BJT Cascaded Amplifiers

Example:

Notes:
 Input impedance acts like the load resistance for the preceding stage.
R C2 '  R C2 || R L Z o 2  R C2

Z in2  R 12 || R 22 || re 2

R C1 '  R C1 || Z in2 Z o1  R C1
VS Z in1 
Vin1 
Z in1  R 11 || R 21 || re1 R S  Z in1
Input power to the amplifier
R C1 ' Vo1  VC1  A V1 Vin1  Pin1( dc )  VCCICq1 for stage 1
A V1 
re1  
Pin( dc )  VCC ICq1  ICq2 ... whole ckt
Vo1  VC1  Vin2 Power delivered to the load

A V2 
R C2 ' Vceq 2
PL 
Vo2  VC2  A V 2 Vin2 
peak value
re 2 2R L
Transistor power dissipation Efficiency
A VT  A V1 A V 2  PD  VceqIcq P 
   L 100%
 Pin 
Given: RL = 1 KΩ Answers:
R11 = 22 KΩ R12 = 15 KΩ Zo2 = 680 Ω RC2’ = 404.7619048 Ω AV1 = – 13.24135929
R21 = 3.9 KΩ R22 = 6.8 KΩ Zo1 = 6.8 KΩ Zin2 = 455.8955382 Ω AV2 = – 80.13312085
RC1 = 6.8 KΩ RC2 = 680 Ω RC1’ = 427.2511427 Ω AVT = 1061.071444
RE1 = 1 KΩ RE2 = 470 Ω Zin1 = 1634.562199 Ω
1 = 2 = 100 VCC = 10 V PD1 = 3.00702 mW PD2 = 20.97262 mW
Stage 1 Stage 2
Pin = 7.978134 mW Pin = 58.942239 mW (whole circuit)
Vceq1 2
Po1  PL 
2Z in2 
 4.345489 mW Vceq2 2
Po  PL  = 8.467332 mW
2R L
Po1 is not necessarily equal to Pin2.
Pin is DC Power. 8.467332
 x100% = 14.365 % ( of the whole ckt)
58.942239

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MPP – Maximum peak-to-peak swing

Note: RCac is the ac collector resistance. Vceq and Icq are derived in the DC analysis.

If ICqRCac < Vceq, then MPP = 2 ICqRCac .

If ICqRCac > Vceq, then MPP = 2 Vceq .

In the given example, here are the results:

For Stage 1 For Stage 2

DC loadline: DC loadline:
Icsat = 1.282051 mA Icsat = 8.695652 mA
Vce cu = 10 V Vce cu = 10 V
Qpt : Vceq = 3.769077564 V Qpt : Vceq = 4.1151748 V
Icq = 0.797813372 mA Icq = 5.09641048 mA

AC loadline AC loadline
IcqRCac = 0.340866675 V IcqRCac = 2.062832813 V

MPP = 0.68173335 V MPP = 4.125665627 V

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Amplifiers are classified into two groups:
1. Audio Frequency (AF) amplifiers
- for entertainment like music

2. Radio Frequency (RF) amplifiers

- for broadcasting equipment & other communications and data transmission systems.

Problems with Audio Amplifiers:

1. Distortion
- signal change that undergoes from the time it enters the amplifier stage until it comes
out.
- amount of distortion depends on the amplitude of the input signal.
- amount of distortion also depends on the linearity or the dynamic characteristics of
the semiconductor device used in the circuit.

2. Hum
- type of distortion generated by power supplies
- occur when Power is not properly filtered. Variations in power are then amplified &
produce a very objectionable hum level in the amplifier output.
- also caused by stray electromagnetic or electrostatic fields
- low-frequency disturbance

3. Intermodulation Distortion (ID)

- type of distortion caused by the presence of two or more sinewaves beating against
one another. A heterodyning effect is produce. This means the new sinewave is the
resultant of the two sinewaves. So there are now four sinewaves present instead of
two.
- Found at the lower end of the frequency range
Distortion Analyzer – used to measure the amount of ID of an amplifier.

Classes of Operation

1. Class A Amplifier
- conducts all the time
- produce a high quality of amplification
- Efficiency: lower than 25%

2. Class B Amplifier
- used to drive a speaker n an audio amplifier
- conducts only when a positive signal is applied

Class B Push-Pull Amplifier

- one transistor conducts on the positive half of the signal and the other transistor
conducts on the other half of the signal.
- Consists of one NPN & one PNP transistors
- Transistor can be driven at a higher power output since it conducts only half of the
time.
- Efficiency: approximately 75%

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 THE COMPLEMENTARY PUSH PULL AMPLIFIER
+VCC

R1

Q2

R2

Q3 RL
Q1

Figure 1 Figure 2

In Figure 1, Q2 and Q3 are complementary. They have the same characteristics but one is NPN and the
other PNP. The NPN has + on its collector and less positive on its emitter. The PNP Has + on its emitter
and zero on its collector. Therefore both have correct polarity voltages. The voltage at the output of Q2
and Q3 is half the supply voltage.

If R2 is replaced by a wire link, and R1 selected to give half the supply volts at Q1 and Q2 bases then
they would both be biased in class B, and both would be non conducting.

Look at the waveforms on the bases of the output pair. During the first half cycle the signal is going less
positive. This is reversing biasing the NPN transistor and increasing forward bias on the PNP transistor.
This means that the NPN remains cut off and the PNP conducts during this first half cycle.
In the next half cycle the signal on the bases is now increasing in a more positive direction. During this
half cycle the NPN conducts while the PNP is cutoff. So the NPN is off and the PNP is on during the first
half cycle, and current flows through the loudspeaker as C1 charges. The NPN is on and the PNP off
during the second half cycle, and current flows the other way through the loudspeaker, as C1 discharges.
R2 is added to give a small forward bias to both transistors thereby avoiding crossover distortion.

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 3. Class C Amplifier
- conducts only during a small portion of the input signal
- used in conjunction with tuned circuits to restore the rest of the signal. The flywheel
effect serves to out back the other part of the signal.
- It is designed so that the bias operating point is below cut-off
- Output is less than the half of one alternation
- Used primarily as an RF amplifier and for providing energy to oscillators or switching
circuits.
- Efficiency: 95% (It consumes energy for only a small portion of the applied signal.)
- In the Figure 3, CN is the neutralizing capacitor to prevent the amplifier from
becoming oscillators and creating frequencies independent of those being amplified.
It is adjusted to compensate for the internal capacitance of the transistor.

Figure 3
4. Class AB Amplifier
-often used in small portable transistorized radio to drive a speaker that is small and not too
discerning of the waveform shape.

Figure 4
5. Class D Amplifier
- uses two amplifiers as switches in push-pull operation
- the stage goes between saturation and cut-off
- Efficiency: 100%

6. Class E Amplifier
- uses a high impedance load which can be an RF choke. This allows the device to be
in saturation for 180 of the input signal & improves the efficiency

7. Class F Amplifier
- single-stage amplifier that acts mostly as a switch which means it has almost 100%
efficiency. The output resembles a square wave. Two sets of tuned circuits are used.
One tuned circuit removes the third harmonic and the other passes on the
fundamental frequency.

8. Class S Amplifier
- used in switching regulators.

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Class B Amplifier

Input Power

Pin( dc )  Vcc I dc
2
I dc  Ip


 2
Pin( dc )  Vcc  Ip 
 

Output Power

2
VL
Po( ac )  (rms value)
RL

2
VL
Po( ac )  (peak value)
2R L

2
VL
Po( ac )  (peak-to-peak value)
8R L

Efficiency

Po
%  x100%
Pin

2
VL(p )
2R L

   x100%
Vcc 2 Ip


 VL(p )
 x100%
4 Vcc
Maximum efficiency: when VL(p) = VCC


Max eff  x100% = 78.5 %
4

Power Dissipated

P2Q  Pin( dc )  Po( ac ) power dissipated by two transistors

P2Q
PQ  power dissipated by each transistor
2

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Sample Problems:

1. For a Class B amplifier providing a 20-V peak signal to a 16-Ω load (speaker) and a power
supply of 30V, determine the input power, output power and circuit efficiency.

2. For a Class B amplifier using a supply of 30 V and driving a load of 16 Ω, determine the
maximum input power, maximum output power and maximum transistor dissipation.

3. Calculate the input power, output power and power handled by each output transistor and the
circuit efficiency for an input of 12 Vrms. Use Vcc = 30V & load of 16 Ω.

Answers:

1. 15 pts
IL(p) = 1.25 A
Idc = 0.79577 A
Pin = 23.873
Pout = 12.5 W
 = 52.3598 %

2. 15 pts
Pin(max) = 35.8098 W
Pout (max) = 28.125 W
PQ1 (max) = PQ2 (max) = 5.699 W

3. 20 pts
VL(p) = 16.97056 V
IL(p) = 1.0606 A
Idc = 0.675 A
Pin = 20.257 W
Pout = 9 W
PQ1 = PQ2 = 5.628 W
 = 44.4288 %

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 Sample Complete Audio Amplifier

Figure 5
Source: small signal source (e.g. microphone) C1=C2=C5=47F
RS: internal resistance of the source C3=C4=100F
R1: 10kΩ Potentiometer (Volume Control) Q1=Q2=Q3=ED1402 (NPN)
R2: 22kΩ Q4=ED1602 (PNP)
R3: 3.9kΩ D1=D2= 1N4001
R4: 6.8kΩ VCC=6V
R5: 1kΩ RL: 8Ω-speaker 3W
R6: 15kΩ
R7: 6.8kΩ
R8: 100Ω
R9: 100Ω

Instructions:
1. Draw the AC equivalent circuit diagram of Figure 5 excluding the dotted box.
2. Compute input impedance (Zin), output impedance (Zout), total voltage gain (AV), power gain in
db.
3. Build the circuit. Label your circuit board (PC201 or its equivalent) according to the schematic
diagram.
Deliverables:
1. Documentation (use 8x11 bond paper)
- Cover page
- introduction
- schematic diagram
- result of instruction 1
- complete computations (instruction 2)
- specifications of the circuit (e.g. Supply voltage, impedances, voltage gain, etc)
- expenses (detailed)
- receipts attachment
- appendix (picture of the project, profile w/ picture of the student)
2. Working amplifier (of Instruction no. 3)
3. Presentation (October 4, 2008 7:30 AM)
- must be in business attire

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