Module 3

Unit 3
Small Signal BJT Amplifiers

Review Questions:
1. Define h parameters for a transistor. Why are these called
hybrid parameters? What are their units?
2. Out of four h parameters, two are most important. Which
are these? And why the other two have less significance?
3. h
i
and Z
i
both represent input impedance in h - and Z
systems of parameters but they are most equal. Why?
4. What are r parameters and how are they superior to h
parameters?
5. Common base (CB) amplifier has limited applications.
Why?
6. Among BJT amplifiers, common-emitter amplifier is most
favoured. Give reasons.
7. What is an emitter follower? Discuss its main applications.
8. What are, in general, performance parameters of an
amplifier?







Problems:
3.1 Calculate dynamic emitter resistance r
e
(also called ac emitter resistance) of the
transistor in the circuit of fig.(V
BE
= 0.7V)




















+5V(+ V
CC
)
12k
k

V
BE


V
CE


I
C


+
I
E


-
2k

4.3k

-5V(- V
EE
)
Solution:-
The dynamic emitter resistance,
'
e
r , is expressed as,
E
e
I
mv
r
25
'
Where I
E
is dc emitter current.
The dc emitter current in the circuit (i.e, voltage drop across resistor R
E
, divided by the
resistance) is
mA
R
V V
I
E
BE EE
E
1
10 3 . 4
7 . 0 5
3

Therefore,
25
1
25
'
mA
mV
r
e

That is,
'
e
r = 25













3.2 How much is the voltage gain of the amplifier (fig) if the dynamic emitter
resistance, r
e
, is 25 . The current gain of the transistor is 80.
How much is input impedance of the amplifier.
The coupling and bypass capacitors may be assumed of negligible impedance at the
signal frequency. Take V
BE
= 0.7V



















+9V
6k
k

A

v
i


R
C


5k

12k

C
2


C
3


C
1


2.3k

5k

R
L


B

v
0




Solution:-
The voltage gain A
V
, for a common emitter amplifier with resistor R
E
by- passed is
'
c
V
e
r
A
r

Where r
c
is effective (ac) impedance seen by the collector and it is
c
r = R
c
R
L
= 5k 5k = 2.5 k
And
'
e
r = 25 (given)

Therefore,
100
25
10 5 . 2
3
V
A
First we find out impedance between base (point A in Fig 3.2) and ground, Z
i(base)
and
we know, it is given by
Z
i(base)
=
'
e
r
= 80 x 25
or Z
i(base)
= 2 k
And, input impedance of the amplifier Z
i(amp)
is,
Z
i(amp)
= R
B
Z
i(base)

Where R
B
is effective biasing resistance, and
R
B
= R
1
R
2
= 12k 6k = 4 k
Therefore,
Z
i(amp)
= 4k 2k
or Z
i(amp)
= 1.33 k


3.3 Calculate the value of resistor R
C
so that the voltage gain of the amplifier in fig is
100. Capacitors C
1
, C
2
, and C
3
may be assumed short at signal frequency.






















+12V (+ V
CC
)
10k
k

v
i


R
C


C
2


C
3


C
1


5k

4k

R
L


R
E


v
o


-12V
(- V
EE
)



Solution:-
In case, R
E
is by-passed, the voltage gain A
v
of the amplifier is,
'
c
V
e
r
A
r

Where r
c
is the effective (ac) resistance seen by the collector of the transistor, and
'
e
r is
the dynamic resistance of the emitter.
We know,
E
e
I
mv
r
25
'
Now,
mA
R
V V
I
E
BE EE
E
26 . 2
10 5
7 . 0 0 . 12
3

Therefore,
k
mA
mV
r
e
011 . 0 11
26 . 2
25
'
And,
R
c
= R
C
R
L

4
4
C
C
R
R

Where resistances have been taken in k
Therefore,
011 . 0
1
4
4
'
c
c
e
c
V
R
R
r
r
A

As A
v
= 100 (given), R
c
(in k) is,
k R or
R
R
c
c
c
51 . 1
) 011 . 0 ( ) 4 (
4
100





















3.4 Find out the smallest value of load R
L
in the amplifier circuit shown in fig so that
the voltage gain is at least 40. The dynamic emitter resistance of the transistor is 25 .
The coupling and by-pass capacitors may be assumed short at signal frequency.






















+12k
4k
k

v
i


R
C


3k

8k

4k

R
L


v
o


R
E


Solution:-
The voltage gain of the common emitter amplifier with resistor R
E
by-passed (see fig.)
is expressed as
) ( 40
'
gain required
r
r
A
e
c
V

Where r
c
is effective ac impedance seen by the collector, Which is
r
c
= R
C
R
L

L C
L C
R R
R R

Taking resistances in k
L
L
c
R
R
r
3
3

And,
k R or
R
R
A
L
L
L
V
5 . 1
40
10 25
1
3
3
3













3.5 The silicon transistor in the common- base amplifier has the current gain of 0.98.
Find the input impedance and voltage gain of the amplifier in fig. (V
BE
= 0.7V)























+9V (+V
cc
)
v
i


R
C


4k

6k

4k

R
L


R
E


~
-9V (-V
EE
)
V
BE


Solution:-
The dc voltage sources have to be grounded for ac analysis of the amplifier. Then the
input impedance of the CB amplifier (in fig.) is
Z
i(amp)
= R
E
r
e
r
e

Where r
e
is dynamic emitter resiatance and r
e
<< R
E

Also,
E
e
I
mV
r
25
'
Where I
E
is dc emitter current in the circuit
mA I or
R
V V
I
E
E
BE EE
E
38 . 1
10 6
7 . 0 9
,
3

Therefore,
18
38 . 1
25
'
mA
mV
r
e

Thus, the input impedance Z
i(amp)
is,
Z
i(amp)
r
e
= 18
The low value of input impedance is the main reason for limited applications of CB
amplifier.
The voltage gain of CB amplifier is expressed as,
e
c
V
r
r
A
'

Since, r
c
= R
C
R
L
= 4k 4k = 2k = 2000
Then ,
8 . 108
8 . 108
18
2000 98 . 0
V
V
A
A

3.6 The transistor in the amplifier circuit shown in fig, has h parameters, h
ie
= 2k and
h
fl
= 80. The values of h
oe
and h
re
are negligible. Calculate the voltage gain and input
impedance Z
i(amp)
of the amplifier. Capacitors C
1
, C
2
, and C
3
may be assumed short at
signal frequency due to small impedances.























+15V
20k
k

v
i


R
C


6k

20k

2k

6k

R
L


v
o


R
E


C
2


C
3


C
1


R
1


R
2


Solution:-
The magnitude of voltage gain with h-parameters h
oe
and h
re
dropped, and emitter
resistance R
E
by-passed by capacitor C
3
is
120
2
3 80
.
k
k
h
Z h
A
ie
i fe
V

Because the ac load at collector, Z
l
, is
Z
l
= R
C
R
L
= 6k 6k = 3k
Further, the impedance between base and ground , Z
i(base)
is,
Z
i(base)
= h
ie
= 2k
And, input impedance of amplifier, Z
i(amp)
is,
Z
i(amp)
= R
1
R
2
Z
i(base)

= 20k 20k Z
i(base)

= 10k Z
i(base)

= 10k 2k
= 1.6k
or Z
i(amp)
= 1.6k









3.7 For the amplifier circuit shown in fig. calculate the voltage gain and input
impedance of the amplifier when by-pass capacitor C
3
is removed from the circuit.























+15V
20k
k

v
i


R
C


6k

20k

2k

6k

R
L


v
o


R
E


C
2


C
3


C
1


R
1


R
2


Solution:-
With by-pass capacitor C
3
(in fig.) removed, the gain of a amplifier falls and input
impedance of the amplifier increases.
In case R
E
is not by-passed, the magnitude of voltage gain A
V
is
5 . 1
2
3
k
k
R
Z
A
E
l
V

And,
Z
i(base)
= h
ie
+ (1 + h
fe
) R
E

= 2k + (1 + 80) X 2k
Or, Z
i(base)
= 164 k
And, input impedance of amplifier, Z
i(amp)
is
Z
i(amp)
= R
1
R
2
Z
i(base)

= 20k 20k 164 k
10k 164k = 9.4 k

or Z
i(amp)
= 9.4 k











3.8 The emitter follower (common collector amplifier) shown in fig. uses a transistor
with h-parameters h
ie
= 4.5 k, h
fe
= 120. Other parameters h
oe
and h
re
have negligible
effect on amplifier performance. Calculate voltage gain and input impedance of the
amplifier. The coupling and by-pass capacitors may be assumed short at signal
frequency.




















+9V
30k

60k

3k

6k

R
L


R
E


~
Z
i
(amp)

Z
i
(base)

Solution:-
Neglecting the effect of h
oe
and h
re
on amplifier performance, the voltage gain of emitter
follower may be expressed as,
e fc ic
e fc
V
Z h h
Z h
A
.

Where Z
e
is the effective load seen by the emitter, and it is
Z
e
= R
E
R
L
= 3k 6k = 2 k
And using h
fc
h
fe
and h
ic
= h
ie
,
We have,

98 . 0
244
240
) 2 120 ( 4
2 120
V
e fe ie
fe
V
A
k k
k
Z h h
Ze h
A

The input impedance as seen at the base w.r.t ground is,
Z
i(base)
= h
fc
. Z
e
= h
fe
. Z
e

= 120 X 2 k = 240 k

The input impedance of the amplifier (that is, after taking the effect of biasing resistors),
Z
i(amp)
= R
B
Z
i(base)

And the effective base resistance R
B
is,
R
B
= R
1
R
2
= 60 k 30k = 20 k
Therefore,
Z
i(amp)
= 20k 240k = 18.46 k
or Z
i(amp)
= 18.46 k