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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Chapter 4. BJT small signal Amplifiers

The transistor models introduced in Chapter 3 will now be used to perform a small signal ac
analysis of a number of standard transistor network configurations. There are basically three
configurations for implementing single-stage BJT amplifiers: the common-emitter, the common-
base, and the common-collector configurations.
The Common-Emitter (CE) Amplifier
The CE configuration is the most widely used of all BJT amplifier circuits.
A large capacitor CE, usually in the F or tens of pF range, is connected between emitter and
ground to establish a signal ground (or an ac ground, as it is sometimes called) at the emitter.
This capacitor is required to provide a very low impedance to ground (ideally, zero impedance;
i.e., in effect, a short circuit) at all signal frequencies of interest. In this way, the emitter signal
current passes through CE to ground and thus bypasses the output resistance of the current
source / (and any other circuit component that might be connected to the emitter); hence CE is
called a bypass capacitor. Obviously, the lower the signal frequency, the less effective the bypass
capacitor becomes.

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

FIGURE 4.1 (a) A common-emitter amplifier using the structure of Fig. 4.1 (b) Equivalent
circuit obtained by replacing the transistor with its hybrid-model.
In order not to disturb the dc bias currents and voltages, the signal to be amplified shown as a
voltage source vsig with an internal resistance Rsig, is connected to the base through a large
capacitor CC1. Capacitor CC1, known as a coupling capacitor, is required to act as a perfect short
circuit at all signal frequencies of interest while blocking dc.
To determine the terminal characteristics of the CE amplifier, that is, its input resistance, voltage
gain, and output resistance, we replace the BJT with its hybrid- small-signal model. We observe
at the outset that this amplifier is unilateral and thus Rin = Ri( and Rout = Ro. Analysis of this

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

circuit is straightforward and proceeds in a step-by-step manner, from the signal source to the
amplifier load. At the amplifier input we have

Thus, we note that the input resistance of the CE amplifier will typically be a few kilohms, which
can be thought of as low to moderate. The fraction of source signal vsig that appears across the
input terminals of the amplifier proper can be found from

At the output of the amplifier we have

Replacing vby vi we can write for the voltage gain of the amplifier proper; that is, the voltage
gain from base to collector,

ADU, CET, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering compiled by Tsegay A. December, 2016
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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

This equation simply says that the voltage gain from base to collector is found by multiplying gm
by the total resistance between collector and ground. The open-circuit voltage gain Avo can be
Obtained by setting RL =

From which we note that the effect of ro is simply to reduce the gain, usually only slightly since
typically ro >> Rc, resulting in

The output resistance Rout can be found from the equivalent circuit by looking back into the
output terminal while short-circuiting the source vsig. Since this will result in v= 0, we see that
Rout=Rc||ro
Thus ro reduces the output resistance of the amplifier, again usually only slightly since typically

r0 >> Rc and

By Av

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Which is the gain Av; in other words, when Rsig is small, the overall voltage gain is almost equal
to the gain of the CE circuit proper, which is independent of
Short-circuit current gain, Ais. This can be easily done by referring to the amplifier equivalent
circuit .When RL is short circuited, the current through it will be equal to

Exercise :
Example. Find the common-emitter amplifier shown in Fig. P5.130, Let VCC =9V, R1 =
27k, R2 = 15k, RE = 1.2k, and RC = 2.2k. The transistor has = 100 and VA = 100

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

V. Calculate the dc bias current IE. If the amplifier operates between a source for which
Rsig = 10 k and a load of 2k replace the transistor with its hybrid- model, and find
the value of Rin, the voltage gain and the current gain
v o i
o
v sig ii

DC Analysis

Suppress the AC (independent Sources)

Short Circuit Voltage Sources
Open Circuit the Capacitors
= 100 , = 0.99 Calculate DC Node Voltages & Loop Currents
VA = 100V 9v

I = ?, R = ?, overall VCC 15k

E in VBB 3.21V
gain vo/vsig, io/i1 27 15k IR
IC 2.2k

15 27
RB 9.64k
15 27 RB
VBB vBE
1.2k
IE
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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

DC Value
VBB VBE
IE
RB
RE
1
3.21 0.7
IE 1.94 mA
9.64
1. 2
101
IC 0.99 1.94 1.92mA
VB VBE VE 0.7 1.94 1.2 2.33V
VC VCC RC I C 9 2.2 1.92 4.776V

VC VB 0.4 4.776 2.33 2.446V

ACTIVE MODE VCB > - 0.4 V

Small signal model.

IC = 1.92 mA
VT = 25 mV
= 100 ,
= 0.99
VA = 100 V

vo vi vo
vi

Ri

1.15 vo
-gm ro || RC || RL Av
vS Rsig Ri 10 1.15 vi vs vs vi
0.99 1.94
g m ro || RC || RL 8.13V / V
gm
IC
76.8mA / V Ri
VT 0.025 Av
r


100
1.3k
Rsig Ri
io vo Rsig Ri
gm 76.8
vo vS
ro
VA
52.1k io ii Ai 45.3A / A
IC
RL Rsig Rin ii vS RL
Ri RB || r 1.15k
Ro ro || RC 2.11k

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

If a resistance Re is included in the emitter of the CE amplifier results in the following

characteristics:
1. The input resistance Rib is increased by the factor (1 + gmRe).
2. The voltage gain from base to collector, Av, is reduced by the factor (1 + gmRe).
3. For the same nonlinear distortion, the input signal vi can be increased by the factor (1 + gmRe).
4. The overall voltage gain is less dependent on the value of
The high-frequency response is significantly improved.

Summary of Common Emitter

Input Resistance
Ri RB || r ~ r
Low to moderate typically a few kilohms
Ro ro || RC ~ RC
Output Resistance

Output Resistance is relatively low

Open Circuit Voltage Gain
g m Ro || RL ~ g m ro || RC
Ri
Av
Rsig Ri

Voltage gain of a few hundred io g m vbe

Ai g m r
ii vbe
Short Circuit Current Gain R in

Current gain equal to

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

The Common-Base (CB) Amplifier

Is established by grounding the base terminal of the BJT. The input signal is applied to the
emitter, and the output is taken at the collector, with the base forming a common terminal
between the input and output ports. Coupling capacitors CC1 and Cc2 perform similar functions
to those in the CE circuit.
The small-signal equivalent circuit model of the amplifier is shown in Fig. 4.2.(b). Since resistor
Rsig appears in series with the emitter terminal, we have elected to use the T model for the
transistor. Although the hybrid-model would yield identical results, the T model is more
convenient in this case. From inspection of the equivalent circuit model in Fig. 4.2(b), we see
that the input resistance is Rin = re
Typically re is a few ohms to a few tens of ohms; thus the CB amplifier has a low input
resistance.
To determine the voltage gain,

Which except for its positive sign is identical to the expression for Av for the CE amplifier.

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Fig 4.2 (a) common base amplifier (b) Equivalent circuit obtained by replacing the transistor
with its T model.
The open-circuit voltage gain Avo can be found from the above equation by setting RL =

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Avo = gmRc
Again this is identical to Avo for the CE amplifier except that the CB amplifier is noninverting.
The output resistance of the CB circuit can be found by inspection from the circuit in
Rout = Rc

Which corresponds to our definition of as the short-circuit current gain of the CB

configuration.
When Overall voltage gain is concerned. The low input resistance of the CB amplifier can cause
the input signal to be severely attenuated, specifically.

One of the applications of the CB circuit is to amplify high-frequency signals that appear on a
coaxial cable. To prevent signal reflection on the cable, the CB amplifier is required to have an
input resistance equal to the characteristic resistance of the cable, which is usually in the range of
50 to 75 .
The overall voltage gain Gv of the CB amplifier can be obtained by multiplying the ratio
vi/vsigby Av

In summary, the CB amplifier exhibits a very low input resistance (re), a short-circuit current
gain that is nearly unity (), an open-circuit voltage gain that is positive and equal in magnitude
to that of the CE amplifier (gmRC), and like the CE amplifier, a relatively high output resistance
(RC). The CB amplifier has excellent high-frequency performance. A very significant application
of the CB circuit is as a unity-gain current amplifier or current buffer: It accepts an input signal
current at a low input resistance and delivers a nearly equal current at very high output resistance
at the collector (the output resistance excluding RC and neglecting ro is infinite).
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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Example
For the circuit shown, Assume =100
(a) Find the input resistance Rin
(b) Find the voltage gain vo/vsig
Analysis

Suppress the AC (independent Sources)

Short Circuit Voltage Sources
Open Circuit the Capacitors

Calculate DC Node Voltages & Loop Currents

=100
I = IB +IC=IE=0.33 mA

VT VT 25
re 75
gm IC IE I E 0.33
VT

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Small signal analysis

Suppress the DC (independent Sources)
Short Circuit Voltage Sources
Open Circuit Current Sources

Short Circuit the Capacitors

Draw the Small Signal Model
Rin re 75
vo ve i v
e o
vsig vsig ve ie
ve re
0.5V / V
vsig re Rsig
ie
1 1
ve re 75

vo
( R B ||R L ) 0.99(100k || 1.5k)
ie

vo
9V / V
vsig
Summary of common base amplifier
Very Low input resistance Rin=re
Short Circuit Current Gain is nearly unity
Open circuit Voltage Gain is equal to CE and is positive gm RC
Relatively high output resistance (Rc) same as CE
Excellent high frequency performance
As short circuit current gain is unity Current Buffer, it accept an input signal
current at a low input resistance and delivers equal current at a very high output
resistance

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

The Common-Collector (CO Amplifier or Emitter Follower

A very important circuit that finds frequent application in the design of both small-signal and
large-signal amplifiers and even in digital circuits. The circuit is more commonly known by the
alternate name emitter follower. Since the collector is to be at signal ground, we have eliminated
the collector resistance Rc. The input signal is capacitively coupled to the base, and the output
signal is capacitively coupled from the emitter to a load resistance RL.The T model of the BJT
would be the more convenient one to use. Unlike the CE and CB circuits we studied above, the
emitter-follower circuit is not unilateral; that is, the input resistance depends on RL, and the
output resistance depends on Rsig. Care therefore must be exercised in characterizing the emitter
follower.
By inspection that input resistance at the base, Rib, is
Rib = (+l)[re + (re||RL)]

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Figure 4.3 (a) An emitter-follower circuit. (b) Small-signal equivalent circuit of the emitter
follower with the transistor replaced by its T model augmented with ro. (c) The circuit in (b)
redrawn to emphasize that ro is in parallel with RL.

Figure 4.4 (a) An equivalent circuit of the emitter follower obtained from the circuit in Fig.
4.3(c) by reflecting all resistances in the emitter to the base side, (b) The circuit in (a) after
application of Thevenin theorem to the input circuit composed of vsig Rsig and RB.
The total input resistance of the follower is
Rin = RB || Rib
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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Overall voltage gain Gv,

The voltage gain is less than unity; however, for RB >> Rsig and (+ 1 )[re +
(ro || RL)] >> (Rsig ||RB), it becomes very close to unity. Thus the voltage at the emitter (vo)
Follows very closely the voltage at the input, which gives the circuit the name emitter follower.

Example: For the circuit shown, Assume =40

(a) Find IE,VE,& VB
(b) Find the input resistance Rin
(c) Find the voltage gain vo/vsig

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Answer: IE=2.41ma , re=10.37

VE=2.41V , Ri= 17.3
VB=3.11V, voltage gain vo/vsig= 0.621 V / V
Summary of Common Collector

Input Resistance depends upon RL

Output Resistance depends upon Rsig
High Input Resistance
Low out Resistanc
Voltage Gain unity
Relatively Large Current = 1+

BJT amplifiers frequency response

The gain of the BJT (common-emitter) amplifier of the dependence o on the
Frequency of the input signal.
The Three Frequency Bands

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

Figure 4.5 (a) Capacftively coupled common-emitter amplifier, (b) Sketch of the magnitude of
the gain of the CE amplifier versus frequency. The graph delineates the three frequency bands
relevant to frequency response determination.
Figure 4.5(b) shows that the gain falls off at signal frequencies below and above the midland.
The gain is almost constant over a wide frequency band, called the midband. The value of the
midband gain AM corresponds to the overall voltage gain Gv.

The gain falloff in the low-frequency band is due to the fact that even though CC1, Cc2, and CE
are large capacitors (typically, in the F range), as the signal frequency is reduced their
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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

impedances increase and they no longer behave as short circuits. On the other hand, the gain falls
off in the high-frequency band as a result of Cgs and Cgd, which though very small (in the
fraction of a pF to the pF range), their impedances at sufficiently high frequencies decrease; thus
they can no longer be considered as open circuits.

END of chapter 4

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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

ADU, CET, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering compiled by Tsegay A. December, 2016
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APPLIED ELECTRONICS I (ECEG2111): CHAPTER 4: BJT SMALL SIGNAL AMPLIFIER

VC VB 0.4 4.776 2.33 2.446V

ADU, CET, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering compiled by Tsegay A. December, 2016