EIE304 Electronic Circuits

Mid-Semester Test

Name: Student Number:

WRITE ALL ANSWERS ON THIS QUESTION PAPER.

Question 1

For the circuit shown in Figure 1, assume that the current gain β of the transistor is very large such
that the collector current can be regarded as being equal to the emitter current. Suppose the DC
voltage bias at the bases of Q1 and Q2 is 0 V.

+5V
Q3 Q4

+
vo
−
+ Q1 Q2
vi
−

1mA
-5V

Figure 1

a. If both BJTs, Q1 and Q2 , are specified to have vBE of 0.7 V at a collector current of 0.5 mA,
find the quiescent voltage at the emitters of Q1 and Q2 with respect to ground. Find also the
quiescent voltages of VCE all transistors.

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b. The output characteristic for Q1 is shown below. Sketch the load line. Clearly show the values
of relevant voltages and currents.

IC

VCE

c. Find gm for each of the two BJTs, Q1 and Q2 .

d. Find the gain vo /vi (in dB), assuming that the Early Voltage for Q3 and Q4 is 50V. (Hint:
Note that the output is single-ended, which has only half the total differential output.)

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Question 2

Figure 2 shows two circuits for generating a constant Io = 10 µA. Determine the values of the
required resistors assuming that VBE is 0.7 V at a current of 1 mA. You may neglect the effect of
finite β. That means, the current flowing into the base of the BJT is negligibly small.

+10V +10V

R1 IREF R2 IREF

Io Io

Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2

R3

(a) (b)

Figure 2

Hint: The circuit in Figure 2 (b) is a Widlar mirror which is used to produce current of very small
magnitude. For this circuit, you may assume that the current chosen for Q1 is 1 mA.

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Question 3

Figure 3 shows a Class B power amplifier. Suppose the saturation voltage of the BJT, VCEsat , is
0.2 V, VBE is 0.7 V fixed, and the load RL is 500 Ω.
+VCC

Q1

+
+
Vi RL
Q2 Vo
− −

−VCC

Figure 3

The positive and negative supplies have magnitudes of 15 V, and the amplifier is delivering its
maximum power without clipping.

a. Calculate the maximum average power that is delivered to RL .

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b. Calculate the corresponding efficiency.

c. Calculate the maximum instantaneous power dissipation and the average power dissipation in
each device (transistor).

End of the Test Paper