STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

AND TRAINING ANDHRA PRADESH

Name of the faculty : T.Madhavi Kumari

Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & Communication Engg
Institute : Govt.Polytechnic ,Vijayawada
Semester : III Semester
Subject : Electronics –I
Subject Code : EE-305
Topic : Small Signal Amplifiers
Duration : 50 Minutes
Sub Topic : Classification of amplifiers
Teaching Aids : PPT, Animations, Diagrams

EE-305.66 1
 Recap
Already we discussed about the

Transistor load line analysis

Operating point

Stabilization

Methods of transistor biasing

EE-305.66 2
 Objectives:
Upon the completion of the period student will
be able to know

Classification of amplifiers on the basis of

• Frequency
• Function
• Type of load
• Period of conduction
• Number of stages

EE-305.66 3
Small Signal Amplifiers

Introduction
• Fluctuations in the collector current are small compared
to its quiescent value
• Small signal amplifiers are also known as voltage
amplifier.
• Used in the first stage of the amplifiers in the radio, T.V.
receivers, tape recorders , stereos , measuring
instruments etc..

EE-305.66 4
 Classification of Amplifiers:
1. Based on the frequency
• DC amplifiers :( 0 to about 10 Hz)
- amplify the d.c signals or slowly varying currents or
voltages.
• Audio frequency (AF ) amplifiers: (20 Hz to 20 kHz)
- amplify the AF signals used in sound
systems.
• IF (Intermediate Frequency) amplifiers
-amplify a single frequency known as IF

EE-305.66 5
• Radio frequency ( RF ) amplifiers: ( above 20 kHz)
-Amplify the frequencies of signals above 20
kHz, usually much higher.

• Video amplifiers: (0 to few MHz)

-Amplify the signals over the wide band of
frequencies
-Used in T.V.s to amplify Video signals

EE-305.66 6
 Based on the function

• Voltage amplifiers
-Increases the voltage level of the input signal
-Used in the initial stages of a multistage
amplifier.

• Power amplifiers
- Increases the power level of the input signal.
-Used as a final stage in the multistage amplifier.

EE-305.66 7
Based on magnitude of the input

• Small signal amplifiers

– peak to peak swing in collector current is less than
10% of quiescent collector current.
Ex : Voltage amplifiers

• Large signal amplifiers

– peak to peak signal uses all or most of the load line.
– Final stage amplifier.
Ex : Power amplifiers

EE-305.66 8
Based on type of load

• Untuned amplifiers
-Resistor is used as the load in the collector circuit
-Wide band amplifiers
Ex:AF amplifiers and video amplifiers

• Tuned amplifiers
- tuned circuit is used in the collector circuit.
- Narrow band amplifiers
- Ex: IF amplifiers, RF amplifiers

EE-305.66 9
Tuned Amplifiers (continued)

• i) Single tuned • ii)Double tuned

amplifier amplifier

iii) Single tuned amplifier

EE-305.66 10
Based on the period of conduction

The position of Q-point and the portion of the characteristic

that is used determine the method of operation.
Class A amplifier:
– Q point is located at the middle of the load line.

EE-305.66 11
Class B amplifier

– Collector current flows only half the cycle.

– Q-point is located at cut-off point on the load line.

EE-305.66 12
Class C amplifier

– Collector current flows for less than one half of the

input signal cycle.
– Collector current is in the form of pulses.
– Conduction angle is less than 180

EE-305.66 13
Class AB amplifier

• Collector output current flows more than one half

cycle but less than one complete cycle of the input
signal.
• It operates between the two extremes of class A and
class B.

EE-305.66 14
Based on the number of stages:
• Single stage amplifiers:

– When only one transistor with associated circuit is

used for amplifying a weak signal, the circuit is
known as the single stage transistor amplifier.

EE-305.66 15
Multi stage amplifier

– A circuit containing more than one stage of

amplification
– Number of single stage amplifiers are connected in
cascade arrangement.

EE-305.66 16
Multistage amplifiers (continued)
Based on the type of coupling
• R-C Coupled amplifier:
– Capacitor is used as the coupling device..

EE-305.66 17
Transformed-coupled amplifier
Transformer is used as the coupling device.

EE-305.66 18
Impedance coupling

EE-305.66 19
Direct coupling

EE-305.66 20
 Summary
Classification
Of
Amplifiers

Period
Frequ No of Fun
Load Of
ency Stages ction
Conduction

Un Class Class Single Multi Voltage Power

AF IF Tuned
tuned A B Stage Stage AMP AMP

RC Trans
Single Double Class Class
RF Video Coup former
Tuned Tuned C AB
led Coupled

Induct
Stagger Direct
ance
Tuned Coupled

EE-305.66 21
 QUIZ

1. In class B operation ,”Q” point is located at

(a) Saturation point

(b) Cut- off point

(c) Middle of the load line

(d) Nearer to saturation point

EE-305.66 22
 Frequently Asked questions

1.Classify the amplifiers based on the frequency

and type of load

2.Classify the amplifiers based on the period of conduction and

number of stages

EE-305.66 23