POWER AMPLIFIER

I. CLASS A AMPLIFIER
II. CLASS B AMPLIFIER
III. CLASS AB AMPLIFIER

Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)
 Learning Outcome

Student should be able to:

1. Understand basic concept and classification of power amplifier.

2. Explain and analyze the operation of Class A, Class B and Class AB power amplifiers.

3. Determine the efficiency of the power amplifiers.

4. Design the power amplifiers.

Sub-topics

Concept and Classification of power amplifier

Class A power amplifier
Class B power amplifier
Class AB power amplifier
Summary of classification of power amplifier
 Definitions

In small-signal amplifiers the main factors are:

• Amplification
• Linearity
• Gain

Since large-signal, or power amplifiers handle

relatively large voltage signals and current levels, the
main factors are:
• Efficiency
• Maximum power capability
• Impedance matching to the output device
Application of power amplifier

Speaker

Audio amplifier with Bluetooth receiver.

 Power Amplifier Types

Class A
The amplifier conducts through the full 360 of the input.
The Q-point is set near the middle of the load line.

Class B
The amplifier conducts through 180 of the input.
The Q-point is set at the cutoff point.

Class AB
This is a compromise between the class A and B amplifiers.
The amplifier conducts somewhere between 180 and 360.
The Q-point is located between the mid-point and cutoff.

more…
 Power Amplifier Types

Class C
The amplifier conducts less than 180 of the input.
The Q-point is located below the cutoff level.

Class D
This is an amplifier that is biased especially for digital signals.
 Class A Power Amplifier
The output of a Class A power
amplifier conducts for the full 360
of the cycle.

The Q-point is set at the middle of

the load line so that the AC signal
can swing a full cycle.

Remember that the DC load line

indicates the maximum and minimum
limits set by the DC power supply.
 Class B Power Amplifier

A Class B power amplifier output

only conducts for 180 or one-half
of the AC input signal.

The Q-point is at 0V on the

load line, so that the AC
signal can only swing for
one-half cycle.
 Class AB Power Amplifier
This power amplifier is a compromise between the Class A and Class B
amplifiers - the Q-point is above that of the Class B but below the Class A.

The output conducts between 180 and 360 of the AC input signal.
 Class C Power Amplifier

The output of the class C power

amplifier conducts for less than
180 of the AC cycle. The Q-
point is below cutoff.

This operating class is used in

special areas of tuned circuit
such as radio or
communications.
 Power Amplifier Efficiency

Efficiency refers to the ratio of output to input power.

The lower the amount of conduction of the amplifier the higher the
efficiency.
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier

The different between this circuit and

the small-signal circuit:
 the signals handled by the large-
signal circuit are in the range of volts,
 the transistor used is a power
transistor (capable to operate in range
of a few to tens of watts).

Not the best to use as a large-signal

amplifier due to poor power efficiency.
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier
DC Bias Operation

• The intersection of the IBQ with the dc load line is the operating point
(Q-point) for the circuit.
• This Q-point will determine the possible swing of output signal as the
input signal given.

Different levels of IB will move the Q-

Q

point up and down the load line

VCC  0.7
I BQ 
RB
I CQ   I BQ
VCEQ  VCC  I C RC
Transistor characteristic showing
load line and Q-point
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier
DC Bias Operation

VCE  VCC  I C RC

Let VCE = 0, the network Let IC =0, the network

equation becomes equation becomes

0  VCC  I C RC VCE  VCC

VCC
Transistor characteristic showing IC 
load line and Q-point RC
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier
AC operation
The input signal causes the output voltage to swing to a maximum of Vcc
and a minimum of 0V.

The output current can also swing from 0 mA to ICSAT.

(Note: ICSAT=VCC/RC)
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier
Power Considerations
Input power
 The power into an amplifier is provided by the supply.
 With no input signal, the dc current drawn is the collector
bias current ICQ.
 Even with an ac signal applied, the average current drawn
from the supply remains the same.

Pi (dc)  VCC I CQ ...(1)

 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier

Output Power
• The output voltage and current varying around the bias
point provide ac power to the load.
• The ac input signal results in ac current and ac voltage
signals. The larger the input signals the larger the output
signals swing. (up to the maximum set by the circuit)
• Using RMS signals, the ac power delivered to the load RC
is:
Po (ac)  VCE (rms) I C (rms) ...(2)

Po (ac)  I C2 (rms) RC ...(3)

2
VCE (rms)
Po (ac)  ...(4)
RC
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier
Output power using peak signals Output power using peak-to-peak signals
VCE ( p ) I C ( p ) V ( pp) I C ( pp)
Po ( ac)  ...(5) Po (ac)  CE ...(8)
2 8

I C2 ( p ) RC I C2 ( pp ) RC
Po ( ac)  ...(6) Po ( ac)  ...(9)
2 8

2 2
VCE ( p) VCE ( pp)
Po ( ac)  ...(7) Po (ac)  ...(10)
2 RC 8 RC
Efficiency
• The efficiency of an amplifier represents the amount of ac power
delivered (transferred) from the dc source.
Po (ac)
% 
Pi (dc)
20
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier

Maximum Efficiency
• The maximum efficiency can be determined using the
maximum voltage and current swings.
• For voltage swing:
VCE ( P  P )  VCC ...(11)
• For the current swing:

V CC
IC ( PP)  ...(12)
RC
 Series-Fed Class A Power Amplifier
• Using the maximum voltage swing:
• From equation
V ( pp) I C ( pp)
Po (ac)  CE ...(8)
8
2
VCC (VCC / RC ) VCC
Po (ac) max  
8 8RC

The maximum power input:

2
VCC / RC VCC
Pi (dc) max  VCC (max I C )  VCC 
2 2 RC

2
Po (ac) VCC / 8RC
% (max)   2  100%  25%
Pi (dc) VCC / 2 RC

22
Example 1:

Figure 1 shows a series-fed class A amplifier. The input signal results in

a base current of 5 mA. Calculate the input power Pin and output
power Pout for the circuit.

23
24
Solution Ex. 12.1:

25
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• This amplifier uses a transformer to couple the output signal to the load to
get maximum efficiency of 50%.
• The circuit uses a transformer to step voltage or current.
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
•Transformer Action
• A transformer basically can increase or decrease
voltage or current levels according to the turns
ratio.
• The impedance connected to one side of a
transformer can be made to appear either larger
or smaller at the other side of the transformer.
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
Voltage and current transformation
• By assuming ideal ( 100% ) power transfer from primary to
secondary (no losses), If the number of turns of wire on the
secondary > the number on the primary,
V2 N 2 I1 V2 > V1
 
V1 N1 I 2
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
Impedance Transformation
• An impedance seen from either side (primary or secondary) can be
changed.
• The impedance R2=RL is connected across the transformer secondary.
The impedance will become R1=RL’ when it viewed at the primary side.
2
R'
R1 V1 / I1 V1 I 2 V1 I 2 N1 N1  N1 
L
       
RL R2 V2 / I 2 I1 V2 V2 I1 N 2 N 2  N 2 
• If we define a =N1/N2, where a is the turns ratio of the transformer,
the equation becomes
2
R '
R N 
 1   1   a 2
L
RL R2  N 2 
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• The load resistance reflected to the primary side can
become as

R1  a 2 R2

RL'  a 2 RL
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• Operation DC load line

• The transformer DC winding resistance determines the

DC load line.
• This resistance typically small (ideally 0 Ω) (practical
transformer winding resistance ≈ few ohms)
• The DC load line represent as straight line in the
transistor curve characteristics.
• Since the resistance is 0Ω, there is no voltage drop
through the dc load resistance and hence the straight
line DC load line is drawn vertically from the voltage
point, VCEQ=VCC
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier

• Quiescent operating point

• The Q-point can be obtained graphically at the point

of intersection of the dc load line and the base
current set by the circuit.
• This Q-point also called as dc bias point
• The dc bias point is important for class A in order to
produces the undistorted signal swing current and
voltage. Keep in mind that the maximum efficiency for
class A power amplifier is 25%.
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• AC load line

• It is necessary to calculate the ac load resistance seen

into the primary side of the transformer (RL’) . then
draw the ac load line on the collector characteristics
by ICQ+IC
• Where I 
VCEQ
C
RL'
• Therefore, it is necessary to check that the possible
voltage swing does not exceed the transistor
maximum ratings.
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• Signal swing and output AC power

• The AC load line determined the voltage and current signal swings.
• This possible signal swings will provide the peak-to-peak values:
VCE ( p  p)  VCEmax  VCEmin
I C ( p  p)  I Cmax  I Cmin
• The ac power developed across the transformer primary:

(VCEmax  VCEmin )( I Cmax  I Cmin )

Po (ac) 
8
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier

VCE ( p  p)  VCEmax  VCEmin I C ( p  p )  I Cmax  I Cmin

 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• Efficiency

• The input DC power obtained from the DC supply voltage:

Pi (dc)  VCC I CQ
• In the transformer-couple amplifier, the power dissipated by
the transformer is small due to the small dc resistance of
coil. Thus, the only power loss PQ considered by the power
transistor:
PQ  Pi (dc)  Po (ac)
 Transformer-coupled
Class A Power Amplifier
• Efficiency

• Maximum theoretical efficiency

• For a class A transformer-couple amplifier, the maximum
theoretical efficiency goes up to 50%
• Based on the signals obtained using the amplifier, the efficiency
can be expressed as
2
 VCEmax  VCEmin 
%  50  %
 VCE  VCE 
 max min 
Example 2: Class A power amplifier

Fig.2 shows a class A power amplifier.

𝑅𝐵
15.3𝑘

Fig 2

Next, calculate base and collector currents,

𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸
𝐼𝐵 =
𝑅𝐵 Then, calculate the input power, Pi(dc)
16 − 0.7
𝐼𝐵 = 15.3𝑘 = 1mA
Pi ( dc )  VCC I CQ
Pi ( dc )  16(100mA)  1.6W
Example 2: Class A power amplifier

At the maximum efficiency, Class A load line.

For voltage swing: 16 Vpp

For the current swing: 200 mApp The output power Po(ac)
The maximum efficiency is

𝑅𝐵
P (ac) 15.3𝑘
%  o
Pi (dc)
0.4W
%   25%
1.6W

Three-fourths of the output power would be wasted as heat. The transistor

would probably require a large heat sink.

A big improvement is possible by using transformer coupling.

Example 3: Class A power amplifier with transformer coupling

The ac load in the collector circuit,

RL'  a 2 RL
𝑅𝐵
15.3𝑘
RL'  a 2 RL

Fig. 3
Notice that the ac load line runs from
32 V (twice the supply voltage)
to 200 mA.

This satisfies an impedance of


Load lines for the transformer-coupled amplifier.
Example 3: Class A power amplifier with transformer coupling

The dc power input to the amplifier

has not changed.

𝑅𝐵 Pi ( dc )  VCC I CQ
15.3𝑘
Pi ( dc )  16(100mA)  1.6W

(VCEmax  VCEmin )( I Cmax  I Cmin )

Po (ac) 
8
(32V )(200mA)
Po (ac)   0.8W
8

The maximum efficiency is

0.8W
%   50%
1.6W
JFET Class A Power Amplifier

Po(ac )
%   100
Pi(dc )
JFET DC and AC Load Lines

ac load line

ac load line