ELE 2110A Electronic Circuits

Week 6: Small Signal Analysis for

Single Stage BJT amplifiers

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 1

 Topics to cover …
z Family of single-stage BJT amplifiers

z Small signal analysis

– Common-Emitter Amplifier

z Common-Emitter Amplifier with Emitter R

z Common-Base Amplifier

Reading Assignment:
Chap 14.1 – 14.5 of Jaeger and Blalock , or
Chap 5.7 of Sedra & Smith

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 2

 Signal Injection
v⎛
⎜
⎞
⎟
z Transistor is a VCCS: i = I exp BE
⎜ ⎟
C S V
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝T ⎠

z To cause changes in current, vBE must be

changed
– Base or emitter terminals can be used as i/p
terminal

– Collector is not used as an i/p terminal because

even if Early voltage is considered, collector
voltage has negligible effect on terminal
currents

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 3

 Signal Extraction
z Large changes in iC or iE create large
voltage drops across collector and emitter
resistors
– Collector or emitter can be used as o/p
terminal

– Base terminal is not used as o/p terminal due to

small iB

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 4

 BJT Amplifier Family
z Constraints for signal injection and extraction yield three
families of amplifiers
Input Output
– Common-Emitter (C-E): Base Collector
– Common-Base (C-B): Emitter Collector
– Common-Collector (C-C): Base Emitter

– All circuit examples in the following slides use the four-resistor

bias circuits to establish Q-point for the various amplifiers.

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 5

 Topics to cover …
z Family of single-stage BJT amplifiers

z Small signal analysis

– Common-Emitter Amplifier

z Common-Emitter Amplifier with Emitter R

z Common-Base Amplifier

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 6

Using Small Signal Models in BJT ckt Analysis
Steps for using small-signal models:

z Determine the DC operating point of the BJT

– in particular, the collector current
z Calculate small-signal model parameters gm, rπ, & re for
this DC operating point
z Eliminate DC sources
– Replace DC voltage sources with short circuits
– Replace DC current sources with open circuits
z Replace BJT with an equivalent small-signal model
– Choose most convenient one depending on surrounding circuitry
z Analyze

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 7

 Common Emitter Amplifier

z Biased using the four-resistor network

z AC input is injected to base through a coupling capacitor
z AC output is taken from collector
z Emitter is ac-grounded

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 8

 DC operating point

z All capacitors in original amplifier circuits are replaced by

open circuits, disconnecting vI, RI, and R3 from circuit
z Q-point can be found from dc equivalent circuit by using
DC model for BJT

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 9

 AC Equivalent
z Replace all ∞ capacitors by short
circuits, ∞ inductors by open circuits

z Set all independent DC sources to 0,

i.e., replace DC voltage sources by
short circuits and DC current sources
by open circuits

z Replace transistor by small-signal

model

z Use small-signal AC equivalent to

analyze AC characteristics of amplifier

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 10

 Simplified AC Equivalent

R = R R = 10 k Ω 30 k Ω
B 1 2
R = R R = 4 . 3 k Ω 100 k Ω
C 3

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 11

 Small Signal Performance Parameters
In AC analysis, we are interested to find
z Voltage gain
z Input resistance
z Output resistance

and sometimes
z Current gain

z Input signal range

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 12

 Voltage Gain
Terminal voltage gain
between base and collector is:
v v
Avt = v c = v o = − g m R
L
b be
Overall voltage gain from source vi
to output voltage across R3 is:

v o ⎛⎜ v o v⎞⎛ ⎞ ⎛v ⎞
Av = v = ⎜ v be ⎟ = A ⎜⎜ be
⎟⎜
⎟⎜
⎟ ⎟
⎟
v ⎟
⎟⎜ vt ⎜ v ⎟
i ⎜⎝ be ⎠⎝i ⎠ ⎝ i ⎠
⎡ ⎤
⎢ R rπ ⎥
∴ Av = − g m R ⎢⎢ B
( )
⎥
L ⎢ R + R r ⎥⎥
⎣ I B π ⎦
R = ro R R
L C 3

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 13

 Input Resistance

z The total resistance looking into the

amplifier at coupling capacitor C1
represents total resistance of the
amplifier presented to signal source

v x = i x ( R rπ )
B
v
R = x = R rπ = R R rπ
in ix B 1 2

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 14

 Output Resistance

z Output resistance is the total

equivalent resistance looking into the
output of the amplifier at coupling
capacitor C3

z To find Rout, input source is set to 0

and test source is applied at output
vx vx
ix = + + gm v But vbe=0.
R ro be
C
vx
∴ R out = = R ro ≅ R As ro>> RC.
ix C C
ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 15
 Example 1
Analysis: To find the Q-point, dc
equivalent circuit is constructed.

105 I +V + (β +1)I (1.6×104) = 5

B BE B

∴ I = 3 .71µA
B
I = 65 I = 241µA
C B
I = 66 I = 245µA
z Problem: Find voltage gain, input E B
and output resistances.
z Given data: β= 65, VA =50 V
z Assumptions: Active-region
operation, VBE=0.7 V, small signal 5 −104 I −V − (1.6 ×104 ) I − (−5) = 0
C CE E
operating conditions. ∴V = 3.67V
CE
Active region of operation is correct.

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 16

 Example 1 (Cont.)
Next we construct the ac
equivalent and simplify it

R = R rπ = 6.23kΩ
in B

I
gm = C = 9.64×10− 3S
V
T
βV R out = R r = 9 . 57 k Ω
rπ = T = 6.64kΩ C o
I ⎡
R ⎤
C vo ⎢
in
⎥
V +V Av = = − gm ( Rout R ) ⎢
⎢ ⎥ = − 84 .0
v 3 ⎢ R + R ⎥⎥
ro = A CE = 223kΩ i ⎢⎣ I in ⎥⎦
I
C

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 17

 Topics to cover …
z Family of single-stage BJT amplifiers

z Small signal analysis

– Common-Emitter Amplifier

z Common-Emitter Amplifier with Emitter R

z Common-Base Amplifier

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 18

 Common-Emitter Amplifier with Emitter R
AC equivalent:
Input Output

A resistor exists at the emitter of

AC ground the ac equivalent circuit

Also called emitter degenerated

CE amplifier

RE provides negative feedback

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 19

 Negative Feedback due to RE

z Assume iC Ç for any reason

z iE (=iC/α) Ç
z vE Ç
z vBE È
z iC È : counter act the original
change

z More discussion on negative

feedback later in the course

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 20

 Overall Voltage Gain
Overall voltage gain from vi to vo
can be expressed as:
⎛ ⎞⎛ ⎞
vo ⎜
⎜ vo vb ⎟⎟
⎟⎜
⎟⎜
Av ≡ = ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
v ⎜ v v ⎟⎟
⎟⎜
⎟⎜
i ⎜
⎝ b i⎠
⎠⎝

vo
Define terminal voltage gain as: Avt ≡
vb
vb RB || Rin
And it can be observed that: =
vi RI + ( RB || Rin )
Thus, the task breaks down into two steps:
z Find the terminal voltage gain

z Find the input resistance Rin.

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 21

 Terminal Voltage Gain
Use hybrid-π model (neglecting ro): Using rπ g m = β , we have

g m rπ R gm R
Avt = − L ≅− L
rπ + ( g m rπ +1)R 1+ g m R
E E
for gmrπ = β >> 1

Effect of RE:
vb = irπ + ( β + 1)iRE z For RE=0, Avt ≅ − gm R
L
= i(rπ + ( β + 1) RE ) – Upper limit of Avt
Avt = − R / R
z For gmRE>>1, L E
vo = − βiRL – Avt becomes less dependent on gm
which varies widely
vo βR
Avt ≡ = − L
z Increasing RE decreases voltage gain!
v rπ + (β +1)R
b E

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 22

 Input Resistance
vb = i (rπ + ( β + 1) RE )
To find Rin Æ to find Vb/i:

v
R = b = rπ + (β +1)R
in E
i
= rπ + ( gmrπ +1)R
E
≅ rπ (1+ gm R )
E
for gmrπ = β >> 1

z Increasing RE increases input resistance!

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 23

 Output Resistance
To find Rout:
z Set vi to zero

z Apply a test source at output

z Rout = vx/ix

Rth = RI // RB
ve = (β +1 )iR
E
KVL at left mesh:
i (Rth + rπ ) + ve = 0
ve
(Rth + rπ ) + ve = 0
( β + 1) RE
⇒ ve = 0
vx
∴ i = 0 ⇒ ix = βi = 0 ∴Rout = =∞
ix

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 24

 Output Resistance
Now, we also include ro in our analysis:
KVL along loop 1:
vx = vr + ve = (ix − βi)ro + ve
Voltage at E:
⎛⎛ ⎞ ⎞
ve = ix ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ R + rπ ⎟⎟ // R ⎟⎟
⎝ ⎝ th ⎠ E⎠
R
Current division at Emitter: i = −ix E
R + R + rπ
Put 2nd and 3rd equations into 1st equation: E th
⎛ ⎞
⎜ R ⎟
⎛⎛ ⎞
∴ v x = ro i x + β i x
⎜
⎜
E ⎟ ⎞
+ i x ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ R + rπ ⎟⎟ // R
⎟
⎟
⎟
⎜ R + R + rπ ⎟ ⎝ ⎝ th ⎠ E ⎠
⎜ ⎟
⎝ E th ⎠

vx βR ⎛
⎜
⎞
⎟
∴Rout ≡ ≅ ro 1+ ⎜E ⎟ for large value of ro
ix R + R⎜ + r ⎟
E th π ⎟⎠
⎜
⎝

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 25

 Output Resistance
⎛
⎜ βR ⎞
⎟
Rout ≅ ro 1+
⎜ E ⎟
⎜
⎜ R + R + rπ ⎟
⎟
⎝ E th ⎠

Assuming (rπ + RE ) >> Rth and ro >> R , with β = gmrπ

E
⎛
⎜ gmrπ R ⎞⎟
Rout ≅ ro 1+ E ⎟ = r ⎛⎜⎜1+ g (r // R ) ⎞⎟⎟
⎜
⎜⎜ R + rπ ⎟⎟ o ⎝ m π E ⎠
⎝ E ⎠

Effect of RE:
z For RE = 0, Rout = ro

z For RE = ∞, upper limit of

Rout is obtained:
Rout = (β +1)ro

z Increasing RE increases Rout!

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 26

 Current Gain

ii

i
z Terminal current gain: A ≡ L = −β
it i

iL iL i RB
z Overall current gain: Ai ≡ = = Ait
is i is RB + Rin

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 27

 Input Signal Range
Remember, in deriving the linear small signal model,
we assumed vbe << VT :

iC = I C e vbe / VT ≅ I C (1 + vbe / VT )
IC
= IC + v
{ V be
DC 1T23
AC

Typically, vbe is required to be less than 5mV!

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 28

 Input Signal Range
vb = i (rπ + ( β + 1) RE )
v v
v = irπ = rπ b = b
be rπ + (β +1)R 1+ g m R + R / rπ
E E E
⎛
⎜ ⎛
⎜ R ⎞ ⎞⎟
⎟
v ≤ 0.005 1+ g m R + E ≅ 0.005(1+ gm R )V
⎜ ⎜ ⎟⎟
b ⎜
⎜
⎜
⎜E β ⎟⎟
⎟⎟
E
⎝ ⎝ ⎠⎠

If gm R >> 1 , vb can be increased beyond 5 mV limit.

E
I R I R
z Condition for gmRE >>1 : gm R = C E ≅ E E >>1
E V V
T T
∴I R >>V = 0.025V
E E T

z Increasing RE increases input signal range!

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 29
 Summary of Emitter Degenerated
Common-Emitter Amplifier
gm R
− L
z Terminal voltage gain: Inverting and Large
1+ g m R
E
⎡ ⎤
gm R R //R
⎢ ⎥
z Overall voltage gain: Inverting and Large − L ⎢ B in ⎥
⎢ ⎥
1+ g m R RI + RB //Rin ⎥⎦⎥
⎢
⎣⎢
E
z Input resistance: Large rπ (1+ gm R )
E
⎛ ⎞
z Output resistance: Large ro ⎜⎜1+ gm (rπ RE ) ⎟⎟
⎝ ⎠

z Terminal Current gain: Large −β

z Effects of the resistor at Emitter:

– Voltage gain decreased, but more stabilized (less sensitive to gm)
– Input signal range increased
– Input and output resistance increased

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 30

 Topics to cover …
z Family of single-stage BJT amplifiers

z Small signal analysis

– Common-Emitter Amplifier

z Common-Emitter Amplifier with Emitter R

z Common-Base Amplifier

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 31

 Common-Base Circuits

AC/Small-signal equivalent:
Output
Load
AC ground

RL = R3 || R7
Input Signal
Source

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 32

 Terminal Voltage Gain

CB ≡ vo = + g R
Avt m L
ve

z Non-inverting!
z Magnitude same as the CE
Apply test source to input (E) amplifier with RE=0.
And use BJT small signal model:

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 33

 Input Resistance

KCL at emitter:
ve
i = + g m ve
rπ
v
CB = e = rπ = rπ //( 1 ) ≅ 1
Rin
i rπ g m +1 g
m
g
m

z Rin is small (as gm is usually large)!

(gm=IC/VT)

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 34

 Overall Voltage Gain

For gm R << 1 ,
I
CB
Av = + gm RL
This is the upper bound.

Overall voltage gain is For gm R >>1 ,

I
⎛ ⎞⎛ ⎞ ⎡
R // R ⎤ R
v ⎜ v ⎟⎜ v ⎟ CB
Av = + L
⎢
CB = o = ⎜ o ⎟⎜ e ⎟ = A ⎢ 4 in ⎥⎥
Av
v ⎜⎜⎝ ve ⎟⎟⎠⎜⎜ v ⎟⎟ vt ⎢ R + ( R // R ) ⎥
⎜ ⎟ ⎢ ⎥
R
i ⎝ i ⎠ ⎢⎣ I 4 in ⎥⎦ I
⎛ ⎞
gm R ⎜ R ⎟
= L ⎜
⎜
4 ⎟⎟
1+ g m (R // R ) ⎜⎜ R + R ⎟⎟
z For large voltage gain, a
4 I ⎝ I 4⎠ very small RI is required!
gm R Not a good candidate for
≅ L z
1+ g m R for R4 >> RI voltage amplifier
I

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 35

 Example
z Problem: Find overall voltage gain.
z Given data: β=100, Q-point values: IC=245uA,
VCE=3.64V, gm=9.8mS, rπ=10.2kΩ, rο=219kΩ.
z Assumptions: Small-signal operating conditions.
z Analysis:

CB
Rin ≅1/ gm =102Ω
R = R R =18kΩ
L 3 7

ACB
vt = + gm RL = 176
⎛ ⎞
A CB ⎜ R ⎟
ACB = vt 4 ⎟⎟ = +8.59
⎜
v ⎜
1+ gm ( R R ) ⎜⎜ R + R ⎟⎟
I 4 ⎝ I 4⎠

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 36

 Input Signal Range

R4 // Rin vi ⎛ R4 ⎞
veb = vi = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
RI + R4 // Rin 1 + g m ( RI // R4 ) ⎝ RI + R4 ⎠

v ≅ v (1+ gm R ) for R4 >> RI.

i eb I

For small-signal operation, v ≤ 0.005(1+ gm R )V

b I

Relative size of gm and RI determine signal-handling limit.

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 37

 Output Resistance
z Rout here is equivalent to the Rout of
CE amplifier with RE=Rth and resistance
at base equal to zero.

⎛
⎜ βR ⎞
⎟
∴RCB
out = ro 1+
⎜ th ⎟
⎜
⎜ R + rπ ⎟
⎟
⎝ th ⎠

Using β = gmrπ

CB ⎛ ⎞
Rout ≅ ro ⎜⎜⎝1+ gm (rπ // Rth ) ⎟⎟⎠

z Rout is large.

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 38

 Current Gain
i

i
CB = l = α ≅ +1
z Terminal current gain: Ait
ie

z Current gain from source to load:

i ⎛⎜ i ⎞⎟⎛⎜ i ⎞⎟ R
CB = l = ⎜ l ⎟⎜ e ⎟ = A ≅ A =1 for R >> R
Ai it
⎟⎜
R + R it in
⎜ ⎟
i ⎜⎝ ie ⎟⎠⎜⎜ i ⎟⎟
⎝ ⎠ in

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 39

 Summary of Common Base Amplifier
z Terminal voltage gain: Non-inverting and Large
z Input resistance: Low
z Output resistance: High
z Current gain: close to Unity
z Input range: determined by gmRth

z Excellent for use as a current buffer

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 40

 Current Buffer
Io
• Without a buffer:
RS
Io = I i << I i for RL >> Rs
Ii Rs
RL RS + RL
Only a small portion of source
current is delivered to load!

Current buffer • With a buffer:

Io
⎛ RS ⎞ RO
⎜
Io = ⎜ I i ⎟⎟ A
Ii Rs Ri A=1 Ro RL
⎝ RS + Ri ⎠ RL + RO
Vo
≅ AI i = I i for Ri << RS and RO >> RL

• Requirement of a current buffer:

- Low input resistance
- High output resistance
- Unity current gain

ELE2110A © 2008 Lecture 06 - 41