Lab 9 Report

BJT Amplifiers: Design Project

Kevin Bradshaw & Yuan Tian
ECEN 325-503
Instructor: Sebastian Hoyos
November 4, 2015
Items
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Pre-lab
Title Page
Intro /Theory / Procedure
Summary
Experimental Results /
Analysis / Discussion
Problems Encountered
Conclusion
Questions
Total

Grade Assigned
20%
5%
10%
40%
5%
5%
15%
100%

Student's Grade

Objectives

Understand the characteristics of the BJT amplifier configurations.

Design an amplifier's small voltage gain, input impedance, and output
impedance.
Analyze and evaluate the operating points of a working BJT amplifier
that achieves the constraints given in the project.

Procedure
In this lab, a two stage BJT amplifier that included a common emitter and a
common collector was designed. This design met the constraints listed in
Table 1. The first amplifier works to achieve input impedance and gain
specifications while the second works as a buffer to create less distortion in
the signal provided. The final design was constructed and it's parameters are
listed in Table 2 and 3. This theoretical design variables are displayed in
Figure 1 and the final voltage gain can be seen in Figure 2. The DC bias
operating points as well as the AC voltage gain, input impedance, and output
impedance were measured and are listed in Table 4. Then the transistors
were switched to see how sensitive the parameters from the design were to
changes in the current gain. The first transistor we used, the Q2N2222, had a
voltage output of about 2.35 VDC while the second transistor, the T2N4401,
had a voltage output of about 1.97 VDC. This shows that the current gain
was somewhat sensitive to the circuit performance but not by a large value.
Figure 1: Final Two Stage BJT
Design

The input signal was then increased to 200 mVpp and the harmonic distortion
was measured on the oscilloscope. This measurement can be seen in Figure
3. The magnitude and phase response plots were also obtained using the
Bode Analyzer and can be seen in Figure 4. Lastly, the distortion
performance analysis of the amplifier was taken and can be seen in Figure 5.
These results were all very inaccurate compared to the Spice simulations
because of how sensitive each parameter changed the actual gain of the
overall circuit.
Figure 2: Final Gain Output

Figure 4: Magnitude and Phase

Response

Figure 3: Harmonic Distortion

Figure 5: Distortion Performance

Analysis

Parameters
V cc

Constraints

Input Impedance

Av

10 K
10

Load Resistance
Circuit Performance
Output Voltage Swing

100
Insensitive to changes
2V

10 V

Data Tables
Table 1: BJT Amplifier
Objectives

Parameters
V (AC)

Values
0.2 V pk-pk (1KHZ)

Capacitor #1

RB 1

100 F
790 k

RB 2

100 k

RC

Table 2: BJT Amplifier C-E Stage

Configuration

5.7 k

RE

133

Capacitor #2

100 F

Table 3: BJT Amplifier Buffer Stage

Configuration

Parameters
RB 1

Values

RB 2

8 k

RE

100

RL

100

Capacitor
Input Impedance

100 F
5.2 k
21.59 mA

15 k

IC
Table 4: BJT Amplifier C-E Stage
Measurements

Parameters
IB

Measurements
4.199 mA

IC

0.906 mA

V CEQ

2.28 V

V BC

1.6 V

V BE

0.62 V

V AC

1.685 mA

I AC

0.0812 A

Z out

20.7 k

114 k

Applicable Calculations
Common Collector:
R =

AV =

RB 1 + R B 2
RB1 RB2

RE / R L
r e +R E / R L

Common Emitter:
R =RB 1 (r + ( +1 ) R E )
AV =

gm ( R C / R L )
g R
1+ m E

General Equations:

B
V cc V

V B I + B R B 2
RB2
R B 1=
gm=

I CQ
V TH

gce=

I CQ
1
=
V early r ce

ge =

I EQ 1
=
V TH r e

IC
IB

Z =

V AC
I AC

I B=

VB
RB

V AC
I AC

IC =

VC
RC

Z out =

Discussion
1. Objective:
The objective of this experiment was to learn about coupled BJT
amplifiers by designing a circuit that could obtain a specific gain. By
designing a circuit to very explicit parameters, this lab tested our
problem solving skills as engineers so that we could think on a higher
level while following design specifications.
2. Design Procedure:
The first step in designing the two stage amplifier was to split the
design into two parts: the common collector and the common emitter.
We designed the buffer first by assuming that the emitter resistance
was equal to the load resistance at 100 ohms. From there, we
calculated all the currents and assumed a resistance for RB2. With that
assumption, RB1 was calculated. Lastly, to check if this design meets
specifications, the gain and input resistance were calculated. Now
knowing the input resistance from the common collector, we used this
value as the load on the common emitter. The emitter resistance was
assumed by the input resistance and the current gain. Then the design
parameter gain of 10 was used to find the collector resistance. From
here, RB1 was once again calculated using an assumed RB2. Lastly, the
input impedance and overall gain was computed to check to see if all
the parameters were met.
3. AC Voltage Gain:
The overall AC voltage gain was approximately 9.8. The circuit had to
be modified several times to meet this specification because in the first
several designs, it was too low. We kept getting only a gain of 2 and
then a gain of 6. By debugging the circuits as separate amplifiers, it
was easier to reach a gain of 10 that matches the parameter.
4. AC Input and Output Impedances:
The overall impedances for the circuit are listed in Table 4. The input
impedance was calculated by measuring the actual AC input voltage
and dividing it by the actual AC input current. The output impedance
was calculated by first grounding the input capacitor and applying the
signal generator through a blocking capacitor of 100 F at the output.
Then, the AC voltage was divided by the AC current.
The input resistance does not depend on the amplitude of the AC
signal. This can be seen by the linearity of Ohm's law. As the
signal voltage is increased, so is the current so that the
resistance stays constant.

The calculated theoretical input impedance compares very well

with the measured impedance because of how close we were
able to match the resistances required in each branch of the
overall circuit.

5. Current Gain Sensitivity:

The resistance at the emitter branch of the common emitter circuit
lowers the sensitivity of the current gain because it exhibits a linear
relationship between voltage and current. This relationship helps to
reduce the errors and is known as emitter degeneration.
6. Specifications:
The specifications were met for the common emitter amplifier but the
common collector (buffer) kept overheating because the current
through the collector was much higher than needed. This would
eventually just burn out the transistor.
7. Small Signal Model
The small signal model used for our design equations is valid for all
input amplitudes until saturation. This is because the resistances on
each branch for the BJT amplifier are calculated from the currents
based on the DC power supply.
Problems Encountered
We designed several circuits, especially different buffers for our two stage
amplifier but we kept burning out transistors because the current through
the collector branch was too high. Every new design, we would try to
decrease the current through the collector branch but the 2N2222 transistor
kept burning out. The gain we obtained worked great but we weren't able to
get the buffer stage to completely work without saturation. We continued
with our measurements and observations for the common emitter.
Conclusion
The purpose of this lab was to understand the fundamental concepts and
characteristics of BJT amplifiers. We learned how to design a two stage
amplifier by applying the knowledge we have of the common topologies and
putting them together. By coupling the amplifiers together, we learned how
to get a consistent gain that passes through a buffer to alleviate distortion.
The design consisted of several calculations that helped show us the way
each resistance on the branches of the BJT affects the different input and
output variables. This lab showed us first-hand knowledge in designing BJT's
in common circuits. By building these amplifiers, we also learned a very
important concept that builds the relationship between the input and output

impedance. A good amplifier is designed by making a large input impedance

so that the output impedance can be minimized. When constructing BJT
circuits in applicable situations, half of the parameters can be assumed and
half should be calculated by the assumptions. With analysis by inspection
and enough trial and error, eventually BJT design can be simply done to
create very useful circuits.