The Class A

Common Emitter
Amplifier

Introduction
power amplifiers are used to deliver a relatively high
amount of power, usually to a low resistance load.
it conducts during one complete cycle of the input signal
waveform
minimum amount of distortion
the output signal is an exact reproduction of the input
signal but only bigger (amplified).
no problems with charge storage, and generally better
high frequency performance and feedback loop stability
the low efficiency of class A amplifiers limits their
usefulness to small power applications that require
usually less than 1 W

DC and AC Equivalent Circuits

+VCC

+VCC

R1

IC

RC

R1

RC

RL
vin

R2

R2
RE

vce

vin
R1//R2

IE
RE

rC = RC//RL

Bias Circuit

DC equivalent
circuit

AC equivalent
circuit

rC

Bias Voltage

The potential divider network

Coupling Capacitors

Quiescent Operating Point

Q-point towards Cutoff

Q-point towards Saturation

Example
VC C

0
R 1
90k

R c
1k

C o

c
Q 1

R g

C i

50

100u

100u

BC 109C
e

VO FF = 0
VAM PL = 15m V

Vg

R 2
10k

R e
100

FR EQ = 10k

C e
100u

R s
10k

PSpice Results
.8 4 0 m A

1 2 .0 0 V
1 1 6 .8 u A
7 .7 2 3 m A
R 1
R c
90k
1k

VC C

C o

c
R g
0A

50

Q 1

C i
0V

100u

0V
VO FF = 0

b
1 7 .5 5 u A
1 .4 8 9 V
9 9 .2 4 u A

0 AV g

R 2
{r}

M PL = 15m V

4 .2 7 7 V
7 . 7 2 3 mV A

100u
s
0V

BC 109C
- 7 . e7 4 1 m A
7 .7 4 1 m A
R e
100

F R EQ = 10k

7 7 4 .1 m V
C e
100u

R s
10k
0A

0V

Output for three values of R2

1 2V
1 1V
1 0V
9V
8V
7V
6V
5V
4V
3V
2V
1V
0V
0s

50us
V(c)

10 0us

150us

Tim e

200us

250us

CONCLUSION

Class A Amplifier configuration is the ideal

operating mode, because there can be no
crossover or switch-off distortion to the output
waveform even during the negative half of the
cycle