BJT Single Stage Amplifier Circuits

ECE 3050 Analog Electronics

The Common-Emitter Amplifier
The common-emitter amplifier is used to obtain a high voltage gain and a high input resistance. The circuit in Fig. 1(a) shows the ac signal circuit. The input source is represented
by a Thvenin equivalent connected to the base. The output is taken from the collector. We
assume that the dc bias solution is known and that the BJT is biased in its active mode.
The small-signal parameters re , re0 , and r0 are given by
re =

VT
IE

re0 =

Rtb + rx
+ re
1+

r0 =

VA + VCE
IC

Figure 1: (a) Ac signal circuit of the common-emitter amplifier. (b) Equivalent input and
output circuits.
The circuit in Fig. 1(b) shows the equivalent input and output circuits. The collector
output voltage is given by
vc = ic(sc) (ric kRtc ) = Gmb vtb (ric kRtc )
It follows that the voltage gain from vtb to vc is given by
Av =
where
Gmb =
ric =

vc
= Gmb (ric kRtc )
vtb
r0 Rte /

re0 + Rte kr0 r0 + Rte

r0 + re0 kRte
1 Rte / (re0 + Rte )

Note that the voltage gain is negative. This means that the CE amplifier is an inverting
amplifier.
The output resistance seen looking into the vc node is
rout = ric kRtc
1

The input resistance seen looking into the vb node is

rib = rx + (1 + ) re + Rte

(1 + ) r0 + Rtc
r0 + Rte + Rtc

When the r0 approximations are used, Gmb and rib are replaced with
Gmb '

re0

+ Rte

rib ' rx + (1 + ) (re + Rte )

Example 1 Fig. 2 shows the circuit diagrams of NPN and PNP single-stage CE amplifiers.
For each circuit, it is given that RS = 5 k, R1 = 120 k, R2 = 100 k, RC = 4.3 k,
RE = 5.6 k, R3 = 100 , RL = 20 k, V + = 15 V, V = 15 V, VBE = 0.65 V, = 99,
= 0.99, rx = 20 , VA = 100 V and VT = 0.025 V. Solve for the gain Av = vo /vs , the input
resistance rin , and the output resistance rout . The capacitors can be assumed to be ac short
circuits at the operating frequency.

Figure 2: Single-stage CE amplifiers.

Solution. For the dc bias solution, replace all capacitors with open circuits. For the NPN
circuit, the Thvenin voltage and resistance seen looking out of the base are
VBB =

V + R2 + V R1
= 1.364 V
R1 + R2
2

RBB = R1 kR2 = 54.55 k

The Thvenin voltage and resistance seen looking out of the emitter are VEE = V and
REE = RE . The bias equation for IE is
VBB VEE VBE
= 2.113 mA
RBB / (1 + ) + REE

IE =

To test for the active mode, we calculate the collector-base voltage

IE
VCB = VC VB = V IE RC VBB
RBB = 8.521 V
1+

Because this is positive, the BJT is biased in its active mode.

For the small-signal ac analysis, we need r0 and re. To calculate r0 , we first calculate the
collector-emitter voltage
VCE = VCB + VBE = 9.171 V
It follows that r0 and re have the values
r0 =

VA + VCE
= 52.18 k
IE

re =

VT
= 11.83
IE

For the small-signal analysis, V + and V are zeroed and the three capacitors are replaced
with ac short circuits. The Thvenin voltage and resistance seen looking out of the base are
given by
R1 kR2
vtb = vs
= 0.916vs
Rtb = RS kR1 kR2 = 4.58 k
RS + R1 kR2

The Thvenin resistances seen looking out of the emitter and the collector are
Rte = RE kR3 = 98.25

Rtc = RC RkL = 3.539 k

Next, we calculate re0 , Gmb , ric , and rib .

re0 =
Gmb =
ric =

re0

Rtb + rx
+ re = 57.83
1+

1
r0 Rte /
=
S
+ Rte kr0 r0 + Rte
157.8

r0 + re0 kRte
= 138.6 k
1 Rte / (re0 + Rte )

rib = rx + (1 + ) re + Rte

(1 + ) r0 + Rtc
= 10.39 k
r0 + Rte + Rtc

The output voltage is given by

vo = Gmb (ric kRtc ) vtb = Gmb (ric kRtc ) 0.916vs = 20.04vs
Thus the voltage gain is Av = 20.04. The input and output resistances are given by
rin = R1 kR2 krib = 8.73 k

rout = Rtc = 3.539 k

The solutions for the PNP amplifier are the same as for the NPN circuit.
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Example 2 If the r0 approximations are used, calculate the new voltage gain and input
resistance for the CE amplifiers.
Solution. Only Gmb and rib change. The approximate values are given by
Gmb ' Gm =

= 157.7 S
re0 + Rte

rib ' rx + (1 + ) (re + Rte ) = 11.03 k

The new voltage gain and input resistance are given by

Av = Gm (ric kRtc ) 0.916 = 20.05

rin = R1 kR2 krib = 9.173 k

Note that there is very little change in the value of Av .

The Common-Base Amplifier
The common-base amplifier is used to obtain a high voltage gain and a low input resistance.
The circuit in Fig. 3(a) shows the ac signal circuit. The input source is represented by a
Thvenin equivalent connected to the emitter. The output is taken from the collector. We
assume that the dc bias solution is known and that the BJT is biased in its active mode.
The small-signal parameters re , re0 , and r0 are given by
re =

VT
IE

re0 =

Rtb + rx
+ re
1+

r0 =

VA + VCE
IC

Figure 3: (a) Ac signal circuit of the common-base amplifier. (b) Equivalent input and
output circuits.
The circuit in Fig. 1(b) shows the equivalent input and output circuits. The collector
output voltage is given by
vc = ic(sc) (ric kRtc ) = Gme vte (ric kRtc )
It follows that the voltage gain is given by
Av =

vc
= Gme (ric kRtc )
vte
4

where
Gme =
ric =

1
r0 + re0
Rte + re0 kr0 r0 + re0

r0 + re0 kRte
1 Rte / (re0 + Rte )

Note that the voltage gain is positive. This means that the CB amplifier is a non-inverting
amplifier.
The output resistance seen looking into the vc node is
rout = ric kRtc
The input resistance seen looking into the ve node is
rie = re0

re0

r0 + Rtc
+ r0 + Rtc / (1 + )

When the r0 approximations are used, Gme and rie are replaced with
Gme ' Gm =

re0 + Rte

rie ' re0

Example 3 Fig. 4 shows the circuit diagrams of NPN and PNP single-stage CB amplifiers.
For each circuit, it is given that RS = 100 , R1 = 120 k, R2 = 100 k, RC = 4.3 k,
RE = 5.6 k, R3 = 100 , RL = 20 k, V + = 15 V, V = 15 V, VBE = 0.65 V, = 99,
= 0.99, rx = 20 , VA = 100 V and VT = 0.025 V. Solve for the gain Av = vo /vs , the input
resistance rin , and the output resistance rout . The capacitors can be assumed to be ac short
circuits at the operating frequency.
Solution. Because the dc bias circuits are the same as for the common-emitter amplifiers,
the bias currents and voltages are the same. In addition, re and r0 are the same.
For the small-signal analysis, V + and V are zeroed and the three capacitors are replaced
with ac short circuits. The Thvenin voltage and resistance seen looking out of the emitter
are given by
RE
vte = vs
= 0.9825vs
Rte = RS kRE = 98.25
RS + RE
The Thvenin resistances seen looking out of the base and the collector are
Rtb = 0

Rtc = RC RkL = 3.539 k

Next, we calculate re0 , Gme , ric , and rie .

re0 =
Gme

Rtb + rx
+ re = 12.03
1+

1
r0 + re0
1
S
=
=
0
0
Rte + re kr0 r0 + re
111.4
5

Figure 4: Single-stage common-base amplifiers.

r0 + re0 kRte
= 442.3 k
1 Rte / (re0 + Rte )
r0 + Rtc
rie = re0 0
= 12.83
re + r0 + Rtc / (1 + )
ric =

The output voltage is given by

vo = Gme (ric kRtc ) vte = Gme (ric kRtc ) 0.9825vs = 30.97vs
Thus the voltage gain is Av = 30.97. The input and output resistances are given by
rin = R1 kR2 krib = 12.81

rout = Rtc = 4.259 k

The solutions for the PNP amplifier are the same as for the NPN circuit.
Example 4 If the r0 approximations are used, calculate the new voltage gain and input
resistance for the CB amplifiers.
Solution. Only Gme and rie change. The approximate values are given by
Gme ' Gm =

re0

1
=
S
+ Rte
111.4

rie ' re0 = 12.03 k

The new voltage gain and input resistance are given by

Av = Gm (ric kRtc ) 0.9825 = 30.97

rin = RE krie = 12

To 4 significant places, there is no change in the value of Av .

The Common-Collector Amplifier
The common-collector amplifier is used to obtain a voltage gain that is approximately unity
and a high input resistance. The circuit in Fig. 5(a) shows the ac signal circuit. The input
source is represented by a Thvenin equivalent connected to the base. The output is taken
from the emitter. We assume that the dc bias solution is known and that the BJT is biased
in its active mode. The small-signal parameters re , re0 , and r0 are given by
re =

VT
IE

re0 =

Rtb + rx
+ re
1+

r0 =

VA + VCE
IC

The circuit in Fig. 1(b) shows the equivalent input and output circuits. The emitter
output voltage is given by
Rte
ve = ve(oc)
rie + Rte
where
r0 + Rtc / (1 + )
ve(oc) = vtb 0
re + r0 + Rtc / (1 + )
It follows that the voltage gain from vtb to ve is given by
Av =

ve
Rte
r0 + Rtc / (1 + )
=
0
vtb
rie + Rte re + r0 + Rtc / (1 + )
7

Figure 5: (a) Ac signal circuit of the common-collector amplifier. (b) Equivalent input and
output circuits.
where
rie = re0

re0

r0 + Rtc
+ r0 + Rtc / (1 + )

Note that the voltage gain is positive. This means that the CC amplifier is a non-inverting
amplifier.
The output resistance seen looking into the ve node is
rout = rie kRte
The input resistance seen looking into the vb node is
rib = rx + (1 + ) re + Rte

(1 + ) r0 + Rtc
r0 + Rte + Rtc

When the r0 approximations are used, ve(oc) , rie , and rib are replaced with
ve(oc) ' vtb
rie ' re0
rib ' rx + (1 + ) (re + Rte )
Example 5 Fig. 6 shows the circuit diagrams of NPN and PNP single-stage CC amplifiers.
For each circuit, it is given that RS = 5 k, R1 = 120 k, R2 = 100 k, RE = 5.6 k,
R3 = 100 , RL = 20 k, V + = 15 V, V = 15 V, VBE = 0.65 V, = 99, = 0.99,
rx = 20 , VA = 100 V and VT = 0.025 V. Solve for the gain Av = vo /vs , the input resistance
rin , and the output resistance rout . The capacitors can be assumed to be ac short circuits at
the operating frequency.
Solution. Because the dc bias circuits are the same as for the common-emitter amplifiers,
the bias currents and voltages are the same. In addition, re is the same. Because VCE is
dierent, a new value of r0 must be calculated. The collector-to-emitter voltage is given by

IE
+
RBB VBE = 17.01 V
VCE = VC VE = V VBB
1+
8

Figure 6: Single-stage common-collector amplifiers.

Thus r0 has the value
r0 =

VA + VCE
= 55.93 k
IE

For the small-signal analysis, V + and V are zeroed and the three capacitors are replaced
with ac short circuits. The Thvenin voltage and resistance seen looking out of the base are
given by
R1 kR2
vtb = vs
= 0.916vs
Rtb = RS kR1 kR2 = 4.58 k
RS + R1 kR2

The Thvenin resistances seen looking out of the emitter and the collector are
Rte = RE kR3 = 4.375 k

Rtc = 0

Next, we calculate re0 , ve(oc) , rie , and rib .

Rtb + rx
+ re = 57.83
1+

re0 =
ve(oc) = vtb
rie = re0

re0

re0

r0 + Rtc / (1 + )
= 0.999vtb
+ r0 + Rtc / (1 + )

r0 + Rtc
= 57.77
+ r0 + Rtc / (1 + )

rib = rx + (1 + ) re + Rte

(1 + ) r0 + Rtc
= 407 k
r0 + Rte + Rtc

The output voltage is given by

vo = ve(oc)

Rte
Rte
=
0.999 0.916vs = 0.903vs
rie + Rte
rie + Rte

Thus the voltage gain is Av = 0.903. The input and output resistances are given by
rin = R1 kR2 krib = 48.1 k

rout = rie kRE kRL = 57.02

The solutions for the PNP amplifier are the same as for the NPN circuit.
Example 6 If the r0 approximations are used, calculate the new voltage gain and input
resistance for the CB amplifiers.
Solution. In this case, ve(oc) , rie , and rib change. The approximate values are given by
ve(oc) ' vtb = 0.916vs

rie ' re0 = 57.83

rib ' rx + (1 + ) (re + Rte ) = 438.7 k

The new voltage gain, output resistance, and input resistance are given by
Av =

Rte
0.916 = 0.904
rie + Rte

rout = rie kRE kRL = 57.08

rin = RE krie = 48.51 k

These answers are close to those for the exact solution.

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