BJT and JFET Frequency Response

Contents
Logarithm and dB Low frequency analysis-Bode plot Low frequency response-BJT and FET

amplifiers Miller effect capacitance High frequency response-BJT and FET amplifiers Multistage frequency effects Square wave testing

Low Frequency Response BJT Amplifier

At low frequencies Coupling capacitors (Cs, CC) and Bypass capacitors (CE) will have capacitive reactance (XC) that affect the circuit impedances.

Coupling Capacitor - CS
The cutoff frequency due to CS can be calculated:

1 fLs = 2 (Rs + Ri)C s

using Ri = R1 || R2 || re

Coupling Capacitor - CC
The cutoff frequency due to CC can be calculated:
1 fLC = 2 ( Ro + RL)Cc

using Ro = RC || ro

Bypass Capacitor - CE
The cutoff frequency due to CE can be calculated:

1 fLE = 2ReCE
using

Re = RE || (

R s + re)

where

R s = Rs || R1 || R2

Example
a. Determine the lower cutoff freq. for the network of Fig. 1 using the following parameters: Cs = 10F, CE = 20F, Cc = 1F Rs = 1K, R1= 40K, R2 = 10K, RE = 2k, RL = 2.2K, = 100, r0 = , Vcc = 20V b. Sketch the frequency response using a Bode plot

Bode Plot of Low Frequency Response BJT Amplifier

The Bode plot indicates that each capacitor may have a different cutoff frequency. It is the device that has the highest of the low cutoff frequency (fL) that dominates the overall frequency response of the amplifier (fLE).

Roll-off of Gain in the Bode Plot

The Bode plot not only indicates the cutoff frequencies of the various capacitors it also indicates the amount of attenuation (loss in gain) at these frequencies. The amount of attenuation is sometimes referred to as roll-off. The roll-off is described as dB loss-per-octave or dB loss-per-decade.

-dB/Decade

-dB/Decade refers to the attenuation for every 10-fold change in frequency. For Low Frequency Response attenuations it refers to the loss in gain from the lower cutoff frequency to a frequency 1/10th the lower cutoff frequency. In the above drawn example: fLS = 9kHz gain is 0dB fLS/10 = .9kHz gain is 20dB Therefore the roll-off is 20dB/decade. The gain decreases by 20dB/Decade.

-dB/Octave

-dB/Octave refers to the attenuation for every 2-fold change in frequency. For Low Frequency Response attenuations it refers to the loss in gain from the lower cutoff frequency to a frequency 1/2 the lower cutoff frequency. In the above drawn example: fLS = 9kHz gain is 0dB fLS/2 = 4.5kHz gain is 6dB Therefore the roll-off is 6dB/octave. This is a little difficult to see on this graph because the horizontal scale is a logarithmic scale.

Low Frequency Response FET Amplifier

At low frequencies Coupling capacitors (CG, CC) and Bypass capacitors (CS) will have capacitive reactances (XC) that affect the circuit impedances.

Coupling Capacitor - CG
The cutoff frequency due to CG can be calculated:
1 fLG = 2 (Rsig + Ri)C G

using Ri = RG

Coupling Capacitor - CC
The cutoff frequency due to CC can be calculated:
1 fLC = 2 (Ro + RL)CC

Ro = RD || rd using

Bypass Capacitor - CS
The cutoff frequency due to CS can be calculated:

1 fLS = 2R eq CS
RS Req = 1 + RS (1 + g m rd ) /( rd + RD // RL )
where

R eq = RS ||

1 gm

rd

using

Example
a. Determine the lower cutoff freq. for the network of Fig. 2 using the following parameters: CG = 0.01F, Cc = 0.5F, Cs = 2F Rsig = 10K, RG= 1M, RD = 4.7K, RS = 1k, RL = 2.2K, IDSS = 8mA, Vp = -4V, rd = , VDD = 20V b. Sketch the frequency response using a Bode plot

Bode Plot of Low Frequency Response FET Amplifier

The Bode plot indicates that each capacitor may have a different cutoff frequency. The capacitor that has the highest lower cutoff frequency (fL) is closest to the actual cutoff frequency of the amplifier.

Miller Effect Capacitance

Any P-N junction can develop capacitance. This was mentioned in the chapter on diodes. In a BJT amplifier this capacitance becomes noticeable between: the Base-Collector junction at high frequencies in CE BJT amplifier configurations and the Gate-Drain junction at high frequencies in CS FET amplifier configurations. It is called the Miller Capacitance. It effects the input and output circuits.

Miller Input Capacitance (CMi)

It can be calculated:

CMi = (1 Av)C f

[Formula 11.42]

Note that the amount of Miller Capacitance is dependent on interelectrode capacitance from input to output (Cf) and the gain (Av).

Miller Output Capacitance (CMo)

It can be calculated:

CMo = (1

1 )Cf Av

[Formula 11.43]

If the gain (Av) is considerably greater than 1:

CMo Cf

[Formula 11.44]

High-Frequency Response BJT Amplifiers

Capacitances that will affect the high-frequency response: Cbe, Cbc, Cce internal capacitances Cwi, Cwo wiring capacitances CS, CC coupling capacitors CE bypass capacitor

High-Frequency Cutoff Input Network (fHi)

1 fHi = 2RThiCi
using and

RThi = Rs || R1 || R2 || re
Ci = CWi + Cbe + CMi = CWi + Cbe + (1 Av)Cbc

High-Frequency Cutoff Output Network (fHo)

1 fHo = 2RThoCo
using and

RTho = RC || RL || ro
Co = CWo + Cce + CMo

High-Frequency Response FET Amplifier

Capacitances that will affect the high-frequency response: Cgs, Cgd, Cds junction capacitances Cwi, Cwo wiring capacitances CG, CC coupling capacitors CS bypass capacitor

High-Frequency Cutoff Input Network (fHi)

1 fHi = 2RThiCi
RThi = Rsig || RG
using and
Ci = CWi + Cgs + CMi

CMi = (1 Av)C gd

High-Frequency Cutoff Output Network (fHo)

fHo = 1 2RThoCo
RTho = RD || RL || rd
using and

Co = CWo + Cds + CMo

CMo = (1 1 )Cgd Av

Multistage Frequency Effects

Each stage will have its own frequency response. But the output of one stage will be affected by capacitances in the subsequent stage. This is especially so when determining the high frequency response. For example, the output capacitance (Co) will be affected by the input Miller Capacitance (CMi) of the next stage.

Total Frequency Response of a Multistage Amplifier

Once the cutoff frequencies have been determined for each stage (taking into account the shared capacitances), they can be plotted. Again note the highest Lower Cutoff Frequency (fL) and the lowest Upper Cutoff Frequency (fH) are closest to the actual response of the amplifier.

Square Wave Testing

In order to determine the frequency response of an amplifier by experimentation, you must apply a wide range of frequencies to the amplifier. One way to accomplish this is to apply a square wave. A square wave consists of multiple frequencies (by Fourier Analysis: it consists of odd harmonics).

Square Wave Response Waveforms

If the output of the amplifier is not a perfect square wave then the amplifier is cutting off certain frequency components of the square wave.