FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN ELEKTRIK DAN ELEKTRONIK

Lab 6 The Common-Emitter Amplifier

[30 Marks]
BTE3212
Electronics 1 Laboratory

COURSE OUTCOME & PO MAPPING

CO Statement Mapped PO
CO1 Measure electronics devices characteristics (P3) PO5
CO2 Construct electric circuits and measure electronics parameters using diode and PO5
transistors (P5)
KNOWLEDGE PROFILE / PROBLEM SOLVING / ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES MAPPING

Submission Due Date : No. of Group Member :

Type of Assessment : 1 – LAB REPORT 2 – PRESENTATION/DEMO 3 – PROJECT REPORT
BTE3212 Electronics 1 Lab 2022/23-SEM I
BTE3212 Electronics 1 Lab 2022/23-SEM I

GROUP MEMBERS:
No. Student ID Student Name Section/Grp
1
2
3
4

LAB OBJECTIVE

1. Build a CE amplifier circuit and measure the DC parameter, the AC circuit and the voltage
gain.
2. Observe the phase relationship between the input and output signals.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

1. Digital oscilloscope
2. Function generator
3. Power supply
4. Digital Multimeter

COMPONENTS

1. Resistor 100 Ω, 330Ω, 1kΩ, 3.9kΩ, 10kΩ

2. Transistor 2N3904
3. Capacitor 1µF, 33µF

THEORY
In a common-emitter (CE) amplifier, the input signal is applied between the base and emitter
and out signal is developed between the collector and emitter. The transistor’s emitter is
common to the input and output circuits, hence, the term common emitter. A CE amplifier is
shown in Figure 1 (a).

To amplify AC signals, the base-emitter junction must be forward-biased, and the base collector
junction must be reverse-biased. The bias establishes and maintains the proper DC operating
conditions for the transistor.

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BTE3212 Electronics 1 Lab 2022/23-SEM I

(a) (b)
Figure 1

After analyzing the DC conditions, the AC parameters for the amplifiers can be evaluated. The
equivalent circuit is drawn in Figure 1(b). The capacitors appear to be short in AC equivalent
circuit. Thus, the AC equivalent circuit does not contain 𝑅𝐸2 in this example. Using the
superposition theorem, 𝑉𝐶𝐶 is replaced with 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 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 example, 𝑟𝑒′ + 𝑅𝐸1 . 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 . In addition, 𝐼𝐶 is approximately equal to 𝐼𝑒 . For the circuit in
Figure 1(b), the output voltage divided by the input voltage can be written:

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

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Notice that the ac resistance of the emitter circuit is multiplied by 𝛽𝑎𝑐 when it brought into the
base circuit.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Construct the amplifier shown in Figure 2. The signal generator should be turned off.
2. Measure and record the DC voltages listed in Table 1.
3. Compute the AC parameters listed in Table 2. The input signal, 𝑉𝒊𝒏, is set for 300
mV p-p. This is both 𝑉𝒊𝒏 and the AC base voltage, 𝑉𝒃 . Multiply 𝑉𝒊𝒏 by the computed
voltage gain to calculate the AC voltage at the collector; this is both 𝑉𝒄 and 𝑉𝒐𝒖𝒕.
Assume the 𝜷𝒂𝒄 value is equal to 100.
4. Turn on the signal generator and set 𝑉𝒊𝒏 for 300 mV at 1.0 kHz with the generator
connected to the circuit.
5. Use the oscilloscope to set the proper voltage and check the frequency. Measure
the ac signal voltage at the transistor’s emitter and at the collector. Note that the
signal at the emitter is less than the base and draw the output waveform below in
Graph 1:
i. 𝑉𝑬
ii. 𝑉𝑪
iii. 𝑉𝑩
6. Use 𝑉𝒊𝒏 𝒑−𝒑 and the collector voltage (𝑉𝐶𝑪) to determine the measured voltage
gain, 𝐴𝑣 . With a two-channel oscilloscope, draw and compare the input and output
waveforms in Graph 2. What is the phase relationship between 𝑉𝒊𝒏 and 𝑉𝒐𝒖𝒕 .

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BTE3212 Electronics 1 Lab 2022/23-SEM I

Figure 2

Table 1: Computed and measured values for DC parameters

DC Parameter Computed Value Measured Value
𝑉𝑩
𝑉𝑬
𝐼𝑬
𝑉𝑪
𝑉𝑪𝑬

Table 2: Computed and measured values for AC parameters

AC Parameter Computed Value Measured Value
𝐴𝑽

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BTE3212 Electronics 1 Lab 2022/23-SEM I

Graph 1

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BTE3212 Electronics 1 Lab 2022/23-SEM I

Graph 2