University of Anbar Lab.

Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)

Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Experiment

Amplifier Frequency Response

Object
The purpose of this experiment is to evaluate the frequency response of a
common emitter amplifier.
Theory
All amplifiers have a finite bandwidth. The low cutoff frequency can in some
cases extend down to DC and is a parameter under direct control of the designer.
The ultimate high frequency limit is determined by the physical characteristics of
the components and the construction of the circuit.
A typical BJT common emitter amplifier is shown in Fig.1. The input signal
source and load resistor are capacitively coupled to the amplifier via capacitors
𝐶𝐶1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝐶2 respectively. The coupling capacitors 𝐶𝐶1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝐶2 , emitter bypass
capacitor 𝐶𝐸 , and internal transistor capacitances shape the frequency response of
the amplifier.

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 University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Fig.1: Typical Common Emitter Amplifier

A typical amplifier frequency response curve is shown in Fig.2. This curve
presents the magnitude of the voltage gain versus frequency.

Fig.2: Typical Amplifier Frequency Response

The voltage gain in decibels is calculated as:

𝐴𝑣 = (𝑑𝐵 ) = 20𝐿𝑜𝑔(│𝐴𝑣 │)
In Fig.2, 𝐴𝑣𝑚 represents the mid-band (or mid range) gain of the amplifier. For
the circuit of Fig.1, it is given by:
(𝑅𝐶 ║𝑅𝐿 )
𝐴𝑣 = −
𝑟𝑒 + 𝑅𝐸1
At the lower cut-off frequency 𝑓𝐿 and upper cut-off frequency 𝑓𝐻 , the voltage
gain of the amplifier drops to 0.707 of its mid-band values (or -3dB below the
maximum value). The frequency 𝑓𝐿 is dependent on the coupling and bypass
capacitors, while the frequency 𝑓𝐻 is determined by the transistor internal
capacitances (mainly 𝐶𝑏𝑐 and 𝐶𝑏𝑒 ). The bandwidth of the amplifier is the
difference between 𝑓𝐻 and 𝑓𝐿 :
𝐵𝑊 = 𝑓𝐻 −𝑓𝐿
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 University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

As the signal frequency drops below mid-band, the impedances of the coupling
and bypass capacitors will increase, resulting in a reduction of the voltage gain.
In other words, the low frequency response of the amplifier is determined by the
capacitors 𝐶𝐶1 , 𝐶𝐶2 and 𝐶𝐸 . Each one of the three capacitors make a contribution
to the overall frequency response of the amplifier. Each capacitor behaves like a
capacitor in a high pass filter. Therefore, each one will contribute with a cut-off
frequency of its own.
The cut-off frequency due to the input coupling capacitor 𝐶𝐶1 is 𝑓𝐿1 , and is
calculated from the following equation when ignoring the source resistance 𝑅𝑠 :
1
𝑓𝐿1 =
2𝜋. 𝑍𝑖𝑛 . 𝐶𝑐1
Where 𝑍𝑖𝑛 is the input impedance of the amplifier and is given by:
𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 𝑅1 ║𝑅2 ║(𝛽(𝑟𝑒 + 𝑅𝐸1 ))
The cut-off frequency due to the output coupling capacitor 𝐶𝑐2 is 𝑓𝐿2 , and is
given by:
1
𝑓𝐿2 =
2𝜋 (𝑅𝐶 + 𝑅𝐿 ). 𝐶𝑐2
Finally, the cut-off frequency due to the emitter bypass capacitor 𝐶𝐸 is 𝑓𝐿3 , and is
given by:
1
𝑓𝐿3 =
2𝜋. 𝑍𝑒 . 𝐶𝐸
Where 𝑍𝑒 is the effective emitter impedance seen from the terminals of capacitor
𝐶𝐸 , and is given by:
 the source resistance Rs is so small to be ignored
𝑍𝑒 = (𝑟𝑒 + 𝑅𝐸1 )║𝑅𝐸2
Among the three corner frequencies, 𝑓𝐿3 will usually have the largest value.
The low cut-off frequency of the amplifier can be approximated as the largest
value of the three individual lower corner frequencies:

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 University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

𝑓𝐿 = max(𝑓𝐿1 , 𝑓𝐿2 , 𝑓𝐿3 )

The high frequency response of the amplifier is determined by the internal
parasitic capacitances of the transistor. These capacitances, 𝐶𝑏𝑒 and 𝐶𝑏𝑐 , are
proportional to the physical area of the junctions and inversely proportional to
the width of the depletion region. This means that the capacitance is a function of
bias conditions. A forward biased junction has relatively high capacitance (tens
to over one hundred pico-farads) because the width of the depletion region is
narrow. A reverse biased junction has relatively low capacitance (typically less
than ten pico-farads) because the width of the depletion region is wide.
Two corner frequencies are existed due to the total transistor parasitic
capacitances at input (base) and output (collector). The first corner frequency
fH1 is inversely proportional to 𝐶𝑏𝑒 + 𝐶𝑀 , where 𝐶𝑀 is known as the Miller
capacitance and is given by:
𝐶𝑀 = 𝐶𝑏𝑒 . (1 + │𝐴𝑣𝑚 │)
The second corner frequency 𝑓𝐻2 , on the other hand, is inversely proportional to
𝐶𝑏𝑐 . The corner frequencies 𝑓𝐻1 and 𝑓𝐻2can be determined from the high-
frequency equivalent circuit of the amplifier.
The high cut-off frequency of the amplifier can be approximated as the lowest
value of the two individual upper corner frequencies
𝑓𝐻 = min(𝑓𝐻1 , 𝑓𝐻2 )
The frequency at which the amplifier’s gain drops to 1 (or 0 dB) is called the
unity-gain frequency and is denoted by 𝑓𝑇 . The significance of 𝑓𝑇 is that it
always equals the product of the mid-band gain times the bandwidth of the
amplifier.
𝑓𝑇 = 𝐴𝑣𝑚 . 𝐵𝑊

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University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Procedures
1. Build the circuit shown in Fig.7 using the following components listed in
the table below
R2 R3 R4 R5 C1 C2 C3 VCC
4K7 39K 470Ω 3K3 100nF 1μf 100nF 15 V
2. Apply a sinusoidal signal to the input and dual- trace oscilloscope with one
probe at the input and the other at the output.
3. Adjust the amplitude so that the output waveform has no distortion (The
amplitude adjustment must be done in the mid band region). Set the input at
a certain frequency of 10KHz and a level sufficient to give an output of 5
𝑉𝑃𝑃 or 6 𝑉𝑃𝑃 . Please note that the amplitude of the input signal will be kept
constant during this experiment.

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University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

4. Move the specified frequency downward in steps of suitable amplitude. At

each step check the input level and re-adjust it to the original value if
needed, then measure and record the output amplitude. Keeping the input
voltage constant, go on reducing the frequency until the output voltage
reduces to 0.707 times its value at 10 KHz. The frequency at which this
happens gives you the Lower Cut-off frequency (𝑓1 ).
5. Stop stepping when the output signal is below 1 𝑉𝑃𝑃 from the original 5
𝑉𝑃𝑃 or 6 𝑉𝑃𝑃 .
6. Repeat for the interval of the specified frequency upwards, up to when the
output voltage again reduces below 1Vpp. Keeping the input voltage
constant, go on increasing the frequency until the output voltage decreases
to 0.707 times its value at 10 KHz. The frequency at which this happens
gives you the Upper Cut-off frequency ( 𝑓2 ).

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University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

7. Sketch the amplitude response as a function of the input signal frequency.

(Use a semi-log graph paper, the frequencies are located on horizontal axis
(log scale) and the amplitude is in dB located on the vertical axis (linear
scale) as shown in figure 2. (Take extra points on the curve whenever you
encounter a significant change in output while input is kept constant). Mark
the -3dB cut-off points on the graph, which are the points where the gain
becomes 0.703 times the center- band value (see figure).

8. Tabulate all the above data for steps 4 and 6 respectively.

𝑉𝑖𝑛 =……………… m 𝑉𝑃𝑃 volts.

Frequency (Hz)

Output Voltage
( 𝑽𝑶 pp volts)
Voltage Gain in
decibels
𝑨𝒗 =20log (𝑽𝒐 /𝑽𝒊 )
Frequency (Hz)

Output Voltage
( 𝑽𝑶 pp volts)
Voltage Gain in
decibels
𝑨𝒗 =20log (𝑽𝒐 /𝑽𝒊 )
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University of Anbar Lab. Name: EE Lab III (Electronic I)
Experiment no.: 3
College of Engineering
Lab. Supervisor: Hatem F.F& Mariam R.M
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Results
1. Maximum Voltage Gain (A_(max)) = ...............................
2. 3dB Lower cut off Frequency = .................................
3. 3dB Upper cut off Frequency= ..................................
4. 3dB Bandwidth= .................................
5. 3dB Gain= ........................
Discussion
1. Discuss the influence of the bypass, coupling, internal, and stray
capacitances on the frequency response.
2. List the types of coupling and which type of coupling was used in the
experiment?
3. Does CE have any effect on upper 3 dB point?
4. What is meant by Bandwidth of an amplifier?
5. The mid band gain of an amplifier is 100 and the lower cutoff frequency is
1KHz. Find the gain of the amplifier at a frequency of 20 Hz.
6. Why gain is constant in mid frequency region?