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Laboratory Exercise No. 5.1

EE 01 (Electronic Circuits: Devices and Analysis)
Small Signal Amplifier; Common-Emitter
Group Leader:
Group Members:

Course Year & Section: Date Performed:

Course In-Charge: Date Submitted:
Rating: Comments:

I. Introduction
An example of a transistor amplifier circuit that amplifies tiny AC (alternating current)
signals delivered to its input is the small signal common emitter amplifier. Without
significantly increasing distortion or noise, it is used to boost the amplitude of tiny signals.
The base of the common emitter amplifier's NPN bipolar transistor, which is linked to the
input signal, the collector, the output load, and the emitter, ground, respectively, is also
known as the common emitter amplifier. The transistor's collector receives the output signal,
while the input signal is linked to the transistor's base via a coupling capacitor.
In comparison to other amplifier circuit types, the tiny signal common emitter amplifier
offers a few benefits, including high voltage gain, low input impedance, and moderate output
impedance. It is often utilized in radio frequency (RF) circuits like oscillators and mixers as
well as audio applications like preamplifiers and headphone amplifiers.
In summary, a tiny signal common emitter amplifier is a flexible and popular circuit for a
variety of applications that need the amplification of small AC signals. It may be used in RF
and audio circuits due to its high voltage gain, low input impedance, and moderate output
impedance.
II. Learning Objectives:
After performing this experiment, you will be able to:
1. Compute the dc parameters, re, and the voltage gain of a common-emitter amplifier
with voltage divider bias.
2. Build a common-emitter amplifier and measure the dc and ac parameters.
3. Predict the result of faults in a common-emitter amplifier.
III. Materials and Equipment

Resistors:
One 100 Ω, one 2.2 kΩ, one 6.8 kΩ, three 10 kΩ, one 47 k Ω
Capacitors:
Two 1 μF, one 100 μF
One 10 kΩ potentiometer
One 2N3904 NPN transistor (or equivalent)

IV. Theory

In a common-emitter (CE) amplifier, the input signal is applied between

the base and emitter, and the output signal is developed between the collector
and emitter. The transistor's emitter is common to both the input and output
circuit; hence, the term common emitter. Do not confuse the term common
emitter with grounded emitter. The emitter terminal of a CE amplifier may or may
not be at circuit ground.

To make any transistor circuit amplify ac signals, the base-emitter junction

must be forward-biased, and the base-collector junction must be reverse-biased.
The purpose of bias circuits is to establish and maintain the proper dc operating
conditions for the transistor. The bias circuit must provide these conditions for
wide variations between transistors that may occur because of mass production.

There are several ways to apply dc bias. The simplest method, called
base bias or fixed bias, is frequently unsatisfactory due to manufacturing
variations between transistors and sensitivity to temperature changes. Base bias
is recognized by a single resistor connected from Vcc to the transistor base. A
much more widely used bias circuit is called voltage divider bias. Voltage divider
bias is not as sensitive to transistor variations and temperature changes. Voltage
divider bias is shown in Figure 38-1(a).

There are many variations in transistor amplifiers. The purpose of the

example shown is to develop a method for analysis rather than a set of
equations. The equations for each configuration of amplifier are necessarily
different, depending on the circuit. You should not attempt to memorize a set of
equations for analysis, but rather observe the application of analysis methods.
 Figure 38-1
Figure 38-1 Steps in solving the dc parameters in CE amplifier with voltage divider bias.
Note that the equation given in (b) assumes a "stiff" divider—that is, it ignores the small
loading effect of the base current on the divider. As long as the base current is small
compared to the divider current, this is satisfactory; otherwise use equation 18-7 in the
text.

To analyze any amplifier, start with the dc parameters. The steps to solve for the
dc parameters for the CE amplifier with voltage divider bias illustrated in Figure 38-1(a)
are:

1. Mentally remove capacitors from the circuit since they appear open to dc. This causes
the load resistor, RL, to be removed. Solve for the base voltage, VB, by applying the
voltage divider to rule R, and R₂, as illustrated in Figure 38-1(b).

2. Subtract the 0.7 V forward-bias drop across the base-emitter diode from V B to obtain
the emitter voltage, VE, as illustrated in Figure 38-1(c).

3. The dc current in the emitter circuit is found by applying Ohm's law to R E. The emitter
current, IE, is approximately equal to the collector current, lC. The transistor appears to be
a current source of approximately IE into the collector circuit, as shown in Figure 38-1(d).
The ac parameters for the amplifier can now be analyzed. The circuit and the ac
equivalent circuit are shown in Figure 38-2. The capacitors appear to be an ac short. For
this reason, the ac equivalent circuit does not contain R E. Using the superposition
theorem, VCC is replaced with a short, placing it at ac ground. The analysis steps are:

1. Replace all capacitors with a short and place VCC at ac ground. Compute the ac
resistance of the emitter, re, from the equation:

2. Compute the amplifier's voltage gain. Voltage gain is the ratio of the output voltage
divided by the input voltage. The input voltage is across the ac emitter resistance to
 ground which, in this case, is re. The output voltage is taken across the ac resistance
from collector to ground. Looking from the transistor's collector, RL, appears to be in
parallel with RC. For the circuit in Figure 38-2(b), the output voltage divided by the
input voltage can be written:

3. Compute the total input resistance seen by the ac signal:

V. Procedure
1. Measure and record the resistance of the resistors listed in Table 38-1.

2. Using measured resistances, compute the dc parameters listed in Table 38-2 for the
CE amplifier shown in Figure 38-3. This circuit, like most voltage divider bias circuits,
uses a "stiff" divider; therefore, the equation shown in the box in Figure 38-1 is
satisfactory for finding the base voltage. Compute the base voltage, VB emitter voltage,
VE, and emitter current, IE, as described in the Summary of Theory. The emitter current is
assumed to be the same as the collector current. Use this idea and Ohm's law to find the
voltage drop across the collector resistor. V C can then be found by subtracting this
voltage drop from VCC. VCE is the difference between VC and VE.

3. Construct the amplifier shown in Figure 38-3. The signal generator should be turned
off. Measure and record the dc voltages listed in Table 38-2. Your measured and
computed values should agree within 10%.

4. Compute the ac parameters listed in Table 38-3 using the method given in the
Summary of Theory. The ac base voltage, Vb, represents the signal input to the amplifier,
Vin. It is listed as 10 mVpp based on the input voltage divider consisting of R 3 and R4.
Multiply the input signal by the computed voltage gain to obtain the output signal. The ac
collector voltage, Ve, represents the output signal, Vout. If you do not know βac for the
input resistance calculation, assume a value of 100.

5. Turn on the signal generator and adjust VS for a 1.0 Vpp signal at 1.0 kHz. The ac input
at the base, Vb, is already listed in Table 38-3 as 10 mVPP. Measure the ac collector
signal, VC, and record it in Table 38-3. Use the ac base voltage and measured collector
voltage to obtain the measured voltage gain. Record the measured voltage gain in Table
38-3.
 6. The measurement of Rin(T) must be done indirectly since it represents an ac
resistance. The output signal (Vout) is monitored and noted. A variable test resistor (R test)
is then inserted in series with the source, as shown in Figure 38-4. The resistance of R test
is increased until Vout drops to one-half the value noted prior to inserting R test. This means
the voltage drop across Rtest is equal to the voltage drop across R in(T); hence, the
resistances are equal. Rtest can then be removed and measured with an ohmmeter.
Using this method, measure Rin(T) and record the result in Table 38-3.

7. Restore the circuit to that of Figure 38-3. With a two-channel oscilloscope, compare
the input and output waveforms. What is the phase relationship between Vin and Vout?

8. Remove C₂ from the circuit. Measure the ac signal voltage at the transistor's base,
emitter, and collector. Measure the voltage gain of the amplifier. What conclusion can
you make about the amplifier's performance with C₂ open?

9. Replace C₂ and remove RL. Again, measure the ac signal voltage at the transistor's
base, emitter, and collector. Measure the voltage gain of the amplifier. What conclusion
can you make about the amplifier's performance with RL. open?

10. Replace RL and open RE. Measure the dc voltages at the base, emitter, and collector.
Is the transistor cut off or saturated? (Saturation is maximum current flow in the
transistor; cutoff is no current flow in the transistor.) Explain your answer.

11. Replace RE and open R2. Measure the dc voltages at the base, emitter, and collector.
Is the transistor cut off or saturated? Explain your answer.

VI. Guiding Questions

1. When C₂ is open, you found that the gain is affected. Explain.

2. In step 6, you were instructed to measure the input resistance while monitoring the
output voltage. Why is the procedure better than monitoring the base voltage?

3. Assume the amplifier shown in Figure 38-3 has +1.8 V dc measured on the base, 1.1
V dc measured on the emitter, and +1.1 V dc measured on the collector.
(a) Is this normal?
(b) If not, what is the most likely cause of the problem?
4. If C₂ were shorted:
(a) What dc base voltage would you expect?
(b) What dc collector voltage would you expect?

5. Explain a simple test to determine if a transistor is saturated or cut off.

6. What is meant by a "stiff" voltage divider?

For Further Investigation:

The low frequency response of the CE amplifier in this experiment is determined

by the coupling and bypass capacitors. The upper frequency response is determined by
the unseen interelectrode and stray circuit capacitances. Using the oscilloscope to view
the output waveform, set the generator for a midband frequency of 1 kHz. Use a sine
wave with a convenient level (not clipped) across the load resistor. Raise the generator
frequency until the output voltage falls to 70.7% of the midband level. This is the upper
cutoff frequency. Then lower the generator frequency until the output voltage falls to
70.7% of the midband level.

This is the lower cutoff frequency. Try switching C, and C2. What effect does this
have on the lower cutoff frequency? Does it influence the upper cutoff frequency?
Summarize your investigation in a short report.