BJT AC Analysis

by Kenneth A. Kuhn
Oct. 20, 2001, rev Aug. 31, 2008

Introduction

This note will discuss AC analysis using the beta, re transistor model shown in Figure 1
for the three types of amplifiers: common-emitter, common-base, and common-collector.
For each type of amplifier the goal is to determine the input resistance, rIN, output
resistance, rO, and voltage gain. The voltage gain may be either the unloaded stage gain,
the loaded stage gain, or the net voltage gain depending on what is needed. The analysis
is simplified by first developing general equations for the AC terminal resistances of the
transistor and then using this result to compute the input and output resistances of each of
the three amplifier types.

Before proceeding with AC analysis, we must have values for beta and re. We nominally
use a beta of 100 unless we want to know the specific characteristics over a specific range
of beta. The dynamic resistance of the forward biased base-emitter junction is given by

re = VT / IE Eq. 1

where VT is the thermal voltage. We nominally use a VT of 0.026 Volts but if specific
AC characteristics for a particular temperature are needed, then the VT for that
temperature is used instead.

AC terminal resistances

The first step in AC analysis is to develop equations that give us the AC resistance
looking into each transistor terminal. The result of these calculations will enable us to
easily calculate the input and output resistances of transistor amplifiers including the bias
circuit. The beta, re model for the transistor and the standard circuit is shown in Figure 2.
We define one set of AC resistances looking out of the transistor terminals and another
set of AC resistances looking into the transistor terminals. Each of these is easy to
calculate.

Any combination of resistances can be reduced to a single resistor. In order that we do

not have to be concerned about the specific resistors in the external circuit for our
analysis, the external circuit is reduced to three resistances, RB’
,RE’, and RC’ .The sea re
the external AC resistances seen looking out of the particular terminal of the transistor.

1
 BJT AC Analysis

Figure 1: Simple transistor model and equivalent circuit

2
 BJT AC Analysis

Figure 2: Transistor impedances

3
 BJT AC Analysis
For the three types of amplifiers, RB’ ,RE’ ,and RC’wi llcons istofe xterna lresist
a nce
combinations different for each amplifier type. In all cases, it should be obvious how to
compute these resistances. Simply imagine yourself looking out of the specific transistor
terminal and seeing the net AC resistance to ground. For example, for the common-
emitter amplifier, RB’ma ybet hep a rallelcombi nati
onoft hevol t
agedi vide rbi a
s
resistors, RB1 and RB2, also in parallel with RS since the coupling capacitor is an AC
short. RE’ma ybeRE in parallel with RE1 for a common-emitter circuit or RE in parallel
with RL in a common-collector circuit. RC’ma ybeRC in parallel with RL for common-
emitter and common-base circuits. For the common-base circuit, RE’i sg e nerall
yj ustRE.
The point is that no matter what the external circuit, it will be reduced to a single
resistance representing the AC resistance. For this process, all coupling and bypass
capacitors are treated as short circuits to AC which in fact they are at the signal
frequencies we are using.

The AC resistances looking into the terminals of the transistor are called rbt, ret, and rct.
Just to clarify the nomenclature, rbt is the AC resistance looking into the base terminal.
Note that rbt does not include RB’b uti saffe
ctedbyRE’ ,ret does not include RE’ butis
affected by RB’ ,a ndthatrct does not include RC’ .

Calculation of rbt

rbt = vb / ib byOhms
’la
w Eq. 2

ib = (vb - ve) / [(B + 1) * re] by inspection of the circuit Eq. 3

ve = (B + 1) * ib * RE’ by definition of transistor emitter current Eq. 4

vb = ve + ib * (B + 1) * re byKi
rchof
f’
svol
tag
ela
w Eq. 5

vb = (B + 1) * ib * RE’+i
b * (B + 1) * re by substituting equation for ve above Eq. 6

vb = (B + 1) * ib * (re + RE’
) by combining terms Eq. 7

rbt = (B + 1) * (re + RE’

) dividing by ib produces Eq. 8

4
 BJT AC Analysis
Calculation of ret

ret = ve / (-ie) ByOhm’ sla w.Ne g ati

vebe causeie is defined as
positive for current leaving the emitter. We are
looking in. Eq. 9

ie = (B + 1) * ib By definition Eq. 10

ib = -ve / [(B + 1) * re + RB’

] Notice that ve is across the sum of these two
resistances Eq. 11

ie = (B + 1) *(-ve) / [(B + 1) * re + RB’

] by combining the two previous equations
Eq. 12
ret = [(B + 1) * re + RB’
]/(
B + 1) By solving the above equation for ret Eq. 13

ret = re + RB’/(
B+1) Simplifying the above equation Eq. 14

Calculation of rct

rct = vc / ic ByOhm’
sla
w Eq. 15

ic = 0 We note that ic = 0 because ib = 0 Eq. 16

rct = infinity This should not be surprising since we are looking

into a current source. A more complete model of
the transistor would show that rct is generally
between about 30,000 and 1,000,000 Ohms. Eq. 17

The above analysis is very quick and may not be understood by all. If you have trouble
understanding it then perform a two loop mesh analysis on the circuit in Figure 2 and the
results should become more clear.

Calculation of Input Resistance, Output Resistance, and Voltage Gain

We are now ready to use rbt, ret, and rct to perform specific AC analysis for each of the
three types of amplifiers. Note that the impedance calculations can now be performed by
inspection. We will do an analysis for each of the three amplifier types –common-
emitter, common-base, and common-collector. The circuits for these are in Figure 3.

5
 BJT AC Analysis

Figure 3: Transistor AC circuits

6
 BJT AC Analysis
Common-Emitter analysis

rIN = RB || rbt = RB || [(B + 1) * (re + RE’

)] Eq. 18

Note that RE’=RE|| RE1. If RE1 is zero then RE’i

sal
so zero. Eq. 19

rO = RC || rct = RC since for the beta, re model, rct is taken to be infinity although real
values are in the 30,000 to 1,000,000 Ohm range. Eq. 20

To find the voltage gain, we note that:

vc = -ic * RC
= -B * ib * RC
= -B * [vb/[(B + 1) * (re + RE’
)]*RC Eq. 21

Noting that voltage gain is vc/vb, then by rearranging the above equation we can write:

-B RC
Unloaded voltage gain = ------- * ----------- Eq. 22
B + 1 re + RE’

The voltage gain is negative because the output signal is inverted from the input signal.

The output voltage division factor is RL / (RO + RL). Using RO = RC, the

-B RC RL
Loaded voltage gain = ------- * ----------- * ------------ Eq. 23
B + 1 re + RE’ RC + RL

The input voltage division factor is rIN / (RS + rIN). The net voltage gain from the source
to the load is:

rIN -B RC RL
Net voltage gain = ----------- * ------- * ---------- * ------------ Eq. 24
RS + rIN B + 1 re + RE’ RC + RL

7
 BJT AC Analysis
Common-Base Analysis

rIN = RE1 + RE||ret

= RE1 + RE||[re + RB’
/(
B+1)
] Eq. 25

RB is often bypassed to ground using a capacitor that is a short circuit at the signal
frequencies of interest. In that case RB’i
szeroa ndthen:

rIN = RE1 + RE||re Eq. 26

rO = RC||rct = RC Eq. 27

To find the gain we note that:

vc = -ic * RC
= -B * ib * RC
= -B * (-ie / (B + 1)) * RC
= (B / (B + 1)) * (ve / re ) * RC Eq. 28

ve = vin * (re|| RE) / (RE1 + re||RE) Eq. 29

Noting that gain is vc/vin we can write:

1 B RC
Unloaded voltage gain = -------------------- * -------- * ------ Eq. 30
RE1/ (re||RE) + 1 B+1 re

Considering the output voltage division we can write:

1 B RC RL
Loaded voltage gain = --------------------- * -------- * ------- * ------------ Eq. 31
RE1/ (re||RE) + 1 B+1 re RC + RL

Including the input voltage division factor, the net gain from signal source to output is:

rIN 1 B RC RL
Net voltage gain = ----------- * --------------------- * -------- * ------- * ----------- Eq. 32
RS + rIN RE1/ (re||RE) + 1 B+1 re RC + RL

8
 BJT AC Analysis
Common-Collector analysis

rIN = RB || rbt
= RB || [(B + 1) * (re + RE||RL)] Eq. 33

Note that the input resistance is influenced by the load resistance.

rO = RE||ret
= RE||[re + (RB||RS)/(B + 1)] Eq. 34

Note that the output resistance is influenced by the source resistance.

To calculate the unloaded gain we note that:

ve = ie * RE
= (B + 1) * ib * RE Eq. 35

ib = vb / [(B + 1) * (re + RE)] Eq. 36

Solving Equations 34 and 35 for the ratio of ve to vb gives:

ve RE
Unloaded voltage gain = ---- = ---------- Eq. 37
vb re + RE

The influence that load impedance has on input resistance and the influence that source
impedance has on output impedance leads to an algebraic mess when trying to calculate
loaded gain. A better approach is to directly calculate loaded gain without using the usual
output voltage division equation. By replacing RE with RE||RL, we can directly calculate
the loaded gain following the same procedure for unloaded gain.

ve = ie * RE||RL
= (B + 1) * ib * RE||RL Eq. 38

ib = vb / [(B + 1) * (re + RE||RL)] Eq. 39

ve RE||RL
Loaded voltage gain = ----- = -------------- Eq. 40
vb re + RE||RL

The net loaded gain from signal source to load is:

rIN RE||RL
Net voltage gain = ------------ * ---------------- Eq. 41
RS + rIN re + RE||RL