May 3, 2023

Current Mode
Amplifiers
A presentation By:

Bavly Rafeeq

David Nady

Gerges Samy
 1 Introduction to the Session

2 How BJT works as amplifier

CONTENT 3 Types of amplifiers

4 Advantages & Disadvantages

5 Applications

6 Questions & Answers

INTRODUCTION
An amplifier is an electronic curcuit that increases the
strength of the input signal and produces an amplified
output. without changing its information content.
Depending upon the quantity amplified by the circuit, The
transistor is the main component in Amplifiers.
In this presentation, we will discuss the several types of
amplifiers and how they work. but first we need to know
how BJT works as amplifier.
How bipolar junction transistor
(BJT) amplifies signals?

• The BJT is a three-terminal device made of semiconductor

material, and it has three regions: the emitter, the base, and the
collector. IC
• When a A small amount of current at base terminal causes to flow
Ib
large amount current from emitter to collector.
• increasing the base current will generally increase the collector
current
Ie
 Laws

Ic 100 mA

C
1-
1mA B
IB
E
E + 1
I E 101 mA
BJT AS AUDIO 27

AMPLIFIER: 3
18
45

2
5
C
BJTs are commonly used in
audio amplifier circuits because
they can provide high gain and B
good linearity. E

30
20
50

Figure 1 - Common Emitter Audio Amplifier

Types Of Amplifiers Note: in this presentation we will discuss the first two types only (CE - CC).

C
C E
B

Output

Output

Input
Input
C B
Input

Output
E
B

E
Has Current Gain. Has Current Gain. Has Voltage Gain.

Has Voltage Gain. Has Power Gain. Has Power Gain.

Has Power Gain.

Common Emitter Common Collector Common Base

The Common Emitter (CE)
The common emitter amplifier is the most common
Configuration:
type of BJT amplifier. It has the following
characteristics:
• The input signal is applied to the base terminal.
C IC • The output signal is taken from the collector
VCE terminal.
IB B • The emitter terminal is common to both the input

Output
VBE and output circuits.
Input

The common emitter amplifier has a high current

E
gain, which means that a small change in the base
current can cause a large change in the collector
current. This makes it ideal for driving high-current
devices.
Figure 2 - The Common Emitter BJT amplifier
The Common Emitter (CE) 1 2 3 4

Components: Capacitors Resistors Transistor Input Source

To improve the performance, stability, and reliability. of the amplifier, other

components such as resistors and capacitors may be added to the circuit

• Coupling capacitor (C1): Its purpose is to block any DC voltage from the
input source, while allowing the AC signal to pass through to the base.
• Bypass capacitor (C2): Its purpose is to provide a low-impedance path for
the AC signal to bypass the emitter resistor
• load resistor (RL): Limits the current through the transistor.
• emitter resistor (RE): provide negative feedback that stabilizes the operating
point of the transistor and improves the linearity of the amplifier.
• R1 - R2: Biasing is the process of setting the DC voltage at the base of the
transistor to a particular value. This is important because the transistor needs
to be biased correctly in order to amplify the input signal.
The Common Emitter (CE)
Q: why the signals waves gets shifted in the output?

Laws:

Vout 400
Av = = = 40
V in 10

I out 15
Ai = = = 15
I in 1

P out 6
AP = = = 600
P in 0.01 I in = 1mA
V in = 10mV I =
out 15mA
• Midrange voltage gain. P in = 0.01mW Vout = 400mV
P out = 6mW
• Midrange current gain.
• High power gain.

the signals gets shifted in the output.

INPUT
CHARACTERISTICS
CURVES - (CE)
The input characteristics describe the relationship
between input current or base current (IB) and
input voltage or base-emitter voltage (VBE).

To determine the input characteristics, the output

voltage VCE is kept constant at zero volts and the
input voltage VBE is increased from zero volts to
different voltage levels. For each voltage level of
input voltage (VBE), the corresponding input
current (IB) is recorded.
OUTPUT
CHARACTERISTICS
CURVES - (CE)
The output characteristics describe the relationship
between output current (IC) and output voltage
(VCE).

To determine the output characteristics, the input

current or base current IB is kept constant at 0 μA
and the output voltage VCE is increased from zero
volts to different voltage levels. For each level of
output voltage, the corresponding output current
(IC) is recorded.
The Common Collector (CC) The common collector amplifier is another type of
Configuration: BJT amplifier. It has the following characteristics:
• The input signal is applied to the base terminal.
• The output signal is taken from the emitter
terminal.
• The collector terminal is common to both the
input and output circuits.
The voltage gain of the CC configuration is slightly
Input

C less than 1, but it has a high input impedance and a

Output
low output impedance,
VBC B so often used in circuits where a high input
IB impedance is required
VCE

E IE
Figure 3 - The Common Collector BJT amplifier
The Common Collector (CC) 1 2 3 4

Components: Capacitors Resistors Transistor Input Source

To improve the performance, stability, and reliability. of the amplifier, other

components such as resistors and capacitors may be added to the circuit.

• Coupling capacitor (C2): This capacitor is used to couple the input signal
to the base of the transistor. It allows AC signals to pass through while
blocking DC signals. This helps to prevent any DC offset from affecting
the transistor biasing.
• Bypass capacitor (C1): Its purpose is to provide a low-impedance path for
the AC signal to bypass the emitter resistor.
• R1 & R2: provide the correct bias for the base
• resistor (R3): Limits the current through the transistor.
• Capacitor(C3): keeps the collector at signal ground.
• Direct current flows through RE, and a fluctuating dc voltage therefore
appears across it.
• The ac part of this voltage passes through C1 to the output.
• Because the output follows the emitter current, this circuit is sometimes
called an emitter follower circuit.
The Common Emitter (CE)
Laws:

Vout 9
Av = = = 0.9
V in 10

I out 10
Ai = = = 1
I in 1

P out 100
AP = = = 50
P in 2 I in = 1mA
V in = 10mV I =
out 10mA
• Midrange current gain. P in = 2mW Vout = 9mV
P out = 100mW
• Midrange power gain.
• Low voltage gain. Av < 1
INPUT
CHARACTERISTICS
CURVES
The input characteristics describe the relationship
between input current or base current (IB) and
input voltage or base-collector voltage (VBC).

To determine the input characteristics, the output

voltage VEC is kept constant at 3V and the input
voltage VBC is increased from zero volts to
different voltage levels. For each level of input
voltage VBC, the corresponding input current IB is
noted. A curve is then drawn between input current
IB and input voltage VBC at constant output
voltage VEC (3V).
OUTPUT
CHARACTERISTICS
CURVES
The output characteristics describe the relationship
between output current or emitter current (IE) and
output voltage or emitter-collector voltage (VEC).

To determine the output characteristics, the input

current IB is kept constant at zero micro amperes
and the output voltage VEC is increased from zero
volts to different voltage levels. For each level of
output voltage VEC, the corresponding output
current IE is noted. A curve is then drawn between
output current IE and output voltage VEC at
constant input current IB (0 μA).
 2 Low input impedance

ADVANTAGES The input impedance of a BJT is low, which

means it can effectively drive low impedance
loads. This is useful for applications such as audio
amplifiers.

1 High current gain 3 Fast switching speed

BJT has a high current gain, which means a small

current at the base can control a larger current BJTs have a fast switching speed, which makes
flowing through the collector-emitter path. This them suitable for applications that require high
makes it suitable for amplifying weak signals. speed switching.
 2 Temperature sensitivity

DISADVANTAGES The performance of a BJT is affected by

temperature changes, which can lead to variations
in the output signal.

1 Non-linear behavior 3 High power dissipation

BJTs have a non-linear behavior, which means BJTs can dissipate a significant amount of power,
their output is not directly proportional to the which can lead to heat generation and require
input. This can cause distortion in the output additional heat sinks or cooling.
signal.
APPLICATIONS

Audio Amplifiers

BJT current amplifiers are widely used in audio

amplifiers to amplify the small input signal from a
microphone or a musical instrument to a level that
can drive a loudspeaker.
APPLICATIONS

Power Supplies

to regulate the output voltage and current. By

adjusting the biasing of the BJT, the output voltage
and current can be controlled.
APPLICATIONS

Oscillators

can be used in oscillator circuits to generate a

continuous waveform at a specific frequency. By
controlling the feedback and biasing of the BJT, the
frequency of the oscillator can be adjusted.
APPLICATIONS
Instrumentation
Amplifiers
BJT current amplifiers can be used in
instrumentation amplifiers to amplify small signals
from sensors or transducers. This is useful in
applications such as medical instrumentation,
temperature sensing, and strain gauges.
APPLICATIONS
Radio Frequency
Amplification

The common emitter amplifier can also be used in

radio frequency amplification circuits, such as in
radio receivers or transmitters.
 QUESTIONS

1- WHAT IS THE TYPICAL VOLTAGE GAIN OF A COMMON

EMITTER AMPLIFIER?
a- Less than 1 b- Between 1 and 10 c- Between 10 and 100

2-WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF INCREASING THE VALUE OF

THE BASE RESISTOR IN A COMMON EMITTER
AMPLIFIER?
a- Increases the voltage gain b- Decreases the voltage gain

c- Has no effect on the voltage gain

 QUESTIONS

1- WHAT IS THE TYPICAL VOLTAGE GAIN OF A COMMON

EMITTER AMPLIFIER?
a- Less than 1 b- Between 1 and 10 c- Between 10 and 100

2-WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF INCREASING THE VALUE OF

THE BASE RESISTOR IN A COMMON EMITTER
AMPLIFIER?
a- Increases the voltage gain b- Decreases the voltage gain

c- Has no effect on the voltage gain

 QUESTIONS

1- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE COUPLING CAPACITOR

IN A COMMON EMITTER AMPLIFIER?
a- To block DC voltage b- To increase the voltage gain
c- To decrease the input impedance

2- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE EMITTER RESISTOR IN

A COMMON COLLECTOR AMPLIFIER?
a- To provide negative feedback b- To increase the voltage gain

c- To decrease the output impedance

 QUESTIONS

1- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE COUPLING CAPACITOR

IN A COMMON EMITTER AMPLIFIER?
a- To block DC voltage b- To increase the voltage gain
c- To decrease the input impedance

2- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE EMITTER RESISTOR IN

A COMMON COLLECTOR AMPLIFIER?
a- To provide negative feedback b- To increase the voltage gain

c- To decrease the output impedance

 QUESTIONS

1- WHAT IS THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE OF A COMMON

COLLECTOR BJT CURRENT AMPLIFIER?
a- Low voltage gain b- Low current gain c- High output impedance

2- WHICH CONFIGURATION OF A BJT CURRENT

AMPLIFIER PROVIDES THE HIGHEST VOLTAGE GAIN?
a- Common emitter b- Common base c- Common collector
 QUESTIONS

1- WHAT IS THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE OF A COMMON

COLLECTOR BJT CURRENT AMPLIFIER?
a- Low voltage gain b- Low current gain c- High output impedance

2- WHICH CONFIGURATION OF A BJT CURRENT

AMPLIFIER PROVIDES THE HIGHEST VOLTAGE GAIN?
a- Common emitter b- Common base c- Common collector
THANKS
FOR ATTENTION