Experiment 4

Integrated Electronics

Winter 2014-15

Input and Output Resistances of BJT Amplifiers

In this experiment, we will examine the input and output resistances of basic BJT amplifier stages. This
was indirectly done for the CE stage in Experiment 1, where the CE hybrid parameters were
measured. So we will carry out measurements on the CB and CC stages now. We will use the biasing
circuit using two d-c power supplies, as done in Experiment 1, to make the measurements easier.
A. Input Resistance of Common-Base Amplifier
1. Assemble the circuit shown in Fig. 4.1 with Rx = 100 and using the npn transistor 547. Note that
the Base is directly grounded, as there is no need to measure Base current.
2. Switch on the +12V and 12V power supplies, and measure the d-c voltages VE and VC at the
BJT pins E and C using the CRO with DC coupling. Verify that VE 0.7V and VC is roughly the
same as its theoretically expected value ( 6.7V), assuming = 1.
3. Set the FG frequency at 1kHz and adjust the FG amplitude for the maximum peak-to-peak value
of Vo without any perceptible distortion. Measure the peak-to-peak values of Vs (= Vs1) and Vo
at this setting, using the CRO with AC coupling (why?). Check the d-c bias voltages VE and VC
again (now given by the mean values of the Emitter and Collector voltage waveforms) using the
CRO with DC coupling, to ensure that the d-c bias has not been disturbed by the a-c input.
4. Now increase the value of Rx to 220 and increase the FG amplitude so that Vo has the same
value as in step 3 and measure the peak-to-peak value of Vs (= Vs2) at this setting. Verify again,
as done in step A.3, that the d-c bias has not been disturbed by the a-c input.
5. Note that the transistor now has exactly the same biasing and a-c voltage levels at all its
terminals as it had at the end of step
FG A.3, and hence the a-c input Vi is exactly the same in the
two settings. It therefore follows that if the Input Resistance of the CB stage is Ri, we have
Vi = (RiVs)/(Rx + Ri) in both cases. (RiVs1)/(100 + Ri) = (RiVs2)/(220 + Ri).
Verify this equation and determine the value of Ri from the measured values of Vs1 and Vs2.
+12V
4.7k
100F
CB Amplifier stage of Fig. 4.1

Vo
Vs Rx 1000F

Fig. 4.1 Input Resistance of CB Amplifier

Vo
10k
10k
Pot.
12V

Fig. 4.2 Output Resistance of CB Amplifier

B. Output Resistance of Common-Base Amplifier

1. Add a 100F capacitor and a 10k potentiometer to the CB amplifier circuit of Fig. 4.1, with the
same settings as in step A.5, to obtain the circuit shown in Fig. 4.2.
2. Adjust the potentiometer to obtain an output voltage Vo equal to half the value measured in
steps A.3 and A.4.
3. Switch off the circuit, take out the potentiometer without disturbing its setting, and measure its
value with a multimeter. This value gives the output resistance Ro of the CB amplifier stage.

C. Input Resistance of Common-Collector Amplifier

1. Assemble the circuit shown in Fig. 4.3 with Rx = 0 and using the npn transistor 547. Note that the
Base is now directly connected to the FG output and the Collector is directly connected to the
+5V d-c supply. Connect FG output Vs and amplifier output Vo to two channels of the CRO.
2. Switch on the +5V and 12V power supplies, and adjust the DC Offset of the FG to obtain the
same value of the d-c bias voltage VE as measured in step A.2.
3. Set the FG frequency at 1kHz and adjust the FG amplitude for the maximum peak-to-peak value
of Vo without any perceptible distortion. Check the d-c bias voltage VE again (now given by the
mean value of the Emitter voltage waveform) using the CRO with DC coupling, to ensure that the
d-c bias has not been disturbed by the a-c input. Measure the peak-to-peak values of Vs (= Vs1)
and Vo at this setting, using the CRO with AC coupling.
4. Now insert a resistance Rx of such a value (to be decided by trial and error) that Vo (peak-to-peak)
drops to about half the value it had in the last step. Start with Rx = 100k, using a single resistor
with increasing values in each step, as this drop in Vo need not be exactly half (what is the
expected value of Rx?).
5. As the value of Rx obtained in the last step is expected to be high (hundreds of k), the d-c
FG drop from their values obtained in step C.2. Adjust the DC
voltages at Base and Emitter would
Offset of the FG to obtain the same value of VE as obtained in step C.2. In case you are unable to
achieve the desired value of VE, you may have to use a lower value of Rx.
6. Increase the FG amplitude so that Vo has the same peak-to-peak value as FG
in step C.3 and
measure the peak-to-peak value of Vs (= Vs2) at this setting. Determine the Input Resistance Ri of
the CC stage from the expression Vs1 = (RiVs2)/(Rx + Ri). Prove this expression.

Fig. 4.3 Input Resistance of CC Amplifier

Fig. 4.4 Output Resistance of CC Amplifier

D. Output Resistance of Common-Collector Amplifier

1. Assemble the circuit shown in Fig. 4.4 with Rx = 100 and using the npn transistor 547. Note
that, apart from the fact that the Base and Collector are directly connected to Ground and the
+5V d-c supply respectively, the circuit is exactly same as that of Fig. 4.1.
2. With the amplitude of the FG output set at zero, adjust the DC Offset to obtain roughly the same
value of VE ( 0.7V) as in step C.2.
3. Repeat steps 3 and 4 of part A, noting that for this circuit Vs1 = Vo and the final expression that
gives the output resistance Ro of the CC stage is Vs1 = (RoVs2)/(Rx + Ro).
4. In this part of the experiment, one has to be particularly cautious to ensure that the d-c bias is
not disturbed by the applied a-c input. Because the a-c input from the FG is applied to the
Emitter through a large capacitor, the E-B junction can act as a rectifier and charge the
capacitor, forcing the transistor to work in a totally nonlinear manner, yet showing a sinusoidal
waveform at the Emitter. That is why it is necessary to check the d-c Emitter voltage all the time.