Saint Louis University

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Electronics Engineering

MODULE 1
AMPLIFIER COUPLING

This module will introduce you to the different types of cascaded amplifiers. Three basic
methods are used to couple transistor stages: resistance-capacitance (RC), transformer,
and direct coupling. In this module you will learn to identify the different types of
amplifier coupling by inspecting circuit diagrams, verify the effect of bypassing emitter
resistor of a Common Emitter amplifier and characterize the frequency response of each
amplifier coupling method.

Unit RC Coupling
1
At the end of this unit you should be able to:

Discuss the characteristics of an RC coupled amplifier circuit.

Engage

INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS OF RC COUPLED AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT

Figure 1-1-1 shows a two-stage RC coupled amplifier circuit using NPN transistors as
common-emitter amplifiers. The input signal is fed into the base of Q1. Base bias and
bias stability are provided by the voltage divider arrangement of R1 and RB1 across
the collector power supply voltage Vcc and by emitter resistor RE1. Capacitor Cc
couples the output signal of Q1 to the base of Q2. In the second-stage circuit of Q2,
the components R2, RB2, RL2 and RE2 have the same function as their counterparts in
the first-stage. The amplified output of Q1 is fed to Q2, where additional amplification
occurs. The addition of a second stage changes the characteristics of the first stage
by affecting its output circuit. For example, RLI is no longer the ac collector load
resistor for Q1. Instead, the ac load now consists of RLI in parallel with R2, RB2 and the
input resistance of Q2. The ac load resistance is now much smaller in value than RL1.
This happens because the reactance of coupling capacitor Cc is very small at the
frequency of the input signal and V cc presents a very low impedance path for the
ac signal; that is, the bias and input resistors effectively shunt the collector resistor RLI.
An effect of reduced value of ac load resistance is the reduction in signal at the

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Department of Electronics Engineering

collector of Q1. Thus, the ac collector load resistance of Q1, one of the factors which
determines the signal current coupled to the base of Q2, is changed by RC coupling
of cascaded amplifiers.

Figure 1-1-1

Electrolytic capacitors are normally used for coupling in audio circuits. Polarity must
be observed, therefore, for proper circuit operation. Occasionally, excessive
leakage current through an electrolytic coupling capacitor will affect transistor
operating currents causing faulty amplifier operation.

The gain of an amplifier is not the same for all input signal frequencies. The way in
which the gain varies with frequency is called the frequency response. The
bandwidth of an amplifier is the range of signal frequencies over which the amplifier
gain is relatively constant or flat.

Explore :

Watch the video Experiment 1-1: RC Coupling from Google Classroom, under
Classwork MODULE 1: UNIT 1. The experiment manual is provided in the succeeding
pages.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

EE 412L EXPERIMENT NO. 1-1

RC COUPLING

I. EQUIPMENT/ MATERIALS NEEDED:

Power Source 24Vdc

VOM
AF Generator
Oscilloscope
Practical Electronics Trainer
C1, C2, C3 - 10F Electrolytic
C4 - 25F Electrolytic
Q1, Q2 - 2N2219A NPN Transistor
R1, R5 - 150k, 1W
R2, R3, R6, R7 - 10k, 1W
R4, R8 - 1k, 1W
R9 - 22k, 1W

II. PROCEDURES:

Objective A. Identify a two-stage RC coupled amplifier circuit and measure the dc

operating voltages.

1.a) Examine the RC coupled amplifier circuit of Figure 1-1-2. Which component
identifies this circuit as an RC coupled amplifier?
___________________________________________________________________________

Figure 1-1-2

1.b) Connect the circuit as shown. Do not connect bypass capacitor C4 or load resistor
R9 at this time.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

1.c) Adjust the dc collector supply voltage V CC to 24Vdc. The ac input voltage ei should
be zero.

1.d) Measure and record the dc voltages (with respect to ground) at the base, emitter,
and collector of Q1. Use the VOM to make all transistor voltage measurements.

VB1 =________________Vdc

VE1 =________________Vdc

VC1 =________________Vdc

1.e) As a result of your measurements, would you say that the first common-emitter
amplifier stage of the RC coupled amplifier is properly biased?
____________________

1.f) Measure and record the dc voltages the base, emitter and collector of Q2.

VB2 =________________Vdc

VE2 =________________Vdc

VC2 =________________Vdc

1.g) Is the second common-emitter amplifier stage properly biased?

____________________

OBJECTIVE B: Demonstrate the operation and measure the ac voltage gains of a

typical RC coupled amplifier, with and without emitter by-passing.

2.a) Set the AF Generator to the sine-wave function at a frequency of 1kHz.

2.b) Adjust the output of the AF Generator for a 100mV peak-to-peak signal at the base
of Q1. Use the oscilloscope to measure the p-p input voltage.

2.c) Set the calibrated oscilloscope controls for 0.02V/cm deflection, 0.5ms/cm sweep
time, and triggering to: normal sync, internal source, + slope, and auto level.

2.d) Connect the input of the oscilloscope to the base of Q1 and measure the peak-to-
peak input voltage.

ei =________________V pk-pk

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

2.e) Connect the input of the oscilloscope to the collector of Q1. Change the vertical
input control for 0.1V/cm deflection to display the output waveform of the first stage.

2.f) Is the output waveform of the first stage a true amplified reproduction of the input
waveform?
_____________________

2.g) Measure the peak-to-peak output voltage at the collector of Q1.

eC1 =________________V pk-pk

2.h) Calculate the voltage gain Av of the first common-emitter stage.

AV1 = eC1 / ei

AV1 =________________

2.i) Connect the input of the oscilloscope to the base Q2.

2.j) Measure the peak-to-peak input voltage at the base of Q2.

eB2 = __________________V pk-pk

2.k) Connect the input of the oscilloscope to the output of the RC coupled amplifier.
Change the vertical input control for 1V/cm deflection.

2.l) Is the output waveform of the second stage a true amplified reproduction of the
input waveform?
___________________

2.m) Measure the peak-to-peak voltage of the RC coupled amplifier.

eO =__________________V pk-pk

2.n) Calculate the voltage gain Av of the second common-emitter stage.

AV2 = eO / eB2

AV2 =________________

2.o) Calculate the overall voltage gain Av of the RC coupled amplifier.

AV = eO / ei

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

AV =________________

2.p) Calculate the overall voltage gain Av of the RC coupled amplifier using the gains
for each stage
Av = Av1 x Av2

Av =________________

2.q) Are the overall voltage gain, calculated in steps (o) and (p), in agreement?
_____________________

3.a) Connect R9, the 22k resistor, across the output of the amplifier as shown by the
dashed lines in Fig 1-1-2.

3.b) Measure the peak-to-peak output voltage of the loaded RC coupled amplifier.

eO =________________V pk-pk

3.c) Calculate the voltage gain of the loaded second stage.

AV2 = eO / eB2

AV2 =________________

3.d) Calculate the new overall voltage gain of the RC coupled amplifier.
AV = eO / ei

AV =________________

3.e) Does the addition of a load resistor lower the last stage and overall amplifier gains?
___________________

4.a) Connect bypass capacitor C4 across R8 as shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 1-1-2.
Be sure capacitor polarity is correct.

4.b) Reduce the input signal to the RC coupled amplifier until the output signal across
R9 shows no clipping or distortion. Measure the undistorted peak-to-peak output voltage
displayed on the oscilloscope screen.

eO =________________V pk-pk

4.c) Measure the peak-to-peak input voltage at the base of Q1.

ei =________________mV pk-pk

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

4.d) Calculate the new voltage gain of the RC coupled amplifier.

AV = eO / ei

AV =________________

4.e) Does bypassing the emitter resistor of Q2 greatly increase the gain of the RC
coupled amplifier?
____________________

4.f) Remove bypass capacitor C4.

OBJECTIVE C. Determine the frequency response of a typical RC coupled amplifier.

5.a) Adjust the AF Generator for 100mV peak-to-peak signal at the base of Q1. The input
frequency should be at 1kHz. Use the oscilloscope to monitor the input voltage at the
base of Q1.

5.b) Set the vertical input control to 0.1V/cm.

5.c) Measure and record in Table 1-1, the 1kHz peak-to-peak output voltage across RL.

5.d) Repeat for each of the frequencies listed in Table 1-1. For each frequency change,
monitor the input voltage at the base of Q1 and readjust the AF Generator if necessary
for 100mV peak-to-peak.

Table 1-1
Frequency, Hz Vo (p-p)
20
50
100
300
1K
3K
5K
10K
20K
50K
100K

5.e) Return all voltages to zero.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

5.f) Look at the results entered in Table 1-1. Does the RC coupled amplifier have a
flat audio frequency response (within 1dB or 12% of the 1kHz peak-to-peak voltage
value)?
_____________________

Explain

Research and summarize discussion of theory/theories regarding the experiment.

Elaborate

Problem Set 1-1

This a non-graded unit formative assessment.

In your own words, answer the following:

1. Why is there a need to cascade amplifiers?

2. What is the effect of the coupling capacitor the cascaded amplifier circuit?
3. What is the effect of bypassing the emitter resistor of a common emitter
amplifier?

If you find it difficult to answer the questions given above, it is suggested that you
go back to the ENGAGE and EXPLORE sections of this unit or contact your instructor.

Evaluate

Turn in your laboratory report before the deadline to Google Class under Classwork:
Lab Report Expt. 1-1 : RC Coupling

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transmitting in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document,
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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Department of Electronics Engineering

References

Lab-Volt Practical Electronics Trainer

Boylestad, R.L. (2009). Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory. 8TH Ed. Prentice Hall
International, Inc.
Grob,B. (2004). Basic Electronics. 9th Ed. New York; McGraw-Hill.
Malvino, A. P. (2002). Electronic Principles. 6th Ed. New York: McGraw- Hill.

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