Common-Emitter Amplifier

EEL 3304C –Design and Experiment Project Lab # 4

Common-Emitter Amplifier
1. Objectives
This project teaches the design of a BJT amplifier. The use of simulation (via PSpice) as an integral
part of the design methodology is also emphasized.

2. Equipment
You will need the following
• 2N2222A NPN BJT
• 6255A Power Supply
• National Instruments Elvis
• Textronix TDS2024 DSO
• Various capacitors and resistors.

3. Design and Experiment Protocol

3.1 Pre-lab (PSPICE Simulation) to be done prior to 1st week of lab (Week 1)
Read and understand Chapter 5 on BJT fundamentals (through Chapter 5.4).
(1) Read datasheet for the NPN 2N2222A transistor to find typical, min, and max values for β at IC =
15 mA and VCE = 5 V.
Assignment: Print and bring copy of datasheet.

(2) Simulate the large-signal common-base characteristics using the following circuit in PSPICE.

In PSPICE, plot IC (y-axis) versus VCB (x-axis) as a function of IE using a nested DC sweep. Use a
range of -1V to +10V for VCB and 0 to 30 mA with a 5 mA increment for IE.
Assignment: Print and bring original copy of schematic and probe plot .

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 Common-Emitter Amplifier

(3) Simulate the large-signal common-emitter characteristics using the following circuit in PSPICE.

In PSPICE, plot IC (y-axis) versus VCE (x-axis) as a function of IB using a nested DC sweep. Use a
range of 0V to +10V for VCB and 0 to 100 uA with a 10 uA increment for IB.
Assignment: Print and bring original copy of schematic and probe plot .

3.2 BJT parameter measurements (Week 1)

(1) Use the curve tracer to measure IC versus VCB. Include at least 5 curves corresponding to
different IE and indicate IC, VCB, and IE values used to measure α. Sketch the IC versus VCB
curves in your laboratory notebook. What is the difference between the large signal α and the
incremental α? (See Section 5.2.2. on page 398.)

(2) Use the curve tracer to measure IC versus VCE. Include at least 5 curves corresponding to
different IB (VBE) and indicate IC, VCE, and IB values used to measure β. Sketch the IC versus
VBE curves in your laboratory notebook. What is the difference between the large signal β and the
incremental β? (See Section 5.2.4. on page 402.)

Measure β at IC = 15 mA and VCE = 5 V for two 2N2222A transistors. Pick one β and the
corresponding BJT for the design below. Save the BJT for the experiment in week 2.

(3) Practice biasing the BJT in active mode using four resistor biasing. Choose a collector current,
IC, that is within the operating specs of the 2N2222A and design using available resistors and a
single 15V power supply. Verify that the 2N2222A is in active mode.

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 Common-Emitter Amplifier

3. 3 Pre-lab (Design of Experiment) to be done prior to 2nd week of lab (Week 2)

Read and understand Chapter 5.5 – 5.7 on single-stage BJT amplifiers.

Design Specifications:
Using the common-emitter
configuration shown, (before 2nd
week of lab) design an amplifier
with the following specifications:
Vout = 2 Vp-p; Pout = 1 mW into RL
; VCC = 15 V; signal source:
Vsig = 50 mVpeak @ 10 kHz in
series with Rsig = 50 Ω; VbePK <
10mV.

Hints:
- Let VCC/3 drop across RC and
VCE.
- Find RC from
VoPk 1 VRc
= .
Rc // RL 3 Rc
[background: VbePk <10mV 
VoPk VoPk 25mV VoPk 25mV * Rc VoPk 1 VRc
* re = * = * < 10mV  = ]
Rc // RL Rc // RL IE Rc // RL VRc Rc // RL 3 Rc
- Make the impedance of each C to be 1/(1001000) the impedance seen by that C.

Tabulate all component values, bias currents, and bias node voltages.
Find the ac input resistance (seen from Rsig) and ac output resistance (seen by RL).

Simulation
Using PSpice, verify that the specifications have been met. Also verify the bias currents and
voltages, and the ac input and output resistances.
Note: the β of the Q2N2222 in PSpice may have to be modified (Edit/Model/Edit Instance Model
(Text)) using the measured β.
If the design has to be tweaked to meet the specifications, report the new component values.

Plan for the Experiments

Establish procedures to verify that the specifications have been met, and to verify the bias currents
and voltages, and the ac input and output resistances.

4. Experiments
Construct the circuit and execute the procedures established in the previous section. Compare theory
and measurements, e.g., in terms of error analysis. Explain the discrepancies. Obtain a hard copy of
your oscilloscope measurements.

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5. References
[1] Sedra and Smith.
[2] Chapter 5 lecture notes.

6. Report
As delineated in the first lab.

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