BJT Cascaded Amplifiers

Example:

Notes:

Input impedance acts like the load resistance for the preceding stage.
R C2 ' = R C2 || R L
Z o 2 = R C2

Z in2 = R 12 || R 22 || re 2
R C1 ' = R C1 || Z in2

Z o1 = R C1
Vin1 =

Z in1 = R 11 || R 21 || re 1
A V1

R C1 '
=
re1

A V2

R C2 '
=
re 2

Vo1 = VC1 = Vin2

Power delivered to the load

Vo 2 = VC2 = (A V 2 )(Vin2 )
Transistor power dissipation
PD = VceqI cq

PL =

RL = 1 K
R12 = 15 K
R22 = 6.8 K
RC2 = 680
RE2 = 470
VCC = 10 V

Answers:
Zo2 = 680
Zo1 = 6.8 K

(Vceq1 )2

2(Z in2 )

(Vceq )2

2R L
Efficiency
P
= L (100 %)
Pin

RC2 = 404.7619048
Zin2 = 455.8955382
RC1 = 427.2511427
Zin1 = 1634.562199
PD1 = 3.00702 mW

peak value

AV1 = 13.24135929
AV2 = 80.13312085
AVT = 1061.071444
PD2 = 20.97262 mW

Stage 2
Pin = 58.942239 mW (whole circuit)

= 15.5800264 mW

Po1 is not necessarily equal to Pin2.

Pin is DC Power.

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

Pin( dc ) = VCC I Cq1 + ICq2 ... whole ckt

Stage 1
Pin = 7.978134 mW

Po1 = PL =

R S + Z in1

Input power to the amplifier

Pin1( dc ) = VCCI Cq1 for stage 1

Vo1 = VC1 = (A V1 )(Vin1 )

A VT = (A V1 )(A V 2 )
Given:
R11 = 22 K
R21 = 3.9 K
RC1 = 6.8 K
RE1 = 1 K
1 = 2 = 100

(VS )(Z in1 )

Po = PL =

(Vceq2 )2
2R L

= 8.467332 mW

8.467332
x100% = 14.365 % ( of the whole ckt)
58.942239
1

MPP Maximum peak-to-peak swing

IC
AC loadline
ICsat
Qpt
DC loadline
VCE cu

Vceq
IcqRCac

MPP
Note: RCac is the ac collector resistance. Vceq and Icq are derived in the DC analysis.
If ICqRCac < Vceq, then MPP = 2 ICqRCac .
If ICqRCac > Vceq, then MPP = 2 Vceq .
In the given example, here are the results:
For Stage 1

For Stage 2

DC loadline:
Icsat = 1.282051 mA
Vce cu = 10 V
Qpt : Vceq = 3.769077564 V
Icq = 0.797813372 mA

DC loadline:
Icsat = 8.695652 mA
Vce cu = 10 V
Qpt : Vceq = 4.1151748 V
Icq = 5.09641048 mA

AC loadline
IcqRCac = 0.340866675 V

AC loadline
IcqRCac = 2.062832813 V

MPP = 0.68173335 V

MPP = 4.125665627 V

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

Amplifiers are classified into two groups:

1. Audio Frequency (AF) amplifiers
- for entertainment like music
2. Radio Frequency (RF) amplifiers
- for broadcasting equipment & other communications and data transmission systems.
Problems with Audio Amplifiers:
1. Distortion
- signal change that undergoes from the time it enters the amplifier stage until it comes
out.
- amount of distortion depends on the amplitude of the input signal.
- amount of distortion also depends on the linearity or the dynamic characteristics of
the semiconductor device used in the circuit.
2. Hum
-

type of distortion generated by power supplies

occur when Power is not properly filtered. Variations in power are then amplified &
produce a very objectionable hum level in the amplifier output.
also caused by stray electromagnetic or electrostatic fields
low-frequency disturbance

3. Intermodulation Distortion (ID)

- type of distortion caused by the presence of two or more sinewaves beating against
one another. A heterodyning effect is produce. This means the new sinewave is the
resultant of the two sinewaves. So there are now four sinewaves present instead of
two.
- Found at the lower end of the frequency range
Distortion Analyzer used to measure the amount of ID of an amplifier.
Classes of Operation
1. Class A Amplifier
- conducts all the time
- produce a high quality of amplification
- Efficiency: lower than 25%
2. Class B Amplifier
- used to drive a speaker n an audio amplifier
- conducts only when a positive signal is applied
Class B Push-Pull Amplifier
- one transistor conducts on the positive half of the signal and the other transistor
conducts on the other half of the signal.
- Consists of one NPN & one PNP transistors
- Transistor can be driven at a higher power output since it conducts only half of the
time.
- Efficiency: approximately 75%

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

THE COMPLEMENTARY PUSH PULL AMPLIFIER

Figure 1

Figure 2

In Figure 1, Q2 and Q3 are complementary. They have the same characteristics but one is NPN and the
other PNP. The NPN has + on its collector and less positive on its emitter. The PNP Has + on its emitter
and zero on its collector. Therefore both have correct polarity voltages. The voltage at the output of Q2
and Q3 is half the supply voltage.
If R2 is replaced by a wire link, and R1 selected to give half the supply volts at Q1 and Q2 bases then
they would both be biased in class B, and both would be non conducting.
Look at the waveforms on the bases of the output pair. During the first half cycle the signal is going less
positive. This is reversing biasing the NPN transistor and increasing forward bias on the PNP transistor.
This means that the NPN remains cut off and the PNP conducts during this first half cycle.
In the next half cycle the signal on the bases is now increasing in a more positive direction. During this
half cycle the NPN conducts while the PNP is cutoff. So the NPN is off and the PNP is on during the first
half cycle, and current flows through the loudspeaker as C1 charges. The NPN is on and the PNP off
during the second half cycle, and current flows the other way through the loudspeaker, as C1 discharges.
R2 is added to give a small forward bias to both transistors thereby avoiding crossover distortion.

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

3. Class C Amplifier
- conducts only during a small portion of the input signal
- used in conjunction with tuned circuits to restore the rest of the signal. The flywheel
effect serves to out back the other part of the signal.
- It is designed so that the bias operating point is below cut-off
- Output is less than the half of one alternation
- Used primarily as an RF amplifier and for providing energy to oscillators or switching
circuits.
- Efficiency: 95% (It consumes energy for only a small portion of the applied signal.)
- In the Figure 3, CN is the neutralizing capacitor to prevent the amplifier from
becoming oscillators and creating frequencies independent of those being amplified.
It is adjusted to compensate for the internal capacitance of the transistor.

Figure 3
4. Class AB Amplifier
-often used in small portable transistorized radio to drive a speaker that is small and not too
discerning of the waveform shape.

Figure 4
5. Class D Amplifier
- uses two amplifiers as switches in push-pull operation
- the stage goes between saturation and cut-off
- Efficiency: 100%
6. Class E Amplifier
- uses a high impedance load which can be an RF choke. This allows the device to be
in saturation for 180 of the input signal & improves the efficiency
7. Class F Amplifier
- single-stage amplifier that acts mostly as a switch which means it has almost 100%
efficiency. The output resembles a square wave. Two sets of tuned circuits are used.
One tuned circuit removes the third harmonic and the other passes on the
fundamental frequency.
8. Class S Amplifier
- used in switching regulators.
Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

Class B Amplifier
Input Power

Pin( dc ) = Vcc I dc

I dc = Ip

2
Pin( dc ) = Vcc Ip

Output Power
2

Po( ac ) =

VL
RL

Po( ac ) =

VL
2R L

Po( ac ) =

VL
8R L

(rms value)

(peak value)

(peak-to-peak value)

Efficiency

% =

Po
x100 %
Pin
VL(p )

2R L

[( ) ] x100%

Vcc 2 Ip

VL(p )
x100 %
4 Vcc
Maximum efficiency: when VL(p) = VCC
=

Max eff =

x100 %
4

= 78.5 %

Power Dissipated

P2Q = Pin( dc ) Po( ac )

PQ =

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

P2Q
2

power dissipated by two transistors

power dissipated by each transistor

Sample Problems:
1. For a Class B amplifier providing a 20-V peak signal to a 16- load (speaker) and a power
supply of 30V, determine the input power, output power and circuit efficiency.
2. For a Class B amplifier using a supply of 30 V and driving a load of 16 , determine the
maximum input power, maximum output power and maximum transistor dissipation.
3. Calculate the input power, output power and power handled by each output transistor and the
circuit efficiency for an input of 12 Vrms. Use Vcc = 30V & load of 16 .

Answers:

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

Sample Complete Audio Amplifier

+VCC
R8
R2

R4

R6

TP3
TP1

C1

TP2

Source

TP7

Q1
TP5

C5
TP10

TP9

D2

TP4
R1

Q3

D1

C2
Rs

TP8

Q4

RL

Q2
TP6

R3
R5

C3

R7

R9

C4

Figure 5
Source: small signal source (e.g. microphone)
RS: internal resistance of the source
R1: 10k Potentiometer (Volume Control)
R2: 22k
R3: 3.9k
R4: 6.8k
R5: 1k
R6: 15k
R7: 6.8k
R8: 100
R9: 100

Tronic2
LJ Telebrico

C1=C2=C5=47F
C3=C4=100F
Q1=Q2=Q3=ED1402 (NPN)
Q4=ED1602 (PNP)
D1=D2= 1N4001
VCC=6V
RL: 8-speaker 3W