Electronic Devices and Circuits

Name: ABDULLAH Class Number P16-6455_

Section: EE-(B1)

Lab No: 09
TO STUDY THE LARGE AND SMALL SIGNAL OPERATION OF
BJT COMMON EMITTER AMPLIFIER.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective is to measure the ac and dc voltages in a common-emitter amplifier. To obtain
measured values of voltage amplification (Av), input resistance (Ri) and output resistance (Ro) for
loaded and unloaded operation.

EQUIPMENT:
Instruments
Oscilloscope
DMM
Function Generator
Components
Resistors: 1 kΩ (2), 3.3 kΩ (2), 12 kΩ, 56 kΩ
Capacitors: 10 μf (2), 100μf
Transistor: 2N3904 or equivalent

THEORY:
Bipolar transistors operate in three modes: cutoff, saturation and active. In each of these modes,
the physical characteristics of the transistor and the external circuit connected to it uniquely
specify the operating point of the transistor. In the cutoff mode, there is only a small amount of
reverse current from emitter to collector, making the devise an open switch. In the saturation
mode there is a maximum current flow from collector to emitter, making the device a closed
switch. The amount of this current depends upon the external circuit connected to the transistor.
Both of these modes are used in digital circuits.
Active region of the transistor characteristics is employed for amplification with
minimum distortion. A DC voltage is applied to the transistor, forward biasing the base-emitter
junction and reverse biasing the base-collector junction, typically establishing a quiescent point
near or at the center of the linear region.
In this experiment we will investigate two biasing networks: voltage divider bias and
collector feedback bias configuration.
VOLTAGE DIVIDER BIAS
The voltage-divider bias circuit employs a feedback arrangement that makes the base-
emitter and collector-emitter voltages primarily dependent on the external circuit elements and
not the beta of the transistor. Thus, even though the beta of the individual transistors may vary
considerably, the location of the Q-point on the load line will remain essentially fixed.
COLLECTOR FEEDBACK BIAS

National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Peshawar

 Electronic Devices and Circuits

In collector feedback bias circuit the base resistor is connected to the collector terminal of
the transistor and not to fixed supply voltage V cc. Thus the voltage across the base resistance of
the collector feedback configuration is a function of the collector voltage and in turn to collector
current. In particular this circuit demonstrates the principal of negative feedback, in which the
tendency of an output variable to increase or decrease will result in a decrease or increase in the
input variable respectively. For instance, if Ic increases, Vc will reduce which will lower the level
of IB, thus offsetting the increase of Ic. The result is a design less sensitive to variations in its
parameters.

The common emitter amplifier configuration provides large voltage gain (typically tens to
hundreds) and provides moderate input and output resistance. The ac signal voltage gain is
defined as
Av = Vo/Vin ( Eq 1)
The input resistance, Ri is the resistance of the amplifier as seen by the input signal. The
output resistance, Ro is the resistance seen from load looking into the output of the amplifier.
For the voltage divider dc bias configuration, all dc bias voltages can be approximately
determined without knowing the exact value of transistor beta. The transistor ac dynamic
resistance re, can be calculated using equation:
re = VT/IE (Eq 2)

AC VOLTAGE GAIN: The ac voltage gain of a common emitter amplifier (under no-load) can be
calculated using equation:
Av = Rc/re (Eq 3)

AC INPUT RESISTANCE: The ac input resistance is calculated using equation:

Ri = R1||R2||(β+1)(re) (Eq 4)

AC OUTPUT RESISTANCE: The ac output resistance is calculated using equation:

Ro = Rc …… (Eq 10.5)

National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Peshawar

 Electronic Devices and Circuits

PROCEDURE:
Part 1: Common-emitter dc bias
a) Construct the circuit as shown in Figure-1.

Figure-1
b) Record the measured values of all the resistors.
R1=
R2=
R C=
RE =
c) Calculate dc bias values of the circuit. Record calculated values below:
(Calculated) VB =
(Calculated) VE =
(Calculated) VC =
(Calculated) IE =
(Calculated) re =
d) Measure the dc voltages
(Measured) VB =
(Measured) VE =
(Measured) VC =

National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Peshawar

 Electronic Devices and Circuits

e) Calculate the dc emitter current using measured values of VE and RE

IE=VE/RE
IE =

f) Calculate the ac dynamic resistance, re using IE calculated from measured values

re = VT/IE
re =

Part 2: AC Voltage Gain

A) Calculate the amplifier voltage gain for a bypassed emitter using Equation- (iii).
(Calculated) Av =

b) Apply an ac input signal, Vsig=10mV at f=1 kHz. Observe and measure the ac output
voltage, Vout on the oscilloscope.
(Measured) Vout =

c) Calculate the circuit no-load voltage gain using measured values.

Av =Vout/Vsig

(Measured) Av =

d) Using the oscilloscope observe and record input waveform, Vsig and output voltage
waveform, Vout in Figure-2

Figure 2
Lab performed on (date): Date:

Marks Awarded:

National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Peshawar