102
=
7
=
7
102
F,1
102
=
7
=
7
102
'.is #o"$er emf will /e prese$ ol% for a is$a$*
As $.e fiel! #ollapses i$o $.e i!"#$or $.e (ol$a+e
!e#reases i (al"e "$il i$ e(e$"all% rea#.es 02*
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 1:
#C ,perating Characteristics
'.e !# /iasi+ of a $rasformer7#o"ple! #lass7A amplifier is (er% similar $o a%
o$.er #lass7A amplifier wi$. one important e*ception :
$.e (al"e of 2
CE1
is designed $o /e as #lose as possi/le $o 2
CC
*
Ip"$
=2
CC
R
E
R
1
R
2
R
>
N
1
:N
2
E
2
0 R
>
E
1
2
CE
I
C
I
&
0 0mA
GC loa! lie
'.e !# loa! lie is (er% #lose $o /ei+ a (er$i#al lie
i!i#a$i+ $.a$ 2
CE1
will /e appro9ima$el% e<"al $o
2
CC
for all $.e (al"es of I
C
*
'.e earl% vertical loa! lie of $.e $rasformer7
#o"ple! amplifier is #a"se! /% $.e e*tremely low dc
resistance of $.e $rasformer primar%*
V
CEQ
# V
CC
$ I
CQ
(R
C
% R
E
)
'.e (al"e of R
>
is ignored i $.e !# aal%sis of $.e
$rasformer7#o"ple! #lass7A amplifier* '.e reaso for
$.is is $.e fa#$ $.a$ $rasformer pro(i!es dc isolation
/e$wee $.e primar% a! se#o!ar%* Fi#e $.e loa!
resis$a#e is i $.e se#o!ar% of $.e $rasformer i$
dose not affe#$ $.e !# aal%sis of $.e primar%
#ir#"i$r%*
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 20
AC ,perating Characteristics
Ip"$
=2
CC
R
E
R
1
R
2
R
>
N
1
:N
2
E
2
0 R
>
E
1
2
CE
I
C
I
&
0 0mA
GC loa! lie
a# loa! lie
I
C(ma9)
0 11
H 2
CE1
H 2
CC
H 22
CC
17poi$
1* Ge$ermie $.e ma9im"m possi/le #.a+e i V
CE

Fi#e 2
CE
#ao$ #.a+e /% a amo"$
+rea$er $.a (V
CEQ
$ &V)) v
ce
# V
CEQ
*
2* Ge$ermie $.e #orrespo!i+ #.a+e i I
C

Ii! $.e (al"e of !
1
for $.e $rasformer: !
'
#
("
'
("
)
)
)
!
)
and i
c
# v
ce
( !
'

3* Plo$ a lie $.a$ passes $.ro"+. $.e Q7poi$ a!
$.e (al"e of I
C(ma*)
*
I
C(ma*)
# I
CQ
% i
c
3* >o#a$e $.e $wo poi$s w.ere $.e loa! lie passes
$.ro"+. $.e lies represe$i+ $.e miim"m a!
ma9im"m (al"es of I
B
* '.ese $wo poi$s are $.e
"se! $o fi! $.e ma9im"m a! miim"m (al"es of
I
C
a! V
CE

Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 21
Ip"$
=2
CC
R
E
R
1
R
2
R
>
N
1
:N
2
E
2
0 R
>
E
1
R
1
@@R
2
v
#e
v
i
i
c
3
1
v
o
2
CE
I
C
I
&
0 0mA
GC loa! lie
a# loa! lie
I
C(ma9)
0 11
H 2
CE1
H 2
CC
H 22
CC
17poi$
I
C1
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 22
4a*imum load power and efficiency
'.e Power F"ppl% for $.e amplifier : P
S
= V
CC
I
CC

8a9im"m pea-7$o7pea- (ol$a+e a#ross $.e primar% of $.e $rasformer
is appro9ima$el% e<"al $o $.e !iffere#e /e$wee $.e (al"es of V
CE(ma*)

a! V
CE(min)
: V
PP
= V
CE(max)
V
CE(min)

8a9im"m possi/le pea-7$o7pea- load voltage
is fo"! /% V
(PP)max
= (N
2
/ N
1
)V
PP

'.e actual efficiency ra$i+ of a $rasformer7#o"ple! #lass7A amplifier
will +eerall% /e less than 5!"*
N
1
: N
2
R
L
V
PP
V
(P+P) ma*
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 23
'.ere are se(eral reasos for $.e
!iffere#e /e$wee $.e pra#$i#al a!
$.eore$i#al effi#ie#% ra$i+s for $.e
amplifier :
1* '.e !eri(a$io of $.e 0 504 (al"e ass"mes
$.a$ 2
CE1
0 2
CC
* I pra#$i#e) 2
CE1
will alwa%s /e
some (al"e $.a$ is less $.e 2
CC
*
2* '.e $rasformer is s"/Be#$ $o (ario"s power
losses* Amo+ $.ese losses are #o"ple loss
a! .%s$eresis loss* '.ese $rasformer power
losses are o$ #osi!ere! i $.e !eri(a$io of
$.e 0 504 (al"e*
Ref:080327HKN EE3110 Power Amplifier (Class A) 23

Ae of $.e primary advantages of "si+ $.e

$rasformer7#o"ple! #lass7A amplifier is $.e
increased efficiency o(er $.e RC7#o"ple! #lass7A
#ir#"i$*

Another advantage is $.e fa#$ $.a$ $.e

$rasformer7#o"ple! amplifier is easily converted
into a $%pe of amplifier $.a$ is "se! e9$esi(el% i
#omm"i#a$ios :7 $.e tuned amplifier*

A $"e! amplifier is a #ir#"i$ $.a$ is !esi+e! $o

.a(e a spe#ifi# (al"e of power +ai o(er a specific
range of fre6uency*