by : Mujahidin

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mujahidin@iddhien.com

Definitions
In small-signal amplifiers the main factors are
• amplification
• linearity
• gain

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Definitions

Large-signal or power amplifiers function primarily to

provide sufficient power to drive the output device.
These amplifier circuits will handle large voltage signals
and high current levels. The main factors are
• efficiency
• maximum power capability
• impedance matching to the output device

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Amplifier Types

• Class A
• Class B
• Class AB
• Class C
• Class D

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Class A Amplifier
The output of a Class A amplifier conducts for the full
360° of the cycle

The Q-point (bias level)

must be biased towards the
middle of the load line so
that the AC signal can swing
a full cycle. Remember that
the DC load line indicates
the maximum and minimum
limits set by the DC power
supply.
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Class B Amplifier
A Class B amplifier output only conducts for 180° or ½
of the input signal
The Q-point (bias level) is at
0V on the load line, so that
the AC signal can only swing
for ½ of a cycle.

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Class AB Amplifier
This amplifier is in between the Class A and Class B.
The Q-point (bias level) is above the Class B but
below the Class A.

The output conducts between 180° and 360° of the AC

input signal.

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Class C and Class D

Amplifier
Class C
The output of the Class C conducts for less than 180°
of the AC cycle. The Q-point (bias level) is at cutoff,
the output signal is very small.

Class D
The Class D output is more like a pulse. It does not
resemble the AC sinewave input.

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Amplifier Efficiency
Efficiency refers to the ratio of output to input power.
The lower the amount of conduction of the amplifier
the higher the efficiency.

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
This is similar to the small-
signal amplifier except that it
will handle higher voltages.
The transistor used is a high
power transistor.
This circuit is not the best to
use as a large-signal
amplifier because of its poor
power efficiency. The Beta is
generally less than 100.

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Transistor characteristic
showing load line and Q-
point.
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DC Bias Operation
VCC − 0.7V
IB =
RB
I C = βI B
VCE = VCC − I C RC
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If the DC bias collector
current is set at one-half the
possible signal swing
(between 0 and Vcc/Rc), the
largest collector current
swing will be possible. If the
quiscent collector-emitter
voltage is set on one half the
supply voltage the largest
voltage swing will be
possible.
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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
AC Bias Operation
A small input signal will
cause the output voltage
to swing to a maximum of
Vcc and a minimum of 0V.
The current can also
swing from 0 mA to ICSAT
(Vcc/RC)

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Input Power: Series-Fed Class A Amplifier
The power into the amplifier is from the DC
supply. With no input signal, the DC current
drawn is the collector bias current, ICQ.

Pi(dc) = VCC I CQ

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Output Power: Series-Fed Class A Amplifier

The ac signal Vi causes the base current to

vary arround the dc bias current and the
collector current arround its quiscent level
ICQ.
The ac input signal result in ac current and
ac voltage signals.

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Output Power: Series-Fed Class A Amplifier
Using rms signals: the ac power delivered to the
load (RC) expressed:
Po(ac) = VCE (rms ) I C (rms )
2
Po(ac) = I C (rms ) RC
V 2 C(rms)
Po(ac) =
RC
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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Output Power: Series-Fed Class A Amplifier
Using peak signals: the ac power delivered to the
load (RC) expressed:
2
VCE ( p ) I C ( p ) VCE ( p)
Po(ac) = Po(ac) =
2 2 RC
2
I ( p)
Po(ac) = C RC
2

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Output Power: Series-Fed Class A Amplifier
Using peak-to-peak signals: the ac power
delivered to the load (RC) expressed:
VCE ( p − p ) I C ( p − p ) 2
VCE ( p − p)
Po(ac) = Po(ac) =
8 8 RC
2
I ( p − p)
Po(ac) = C RC
8

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Efficiency
The maximum efficiency is at maximum output and
current swings.
It is 25% for a Class A amplifier Maximum Efficiency

Po(ac)
%η = ×100
Pi(dc)

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Series-Fed Class A
Amplifier
Hitunglah
Input Power,
Output Power
dan juga
effisiensi
amplifier
disamping.
IB (p)=10mA

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier

This circuit uses a

transformer to couple
to the load. This
improves the efficiency
of the Class A to 50%.

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
The transformer improves the efficiency because of the
transformation of voltage and current through the
transformer.
V 2 N2
•Voltage Ratio: =
V 1 N1

I 2 N1
•Current Ratio: =
I1 N 2

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
The transformer aids in impedance matching to the
load. Remember that transformers transform voltage,
current, and impedance.
2
R′L R1 ⎛ N 1 ⎞
•Impedance Ratio: = =⎜ ⎟ =a
2

RL R 2 ⎝ N 2 ⎠

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Operation of Amplifier Stage
DC Load Line
As in all Class A
amplifiers the Q-point
is established close to
the midpoint of the DC
load line.

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Operation of Amplifier Stage
AC Load Line
The saturation point
(ICmax) is now at Vcc/R′L
and the cutoff point is at
V2 (the secondary voltage
of the transformer).
This increases the
maximum output swing
because the minimum and
maximum values of IC and
VCE are spread further
apart.

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Signal Swing and Output AC Power
The voltage swing: VCE(p-p) = VCEmax - VCEmin

The current swing: Ic(p-p) = ICmax - ICmin

(VCE max − VCE min )(IC max − IC min )
The AC power: Po(ac) =
8

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Signal Swing and Output AC Power
For the ideal transformer the voltage delivered to the
load
N2 N1
VL = V2 = V1 ⇔ IL = I2 = IC
N1 N2
And power delivered to the load

V (rms )
2
PL = I L (rms )RL
2
PL = L ⇔
RL

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Hitunglah ac power yang
diterima speaker 8 Ohm
pada penguat class A
disamping jika diketahui
nilai IB = 6 mA, dan signal
input Vi akan
mengakibatkan peak base
current swing sebesar 4
mA.

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Effisiensi
Power input from the DC source:

Pi(dc) = VCCICQ

Power dissipated as heat across the transistor:

PQ = Pi(dc) − Po(ac)

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Transformer-Coupled
Class A Amplifier
Pada gambar contoh sebelumnya
hitunglah dc input power (Pi(dc)), power
dissipated by transistor (PQ), dan juga
effisiensi rangkaian.

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
In Class B the dc bias leaves the transistor biased just
off. The AC signal turns the transistor on. This is
essentially no bias.
The transistor only conducts when it is turned on by
½ of the AC cycle.

In order to get a full AC cycle out of a Class B

amplifier, you need two transistors.
One is an npn transistor that provides the negative
half of the AC cycle and the other is a pnp transistor
that provides the positive half.

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Class B Amplifier
Operation

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Input DC Power

Pi (dc) = VCC I dc
2
Idc = I ( p)
π
⎛2 ⎞
Pi (dc) = VCC ⎜ I ( p )⎟
⎝π ⎠
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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Output AC Power

VL2 (rms )
Po (ac) =
RL

VL2 ( p − p ) VL2 ( p )
Po (ac) = =
8 RL 2 RL

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Efficiency

Po(ac)
%η = ×100%
Pi (dc)

The maximum efficiency of a Class B is 78.5%

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Power Dissipated by Output Transistors
The power dissipated (as heat) by the output
transistor is
P2Q = Pi (dc) − Po(ac)
Where P2Q is the power dissipated by the two output
power transistor.
The dissipated power handled by each transistor is
P2Q
PQ =
2
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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Problem

For a class B amplifier providing a 20V peak

signal to a 16Ω load (speaker) and a power
supply of Vcc = 30V, determine the input power,
output power and circuit efficiency.

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Transformer-Coupled Push Pull of Class B Amplifier
Circuits

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Complementary-Symmetry of Class B Amplifier Circuits

Disadvantage: need for two separate voltage supplies,

Resulting the crossover distortion in the output signal.

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Class B Amplifier
Operation
Quasi-Complementary Push-Pull of Class B Amplifier
Circuits
Calculate the input power, output
power, and power handled by each
output transistor, and the circuit
efficiency for input of 12V rms.

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