LAB 6B.

BJT Amplifier
Your Name: Yousef Almutairi
Date: 1st Nov, 2021

1. Introduction

In this lab we will operate a npn BJT with the following objectives:
· Make a common emitter (CE) amplifier where the BJT is operating in the active region.
· Theoretically predict the gain of the amplifier.
· Experimentally measure the gain of the amplifier.
· IMPORTANT NOTE: the values calculated in Lab 6A for common emitter current gain
(β), thermal voltage (VT), the saturation current (Is), and Ic for the various VBE and VCE
values will be needed for this lab.

You will see that real BJT operation is similar to the theoretical operation you will go over in
lecture class, but is not ideally the same so don’t freak out if your theoretical answers don’t
perfectly match real life measurements. Seeing the connection between theory and real life
should help solidify the topic you are learning.

Notes:
· Use this document as your report with no changes except to
add your pictures, data, explanations, and file name change
as indicated in the assignment tool. When taking pictures
of your circuit, it must be zoomed in enough so I can
clearly see all circuit component details and connections.
Also include a label with your name on it so I can know
it is your picture.

· Although you may work with others, do not use other’s circuits, pictures, screen captures,
or reports. You must build your own circuit and collect
your own data. Your WaveForms software screen
captures must have the Discovery2 serial number showing so that I know you are using
your own equipment or points will be deducted.

· The Digilent Voltmeter function cannot accurately measure voltages below 20 mV. A
value showing less than 20 mV may actually be zero.

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2. Parts List

· Digilent Analog Discovery 2

· Multimeter, DT832
o Be sure to use a fresh 9 V battery in your mulitimeter if the battery symbol is
displaying on the screen. If the battery symbol is displaying on the screen you
will get random/wrong values for resistance and current measurements.
· Breadboard & jumper wires
· 1 each, 2N3904 BJT transistor, npn
· 1 each, Potentiometer, 5 kΩ, marked “502” next to the screw
· Screwdriver to adjust the pot
· 1 each, 1 μF capacitor, electrolytic, marked “1 uF”

3. Assignment

1. Retrieve all of the following values measured and calculated in Lab 7 with the BJT at the
operating point dictated by VBE = 0.71 V and VCE = 2 V. Record them in Your Results
section in Table 2. The instructor’s examples are recorded below in Table 1, and only
provided as an example. Your values may be different than the instructor’s. Also,
perform the calculations shown in Table 2 to make sure your values are consistent with
each other.

Table 1: BJT characteristics and DC operating point information measured in Lab 8. Also,
using values from (a), the equations in (b) are solved to check that the values are consistent.
(a) (b)
Parameter Value Check Yourself! Answers
VBE 0.71 V If all answers for IC
below and to the left in
VCE 2.00 V (a) are the same, then
IC 3.15 mA your values are correct.

IB 17 μA IB was measured at VCE = 1 V but is

“ideally” same for 2V in active mode
β 179 Does IC = β×IB ? = 3.04 mA ≈ 3.15 mA
VT 28.8 mV
0.71
Is 6.18E-14 A = 3.14 mA ≈ 3.15 mA
Does I =I e V ? T
C S

2. You will make the circuit shown in Figure 1(a). It should look like Figure 1(b). First
follow these steps, however:
a. Note, in this very simple circuit there is no RE so VE = 0, therefore VC = VCE and
VB = VBE.

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 b. First, determine Rc. Given Vcc = 5 V, and using Ohm’s law at Rc one finds:
RC = (Vcc – Vc)/Ic = 952 Ω
Show your calculation for Rc in Your Results section.
c. Adjust the pot to match your calculation as shown in Figure 2. Show the results
of your adjusted pot in Figure 4.
d. Use one 2N3904 npn BJT transistor. If needed, use the specification sheet
provided to see where the C, B, E terminals are located.
e. The Digilent Waveform Generator 1 (yellow) will be connected directly to the
Base to simultaneously provide both the DC voltage for VB, and the AC signal for
vin. VB = VDC + vac = 0.71 + 10mCOS(2πft) V. The AC part, representing |vin|, will
be set to 10 mV amplitude. This is the input signal that will get amplified.
i. Set it to:
Type: Sinusoid
Amplitude: 10 mV
Frequency: 10 kHz (which simulates a high pitch audio sound)
Offset: 710 mV (0.71 V).
Don’t forget to click “run” when ready. To turn this voltage on you must click on
“Run.” To completely turn this voltage off to zero you must uncheck the
“enable” box – “Stop” doesn’t turn off the offset part of the voltage.
f. Connect Digilent Supplies V+ (red) will be used as VCC.
i. Set it to 5 V.
g. Connect Digilent Ground (black) as the ground.
h. Connect the multimeter between Rc and the collector in order to measure IC.
i. Set the selection dial to “20m” in the “A---” section.
i. Connect Digilent Oscilloscope Channel 1 (Orange & Orange/White) to measure
vin. Adjust your Oscilloscope settings to match exactly those shown in Figure 3.
j. Connect Digilent Oscilloscope Channel 2 (Blue & Blue/White) to measure vout.
Adjust your Oscilloscope settings to match exactly those shown in Figure 3. If
you can only show one channel at a time due to a damaged Digilent, then make
sure the settings are set appropriately for whether you are showing vin or vout.
k. Insert the picture of your circuit in Figure 5 with all connections clearly showing,
settings as above, and correct current showing on the multimeter.
2. Predict the amplifier gain, turn on the circuit, and measure the amplifier gain.
a. Calculate gm. Show your complete calculation in Your Results section.
Instructor’s example values: gm = Ic/V_T = 109 mA/V
b. Calculate the gain. Since there are no Rsig, R_B1, R_B2, or R_L, the most
appropriate gain to use is Avo. Show your complete calculation in Your Results
section. Instructor’s example values: Avo = - gm×Rc = - 104 V/V, and |Avo| =
104 V/V
c. Predict vout. Show your complete calculation in Your Results section. Instructor’s
example values: If |vin| = 10 mV, then |vout| = |vin| |Avo| = 1.04 V.
d. Figure 3 shows that |vout| = 997.11 mV which is very close to 1.04 V. Insert your
screen capture of the Digilent Oscilloscope in Figure 6.
e. Calculate the gain from your measurements in Figure 6. Show your complete
calculation in Your Results section. Instructor’s example values: |Avo| = |vout /vin|

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= 997.11 mV / 10 mV = 99.7 V/V which is pretty close to the predicted gain in
step 3.b.

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 (a) (b)
Figure 1: npn BJT common emitter (CE) amplifier circuit (a) circuit diagram and (b) real circuit.
This CE amplifier is very simple and has RE = 0, no load, unspecified Rsig, and no base bias
resistors, i.e. RB1&2 = ∞.

Figure 2: Adjusting the pot that will be used as Rc. Make sure to use the same two terminals of
the pot that you are measuring for the circuit.

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Figure 3: Screen capture of the Waveforms oscilloscope showing vin (ch. 1 yellow) and vout (ch.
2 blue). VB was provided a total voltage composed of DC + AC, where VB = 0.71 +
10mCOS(2πft) V. The AC part representing |vin| was set to 10 mV amplitude, and this amplitude
is confirmed in channel 1 where it is centered at 710 mV, and the amplitude fluctuates between
700 mV and 720 mV. |vout| is marked with a marker at 997.11 mV which yields a gain of |Avo| =
|vout /vin| = 997.11 mV / 10 mV = 99.7 V/V which is pretty close to the predicted gain.

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 4. Your Results

Table 2: BJT characteristics and DC operating point information measured in Lab 8. Also,
using your values from (a), solve the equations in (b) to see if you get the right answers and your
values are consistent.
(a) (b)
Parameter Value Check Yourself! Answers
VBE 0.71 V If all answers for IC below
and to the left in (a) are
VCE 2.00 V the same, then your values
IC 3.15 mA are correct.

IB 17 μA
β 179 Does IC = β×IB ? = 3.04 mA ≈ 3.15 mA
VT 40.0 mV
0.71
Is 6.00E-11 A Does I =I e V ? = 3.07 mA ≈ 3.15 mA
T
C S

4. Show your calculation for Rc here:

Full calculations here….

RC = (Vcc – Vc)/Ic = (5-2)V/3.15m A = 952.38 Ω

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 Insert your picture here
Figure 4: Picture of your adjusted pot with the resistance showing on the multimeter.

Insert your picture here

Figure 5: Picture of your circuit with VBE = 0.71 V, Rc pot set correctly to above value, and
correct IC showing on the multimeter which should be close to your value in Table 2(a).

3. Calculate gm. Show your complete calculations here.

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 Full calculations here….
gm = Ic/V_T = 3.04A/0.04V mA/V = 76 mA/V

4. Calculate the gain. Show your complete calculations here.

Full calculations here….

Avo = - gm×Rc =-76mA/V×952.38= -72.8 V/V,

5. Predict vout. Show your complete calculations here.

Full calculations here….

|vout| = |vin| |Avo| =10mA × 72.8= 0.728 V

Insert your picture here, with the Discovery SN showing on bottom right and system time and
date showing on top left next to trig’d
Figure 6: Your screen capture of Digilent Oscilloscope showing vin in yellow and vout in blue
with vout amplitude marked, and all settings the exact same as shown in Figure 3.

6. Calculate the gain from your measurements in Figure 6. Show your complete
calculations here.

Full calculations here….

Gain = | vout |/ | vin | = |718.93/10|= 71.8V/V

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