BJT AC Analysis

The re Transistor model

Remind
Q-poiint
re = 26mv/IE

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BJT AC Analysis
Three amplifier configurations,
Common Emitter
Common Collector (Emitter Follower)
Common Base

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BJT AC Analysis
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Process
Replace transistor with small-signal model.
Replace capacitors with short-circuits (at midband frequency caps have relatively low impedance)
Replace DC voltage sources with short-circuits. Replace DC current sources with open-circuits).

BJT AC Analysis

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V2

12Vdc

RC

R1

4k

1840k

C2
2

Vb

10u

Q1

C1
VOFF = 0

Vo

10u

Q2N2222
RL

V3
VAMPL = 1mV

1000000

FREQ = 10000

The simulation results include the following,

IB = 6.172A
IC = 0.9932mA
IE = 0.999mA
VC = 8.027V
VB = 0.6433mV

BJT AC Analysis

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Output voltage, vo; i.e., collector voltage.

The peak voltages are +142.692mV and -147.4mV, an average of about 145mV.
200mV

(4.2745m,142.692m)

0V

(4.2245m,-147.400m)

-200mV
4.0ms
V(RL:1)

4.2ms

4.4ms

4.6ms
Time

4.8ms

5.0ms

BJT AC Analysis

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Avb = vcp/vbp where p means the peak value.

vcp = -icp(Rc//ro)
= -ibp(Rc//ro) = -ibpRc

when ro is >> Rc

vbp = ibp (1 + )re)

Avb = vcp/vbp
~ -Rc/re and = 26mV/0.999mA = 26 ohms
|Avb| = 4000/26 = 153.8 which is close to the simulation value, 145 which is the result of 145mV/1mV.

BJT AC Analysis

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Aib = icp/ibp = where p means the peak value.

The AC collector current peak-to-peak is about 1.0302mA 0.957434mA = 0.072766mA, so the peak is
about 0.36383mA.
1.050mA
(4.2244m,1.0302m)
1.025mA

1.000mA

0.975mA
(4.2765m,957.434u)

0.950mA
4.0ms
IC(Q1)

4.2ms

4.4ms

4.6ms

4.8ms

5.0ms

Time

The AC base current is nearly identical to current passing through the capacitor, C1, and the peak is about
220nA.
400nA
(4.2195m,217.707n)

0A
(4.2708m,-222.757n)

-400nA
4.0ms
I(C1)

4.2ms

4.4ms

4.6ms
Time

Using these values the transistor beta is 165.

4.8ms

5.0ms

BJT AC Analysis

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Zib = vbp/ibp
= ibp(1 + )re/ ibp
= (1 + )re
Using the beta information from the simulation,
Zib = 4300 ohms
Zi = RB// Zib
In this circuit since R is so large, Zi ~ Zib
Output Impedance, Zo
Turn off the input signal, Vs = 0.
The input current is zero so the collector current is zero.
ib = 0 and ic = 0
Connect a test signal generator to the circuit output
ix
Vx
ro

Rc

Zo = vx/ix
ix = vx/(Rc//ro)
Zo = Rc//ro

BJT AC Analysis

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Common Emitter Amplifier Circuit 4 resistor bias and gain stabilizing emitter resistor.

Vcc

12Vdc

RC
R1

4k

100k

C2
2
1

RS
1

10u

Q1

C1
Vb

2
50

Vo

10u

Q2N2222
RL
1000000

VOFF = 0
R2

V3
VAMPL = 1mV

50k

RE1
200

FREQ = 10000

4k

The simulation results include the following,

IB = 4.053A
IR1 = A
IC = 0.7565mA
IE = 0.7614mA
VC = 8.974V
VB = 3.835mV

C3
10u
1

RE

BJT AC Analysis

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Output voltage, vo; i.e., collector voltage.

The peak voltages are +16.721mV and -16.753mV, an average of about 16.4mV.
20mV

(4.2735m,16.721m)

0V

(4.3247m,-16.753m)

-20mV
4.0ms
V(C2:2)

4.2ms

4.4ms

4.6ms
Time

4.8ms

5.0ms

BJT AC Analysis

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Avb = vcp/vbp where p means the peak value.

vcp = -icp(Rc//ro)
= -ibp(Rc//ro) = -ibpRc

when ro is >> Rc

vbp = ibp (1 + )(RE1 + re)

Avb = vcp/vbp
~ -Rc/(RE1 + re)

and = 26mV/0.7614mA = 31.15 ohms

|Avb| = 4000/(200 + 31.15) = 17.31 which nearly identical to the simulation value, which is the result of
17.3.

Rit = vb/ib = (1 + ac)(re + Re1) = 121(26.597 + 200) = 27.418k

Avb = vc/vb
ve = ib(1 + ac)Re1
vb = ib(1 + ac)(re + Re1)
vc = -ac(ib)Rc
Avb = vc/vb
-ac(ib)Rc
.
=
ib(1 + ac)(re + Re1)
=
-ac(Rc) .

BJT AC Analysis
(1 + ac)(re + Re1)
=
=

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-120*3.9k .
121*226.597
-17.069

Notice that the gain is stabilized by including the Re1 resistor. Without Re1 the gain is very dependent on the value of
the transistor gain, , which varies quite a bit and results in variations in base current which in turn changes the value of re.

BJT AC Analysis

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Rot
Rc
3.9k

Bib
(1+B)re
2021
Re1
200

vx - ix (Rc) = 0
Rot = vx/ix = Rc = 3.9k

vx

BJT AC Analysis

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ROL
Rc
3.9k

vx

Bib
RL

(1+B)re

1k

2021
Re1
200

RL = Rc//RL =
ROL = RL

Rc*RL . = 795.92
Rc + RL

BJT AC Analysis
With RL attached the voltage gain is reduced,
Avb = vc/vb
=
-ac*RL
. = 3.482 which is a low level of gain
(1 + ac)(re + Re1)

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BJT AC Analysis
Avs

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.
Rc
3.9k

vc

Bib
Rs

vb

(1+B)re
RL

2021

50

1k

Re1

Vs

Rth

200

7.5k

Rc
3.9k
vc

Bib
Rs'

vb

(1+B)re
RL

49

2021

1k
Re1

Vs'

200

Vs =

Vs*Rth .
Rs + Rth

BJT AC Analysis
Rs =

Rs*Rth .
Rs + Rth

Vs = ib[Rs + (1 + ac)(re + Re1)]

Vs*Rth . = ib[Rs + (1 + ac)(re + Re1)]
Rs + Rth
. *
RL
.
Vc = ib*RL = Vs * Rth
[Rs + Rth]
[Rs + (1 + ac)(re + Re1)]

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BJT AC Analysis

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Another way to tackle the gain calculation simplifies the math,

vb

Rs
50
Vs
Rth
7.5k

Vb/Vs =

Rit
27.418k

Rth//Rit . =
5889 . = 0.99158
Rth//Rit + Rs
5889 + 50

From earlier analysis,

Avb = Vc/Vb
=
-ac*RL
.
(1 + ac)(re + Re1)
Combining the above two equations,
(Vb/Vs) * (Vc/Vb) = Vc/Vs
so that,
Vc/Vs =

Rth//Rit
. *
Rth//Rit + Rs

-ac*RL
. = 0.99158 * 3.482 = 3.4528
(1 + ac)(re + Re1)

High-frequency analysis will use this approach of breaking down the problem into pieces followed by multiplication of the
individual gains.

BJT AC Analysis

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To summarize,
1. Compute Rit
2. Compute the gain Vs/Vb using the value of Rit.
3. Compute the gain Vc/Vb.
4. Multiply the gains to get the overall gain Vc/Vs.

A1

Avb

BJT AC Analysis
Graphical Analysis
DC & AC load lines on characteristics

Inverting nature of amplifier Increase input voltage,

increases base and collector current,
decreases collector voltage because of more drop across load resistance.

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BJT AC Analysis

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Emitter Follower Amplifier (Common-Collector) Basic Operation

The emitter follow circuit acts as a buffer between stages.

15Vdc

V2
R1
30k

Rs

Q1

C1
Vb

2
1
50
VOFF = 0
Vs

Q2N2222
Ve

C2

VAMPL = 1mV

2
1

FREQ = 1000
R2

14.3k

RL
RE
10k

10k

BJT AC Analysis

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The input and output voltage waveforms are nearly identical; almost independent of the value of the load
resistor.
1.0mV

0V

-1.0mV
5.0ms
V(Rs:1)

5.5ms
V(C2:2)

6.0ms

6.5ms

7.0ms

7.5ms
Time

8.0ms

8.5ms

9.0ms

9.5ms

10.0ms

BJT AC Analysis

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Emitter Follower Amplifier (Common-Collector) AC Analysis

Rc
3.9k

R1

Rs

C1

50

1n

20Vdc

Q2

30k

Q2N3904
C2
Q2N3904

Re
40k

Vs
VOFF = 0
VAMPL = 0.001
FREQ = 10000

R2

200

Re2
4.1k

RL
500

Re1

10k

1u

C3
1n

ac = 120 assume ro is very large re2 = 66.93

Vcc

BJT AC Analysis

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Emitter-Follower Stage

Rc
3.9k
Q2

Q2N3904
C2

Re
40k

1u

RL
500

ic1

BJT AC Analysis

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Without the load resistor,

Bib

Rc

(1+B)re2

+
121*66.39

3.9k
v c1

Ra

vb

40k

0
vb - ib*(1 + ac)re2 - ib(1 + ac)Ra = 0
Rit = vb/ib = (1 + ac)(re2 + Ra) = 121(66.39 + 40000) = 4.848M

BJT AC Analysis

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With the load resistor,

Bib

Rc

(1+B)re2
+

121*66.39
3.9k
v c1

Ra//RL

vb

493.9

0
Rit = vb/ib = (1 + ac)(re2 + Ra//RL) = 121(66.39 + 493.9) = 67.8k
ve/vb = (1 + ac)(Ra//RL)/(1 + ac)(re2 + Ra//RL)
= Ra//RL/(re2 + Ra//RL)

BJT AC Analysis

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Output Resistance

Bib

Rc

(1+B)re2
+

121*66.39
3.9k

vx
Ra//RL

vb

493.9

Ro = vx / ix
Sum currents entering the emitter node.
ix + ac*ib2 + ib2 - vx / (Ra//RL) = 0

ix + (1 + ac)ib2 - vx / (Ra//RL) = 0
ib2 = - vx / [Rc + (1 + ac)*re2)]
ix + (1 + ac)(- vx) / [Rc + (1 + ac)*re2)] - vx / (Ra//RL) = 0

BJT AC Analysis
ix - vx [
1
.
Rc/(1 + ac) + re2

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+

1 . ] = 0
Ra//RL

Two resistors in parallel, (Rc/(1 + ac) + re2 ) and Ra//RL equals Ro.

BJT AC Analysis

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BJT AC Analysis
Common-Base Configuration

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re

Zi
Zi

26

mV
IE

Zo

Vo
Io

Vi
Ii
re

Zo

BJT AC Analysis
Common Base Amplifier

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Av

RL

Vo

Vo
Vo

Example
IE = 4 mA
= 0.98
RL = 560 ohms
Vi = 2 mV
Compute
re, Ii, Vo, Av, Ai

Ai

Vi

Ic . RL
. Ie . RL

Vi

Ie . re

Av

RL
re

Ai

Ai

Io
Ii

. Ie
Ie

BJT AC Analysis
Common-Base Configuration

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BJT AC Analysis
Zi = RE//re

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Zo = Rc
Av = Vo/Vi
Vo = IC RC
Vi = IE re
Av = IE RC
IE re
Ai =

RC
re

BJT AC Analysis
Darlington
Curren

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BJT AC Analysis

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BJT AC Analysis
Current Source Circuit

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BJT AC Analysis
Current Mirror Circuit

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BJT AC Analysis

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