EC2205-Electronic Circuits-1 UNIT IV

LARGE SIGNAL AMPLIFIERS

PART A (2 MARK QUESTIONS)

1. What is theoretical maximum conversion efficiency of class A power amplifier? (NOV/DEC 2009)

25% and it can be increased to 50% by using inductors or transformers.

2. What is distortion in power amplifiers? (NOV/DEC 2009)

It is non-linear or harmonic distortion and is caused by the non-linear characteristic curve of an active devices.

3. What is cross over distortion? (APR/MAY 2010)

This is caused by the nonlinear input characteristics of the transistor. In the region of small input current, the output is
much smaller. This effect is called cross over distortion.

4. Draw the circuit of Class-D amplifier(APR/MAY 2010)

5. What is meant by cross over distortion in class B power amplifier and how it is corrected? (NOV/DEC 2010)

In class B amplifier this results in cutting off one transistor before the other begins conducting. To minimize this the
transistor must operate in class AB mode where a small standby current flows at zero excitation.

6. A BJT has a maximum power dissipation of 2W at ambient temperature of

25C and maximum junction temperature of 150C, find its thermal resistance. (NOV/DEC 2010)
Thermal resistance = (TJ - TA)/ PD = (150-25)/2 C/W

7. List the disadvantages of push pull amplifier. (NOV/DEC 2011)

1. The circuit needs two separate voltage suppliers

2. The ouput is distorted due o the crss over distortion.

8. Define Harmonic distortion and intermodulation distortion(NOV/DEC 2011)

Harmonic distortion is caused by the non lineardynamic characteristics curve of an active device. Here new frequencies
are produced in the output which arent present in the input.
Intermodulation distortion is also a non linear distortion which occurs when the input signal consists of more than one
frequency.

9. Define large signal amplifier.

It is also known as power amplifiers whose main aim is to deliver a substantial amount of power to a load.

10. What are applications of power amplifier?

a. Used in radio and TV transmitters.

b. Used to amplify the high frequency signals.
c. Tuned amplifiers
11. What are the features and classifications of large signal amplifiers?

The large signal amplifiers are classified as follows.

1.1 a. Based on the input
1.1.1 i. small signal amplifiers
1.1.2 ii. large signal amplifiers
1.2 b. Based on the output
1.2.1 I. Voltage amplifier
1.2.2 II. Power amplifier
1.2.3 III. Current amplifier
1.3 c. Based on the transistor configuration
1.3.1 I. CE amplifier
1.3.2 II. CB amplifier
1.3.3 III. CC amplifier
1.4 d. Based on the number of stages
1.4.1 I. Single stage amplifier
1.4.2 II. Multistage amplifier
1.5 e. Based on the Bandwidth
1.5.1 I. Untuned amplifier (wide band amplifier)
1.5.2 II. Tuned amplifier (narrow band amplifier)
1.6 f. Based on the frequency response
1.6.1 I. AF (Audio frequency) amplifier
1.6.2 II. IF (Intermediate frequency) amplifier
1.6.3 III. RF (Radio Frequency) amplifier
1.7 g. Based on the Biasing condition
1.7.1 I. Class A amplifier
1.7.2 II. Class B amplifier
1.7.3 III. Class C amplifier
1.7.4 IV. Class AB amplifier
1.7.5 V. Class D amplifier
1.7.6 VI. Class S amplifier
12. What is class A amplifier? What are the advantages of directly coupled class A amplifier?

In class A amplifier,the transistor is ON for the full cycle of the input AC signal.

13. What is class C amplifier?

Class C In this mode, the level current flows for less than one half cycled i.e., th of the input cycle.
14. What is class AB amplifier?

Class AB
In this mode of operation, the output current flows for more than one half cycle but less than full cycle.

15. What are the classifications of Class A amplifier?

1. Direct coupled Class A amplifier.

2. Transformer coupled Class A amplifier.

16. What is frequency distortion?

In this distortion the signal components at different frequencies are amplified by different amount.
 17. Define heat sink.

It is a large, finned, black metallic heat conducting device placed in close contact with the transistor case.

18. List any two advantages of transformer coupled class A amplifier circuit.

1. Dc power loss in the load is zero.

2. Increased efficiency.

19. Define class C operation of power amplifier?

In this mode, the level current flows for less than one half cycled i.e., th of the input cycle.

20. Why class A amplifier must not be operated under no signal conditions?

In class A mode, the output current flows through out the entire period of input cycle and the Q point is
chosen at the midpoint of AC load line and hence it has to be biased.

21. When does inter modulation occur? Why should it be minimized in hi-fi audio amplifier?

Intermodulation distortion is also a non linear distortion which occurs when the input signal consists of more
than one frequency. I has to be minimized because it is an undesired frequency(f1+f2 and f1-f2).

22. What is the drawback of class B amplifier? How is this minimized?

A large amount of distortion introduced due to the non-linear dynamic transfer characteristic. This may me
eliminated by push-pull configuration.

23. Define thermal resistance in the context of power amplifier?

The resistance offered by the bipolar junction transistor to the flow of heat is called thermal resistance.
The thermal resistance measured in C/W = (TJ - TA)/ PD .

24. What are the advantages of push pull amplifier?

1. The circuit is transformerless

2. Impedance matching is possible

3. Improved frequency response

25. What is the configuration used in complementary symmetry power amplifier? How does it
help?
Matched pair of complementary symmetry transistor is used in Common Collector configuration t provide
impedance matching. He impedance matching is necessary to transfer maximum power o the lad.

26. What is meant by second order harmonic distortion? (NOV/DEC12)

The second harmonic distortion is defined as |B2|/|B1| X100 %

Where B1-amplitude of the desired signal a the fundamental frequency
B2- amplitude of the second harmonic frequency 2

27. Compare the efficiencies of all the power amplifiers.

parameter Class A Class B Class AB Class C

efficiency 50% for the transformer 78.5% Between class A Higher than
coupled amplifier and B Class B
 28. Distinguish between class A and class B operation.(APR/MAY11)

Parameter Class A Class B

Conduction period 100% of the input signal 50% of the input signal
Theoretical efficiency 25% 78.5%

29. List the applications of MOSFET power amplifier. (NOV/DEC12)

1. Large switches

2. Line drivers for digital switching circuits

3. Switched mode voltage regulators

PART- B (16 MARK QUESTIONS

1. Derive the theoretical max conversion efficiency of class B power amplifier. (10)(ii) Write short notes on
power MOSFET amplifier. (6)(NOV/DEC 2009)

There are two main types of switching mosfets

mosfet's: the linear RF mosfets, such as were developed by International Motorola's "RF Line," and the
more Rectifier. They make the "dies" for these common switching mosfets. The RF mosfet's, marketing them
under their
mosfets are excellent, reliable devices own name (logo "I-R"), or selling the for up to 30MHz, and some VHF
dies to other manufacturer's, such as versions.
Switching mosfets where you get your IRF510, you are
are far more common, such as the getting the same device and can be IRF510, available at hobby vendors
and assured of consistent operation.
Radio Shack for about $1. These cheap The exception to this are some IRF510s switching mosfet's are the
ones used insold by Radio Shack
Some are most home brew QRP transmitters, and manufactured in Haiti that may or may the ones upon
which this article not meet specs for maximum drain focuses.
As the name implies, this family of device turns on and reaches saturation.

Class-B amplifier
To improve the full power efficiency of the previous Class A amplifier by reducing the wasted power in the form of
heat, it is possible to design the power amplifier circuit with two transistors in its output stage producing what is
commonly termed as a Class B Amplifieralso known as a push-pull amplifier configuration.
Push-pull amplifiers use two "complementary" or matching transistors, one being an NPN-type and the other being a
PNP-type with both power transistors receiving the same input signal together that is equal in magnitude, but in
opposite phase to each other. This results in one transistor only amplifying one half or 180o of the input waveform
cycle while the other transistoramplifies the other half or remaining 180o of the input waveform cycle with the
resulting "two-halves" being put back together again at the output terminal.Then the conduction angle for this type of
amplifier circuit is only 180o or 50% of the input signal. This pushing and pulling effect of the alternating half cycles by
the transistors gives this type of circuit its amusing "push-pull" name, but are more generally known as the Class B
Amplifier.The Class B Amplifier has the big advantage over their Class A amplifier cousins in that no current flows
through the transistors when they are in their quiescent state (ie, with no input signal), therefore no power is
dissipated in the output transistors or transformer when there is no signal present unlike Class A amplifier stages that
require significant base bias thereby dissipating lots of heat - even with no input signal present. So the overall
conversion efficiency ( ) of the amplifier is greater than that of the equivalent Class A with efficiencies reaching as
high as 70% possible resulting in nearly all modern types of push-pull amplifiers operated in this Class B mode.
2. Describe the distortion in power amplifier and the methods to eliminate the same.(NOV/DEC 2009)

Amplifier Distortion
Distortion of the output signal waveform may occur because:
1. Amplification may not be taking place over the whole signal cycle due to incorrect biasing levels.
2. The input signal may be too large, causing the amplifiers transistors to be limited by the supply voltage.
3. The amplification may not be a linear signal over the entire frequency range of inputs.
Amplitude Distortion
Amplitude distortion occurs when the peak values of the frequency waveform are attenuated causing distortion due to
a shift in the Q-point and amplification may not take place over the whole signal cycle. This non-linearity of the output
waveform is shown below.

Amplitude Distortion due to Incorrect Biasing

If the transistors biasing point is correct, the output waveform should have the same shape as that of the input
waveform only bigger, (amplified). If there is insufficient bias and the Q-point lies in the lower half of the load line, then
the output waveform will look like the one on the right with the negative half of the output waveform "cut-off" or
clipped. Likewise, if there is too much bias and the Q-point lies in the upper half of the load line, then the output
waveform will look like the one on the left with the positive half "cut-off" or clipped.
Also, when the bias voltage is set too small, during the negative half of the cycle the transistor does not fully conduct
so the output is set by the supply voltage. When the bias is too great the positive half of the cycle saturates the
transistor and the output drops almost to zero.Even with the correct biasing voltage level set, it is still possible for the
output waveform to become distorted due to a large input signal being amplified by the circuits gain.
The output voltage signal becomes clipped in both the positive and negative parts of the waveform an no longer
resembles a sine wave, even when the bias is correct. This type of amplitude distortion is called Clipping and is the
result of "Over-driving" the input of the amplifier.
Amplitude Distortion due to Clipping

Amplitude Distortion greatly reduces the efficiency of an amplifier circuit. These "flat tops" of the distorted output
waveform either due to incorrect biasing or over driving the input do not contribute anything to the strength of the
output signal at the desired frequency.
with a DC signal the level of gain of the amplifier can vary with signal amplitude, but as well as Amplitude Distortion,
other types of distortion can occur with AC signals in amplifier circuits, such as Frequency Distortion and Phase
Distortion.
Frequency Distortion
Frequency Distortion occurs in a transistor amplifier when the level of amplification varies with frequency.
Many of the input signals that a practical amplifier will amplify consist of the required signal waveform called the
"Fundamental Frequency" plus a number of different frequencies called "Harmonics" superimposed onto it.
Normally, the amplitude of these harmonics are a fraction of the fundamental amplitude and therefore have very little
or no effect on the output waveform.
However, the output waveform can become distorted if these harmonic frequencies increase in amplitude with
regards to the fundamental frequency. For example, consider the waveform below:

Frequency Distortion due to Harmonics

In the example above, the input waveform consists a the fundamental frequency plus a second harmonic signal. The
resultant output waveform is shown on the right hand side. The frequency distortion occurs when the fundamental
frequency combines with the second harmonic to distort the output signal. Harmonics are therefore multiples of the
fundamental frequency and in our simple example a second harmonic was used. Therefore, the frequency of the
harmonic is 2 times the fundamental, 2 x or 2. Then a third harmonic would be 3, a fourth, 4, and so on.
Frequency distortion due to harmonics is always a possibility in amplifier circuits containing reactive elements such as
capacitance or inductance.
Phase Distortion
Phase Distortion or Delay Distortion occurs in a non-linear transistor amplifier when there is a time delay between
the input signal and its appearance at the output. If we call the phase change between the input and the output zero
at the fundamental frequency, the resultant phase angle delay will be the difference between the harmonic and the
fundamental. This time delay will depend on the construction of the amplifier and will increase progressively with
frequency within the bandwidth of the amplifier. For example, consider the waveform below:
Phase Distortion due to Delay

Any practical amplifier will have a combination of both "Frequency" and "Phase" distortion together with amplitude
distortion but in most applications such as in audio amplifiers or power amplifiers, unless the distortion is excessive or
severe it will not generally affect the operation of the system.In the next tutorial about Amplifiers we will look at
the Class A Amplifier. Class A amplifiers are the most common type of amplifier output stage making them ideal for
use in audio power amplifiers.
Crossover Distortion
As this problem occurs when the signal changes or "crosses-over" from one transistor to the other at the zero voltage
point it produces an amount of "distortion" to the output wave shape. This results in a condition that is commonly
called Crossover Distortion.

3. (i) Explain the operation of the transformer coupled class A audio power amplifier. (ii) Explain the terms
conversion efficiency and maximum value of efficiency used in audio power amplifiers. (APR/MAY 2010)

+VCC
N1:N2

Z1 RL
R1
Z2 = R L

Input R2
RE

A transformer-coupled class-A amplifier uses a transformer to couple the output signal from the amplifier to the load.
The relationship between the primary and secondary values of voltage, current and impedance are summarized as:

N1, N2 = the number of turns in the primary and secondary

V1, V2 = the primary and secondary voltages
I 1, I 2 = the primary and secondary currents
 Z1, Z2 = the primary and seconadary impedance ( Z2 = RL )

An important characteristic of the transformer is the ability to produce a counter emf, or kickemf.

When an inductor experiences a rapid change in supply voltage, it will produce a voltage with a polarity that
is opposite to the original voltage polarity.

The counter emf is caused by the electromagnetic field that surrounds the inductor.

The dc biasing of a transformer-coupled class-A amplifier is very similar to any other class-A amplifier with
one important exception : the value of VCEQ is designed to be as close as possible to VCC.

The dc load line is very close to being a vertical line indicating that VCEQ will be approximately equal to VCC
for all the values of IC.

The nearly vertical load line of the transformer-coupled amplifier is caused by the extremelylow dc
resistance of the transformer primary. VCEQ = VCC ICQ(RC + RE)

The value of RL is ignored in the dc analysis of the transformer-coupled class-A amplifier. The reason for
this is the fact that transformer provides dc isolation between the primary and secondary. Since the load
resistance is in the secondary of the transformer it dose not affect the dc analysis of the primary circuitry.
ii) conversion efficiency and maximum value of efficiency used in audio power amplifiers
The total amount of power being dissipated by the amplifier, Ptot , is
Ptot = P1 + P2 + PC + PT + PE
The difference between this total value and the total power being drawn from the supply is the power that
actually goes to the load i.e. output power.
Amplifier Efficiency
The r.m.s. Collector voltage is given as:

The r.m.s. Collector current is given as:

The r.m.s. Power delivered to the load (Pac) is therefore given as:

The average power drawn from the supply (Pdc) is given by:

and therefore the efficiency of a Transformer-coupled Class A amplifier is given as:

A figure of merit for the power amplifier is its efficiency, h .

Efficiency (h ) of an amplifier is defined as the ratio of ac output power (power delivered to load) to dc input
power .

By formula :
 As we will see, certain amplifier configurations have much higher efficiency ratings than others.

This is primary consideration when deciding which type of power amplifier to use for a specific application.

One of the primary advantages of using the transformer-coupled class-A amplifier is the increased efficiency
over the RC-coupled class-A circuit.

Another advantage is the fact that the transformer-coupled amplifier is easily converted into a type of
amplifier that is used extensively in communications :- the tuned amplifier.

A tuned amplifier is a circuit that is designed to have a specific value of power gain over a specific range of
frequency.

4. Explain the operation of the class-B push pull power amplifier with neat
diagram and list its advantages. (APR/MAY 2010)(NOV/DEC12)

In amplifiers using class B bias, there is no standing bias current (the quiescent current is zero) and
therefore the transistor conducts for only half of each cycle of the signal waveform. Theoretically nearly 80%
efficiency can be achieved with this bias and in practical circuits, efficiencies of 50% to 60% are possible.

The downside for this increased efficiency is that the transistor only amplifies half the waveform, therefore
producing severe distortion. The aim is to obtain a good power gain with as much of the energy consumed
from the power supply going into the load as possible.

One of the main disadvantages of the Class B amplifier circuit is that it uses balanced centre-tapped
transformers in its design, making it expensive to construct.

However, there is another type of Class B amplifier called a Complementary-Symmetry Class B

Amplifier that does not use transformers in its design therefore, it is transformerless using instead
complementary or matching pairs of power transistors.

As transformers are not needed this makes the amplifier circuit much smaller for the same amount of output,
also there are no stray magnetic effects or transformer distortion to effect the quality of the output signal.

An example of a "transformerless" Class B amplifier circuit is given below.

At lower (e.g. audio) frequencies, a common way to reduce the distortion due to the missing half cycle in

class B outputs, is to use a push-pull output stage.

 Class B
Advantages Disadvantages
Very low standing bias current. Negligible power
Creates Crossover distortion.
consumption without signal.
Can be used for much more powerful outputs than class A Supply current changes with signal
More efficient than Class A. More distortion than Class A.

Crossover distortion is more of a problem in low and medium power class B amplifiers and the method used
to eliminate it, is to use a class B amplifier that has some bias (and quiescent current) added so that the
output transistors are conducting continually, and so avoiding the dead zone of class B.

5. Explain class A power amplifier with circuit diagram and derive for
its efficiency. (8) (NOV/DEC 2010)(NOV/DEC12)

Power amplifiers are used to deliver a relatively high amount of power, usually to a low resistance load.

Typical load values range from 300W (for transmission antennas) to 8W (for audio speaker).

Although these load values do not cover every possibility, they do illustrate the fact that power amplifiers
usually drive low-resistance loads.

Typical output power rating of a power amplifier will be 1W or higher.

Ideal power amplifier will deliver 100% of the power it draws from the supply to load. In practice, this can
never occur.

The reason for this is the fact that the components in the amplifier will all dissipate some of the power that
is being drawn form the supply.

This is the most linear of the classes

characteristics of the class:

The output device (transistor) conducts electricity for the entire cycle of input signal. In other words, they
reproduce the entire waveform in its entirety.

These amps run hot, as the transistors in the power amp are on and running at full power all the time.

There is no condition where the transistor(s) is/are turned off. That doesn't mean that the amplifier is never
or can never be turned off; it means the transistors doing the work inside the amplifier have a constant flow
of electricity through them. This constant signal is called "bias".
 Class A is the most inefficient of all power amplifier designs, averaging only around 20.

6. (i) Explain complementary Symmetry class B power amplifier and derive for its efficiency. (ii) Explain
class D power amplifier with necessary sketches. (NOV/DEC 2010)
Class D

The voltage mode Class D amplifier is defined as a switching circuit that results in thegeneration of a half-sinusoidal
current waveform and a square voltage waveform.
Class-DPAs use two or more transistors as switches to generate a square drain-voltage waveform.
A series-tuned output filter passes only the fundamental-frequency component to the load,Class-D amplifiers suffer
from a number of problems that make them difficult to realize,especially at high frequencies.
First, the availability of suitable devices for the upper switchis limited.
Secondly, device parasitics such as drain-source capacitance and lead inductanceresult in losses in each cycle.
If realized, (they are common at low RF and audiofrequencies) Class-D amplifiers theoretically can reach 100%
efficiency, as there is noperiod during a cycle where the voltage and current waveforms overlap (current is drawnonly
through the transistor that is on).
No real amplifier can be a true Class-D, as non-zero switch resistances and capacitiveas well as inductive parasitics
restrict the shape of the drain voltage waveform.
A unique aspect of Class-D (with infinitely fast switching) is that efficiency is notdegraded by the presence of
reactance in the load.

7. Draw the circuit diagram of class B push pull amplifier and discuss its merits. (16) (NOV/DEC 2011)

Push-pull meansthat one transistor conducts for half a cycle while the other is off, and vice versa. On the positive half
cycle of input voltage,the secondary winding of T1 has voltage v1 and v2, as shown. the uppertransistor conducts
and the lower one cuts off. The collector current through Q1flows through the upper half of the output primary
winding.This produces an amplified and inverted voltage, which is transformer-coupled to the loud speaker.On the
next half cycle of input voltage, the polarities reverse. Now, the lower transistor turns on and the upper transistor turns
off. the lower transistor amplifies the signal, and the alternate half cycle appears across the loudspeaker. Since each
transistor amplifies one-half of the input cycle, the loudspeakerreceives a complete cycle of the amplified signal.
 Class B advantages:
1. Much higher power conversion efficiency than class A for large signal amplitudes.
2. Zero power dissipation with zero input.

Class B Push-Pull Emitter Follower

Class B operation means that the collector current flows for only 180 of the accycle.For this to occur, the Q point is
located at cutoff on both the dc and the acload lines.The advantage of class B amplifiers is lower current drain and
higherstage efficiency.

8. Compare class A, class B and class C power amplifier in their performance and efficiency. (10)

Class A

The Class A topology uses one of the transistors as a dc current source.

capable of supplying the maximum audio current required by the speaker.

Good sound quality is possible with the Class A output stage

power dissipation is excessive

Class B
The Class B topology eliminates the dc bias current
dissipates significantly less power.
Its output transistors are individually controlled in a push-pull manner
This reduces output stage power dissipation,
The Class B circuit has inferior sound quality,

Class A B C
Conduction
360o 180o Less than 90o
Angle
Position of Centre Point of Exactly on the Below the
the Q-point the Load Line X-axis X-axis
 Overall
Poor, 25 to 30% Better, 70 to 80% Higher than 80%
Efficiency
Signal None if Correctly At the X-axis
Large Amounts
Distortion Biased Crossover Point

9. What is the difference between a voltage amplifier and a power amplifier?

Small Signal Amplifiers

Small Signal Amplifiers are also known as Voltage Amplifiers.
Voltage Amplifiers have 3 main properties, Input Resistance, Output Resistance and Gain.
The Gain of a small signal amplifier is the amount by which the amplifier "Amplifies" the input signal.
Gain is a ratio of input divided by output, therefore it has no units but is given the symbol (A) with the most
common types being, Voltage Gain (Av), Current Gain (Ai) and Power Gain (Ap)
The power Gain of the amplifier can also be expressed in Decibels or simply dB.
In order to amplify all of the input signal distortion free in a Class A type amplifier, DC Base Biasing is
required.
DC Bias sets the Q-point of the amplifier half way along the load line.
This DC Base biasing means that the amplifier consumes power even if there is no input signal present.
The transistor amplifier is non-linear and an incorrect bias setting will produce large amounts of distortion to
the output waveform.
Too large an input signal will produce large amounts of distortion due to clipping, which is also a form of
amplitude distortion.
Incorrect positioning of the Q-point on the load line will produce either Saturation Clipping orCut-off
Clipping.
The Common Emitter Amplifier configuration is the most common form of all the general purpose voltage
amplifier circuit using a Bipolar Junction Transistor.
The Common Source Amplifier configuration is the most common form of all the general purpose voltage
amplifier circuit using a Junction Field Effect Transistor.
Large Signal Amplifiers
Large Signal Amplifiers are also known as Power Amplifiers.
Power Amplifiers can be sub-divided into different Classes, for example Class A Amplifiers, where the
output device conducts for all of the input cycle, Class B Amplifiers, where the output device conducts for only 50%
of the input cycle and Class AB Amplifiers, where the output device conducts for more than 50% but less than 100%
of the input cycle.
An ideal Power Amplifier would deliver 100% of the available DC power to the load.
Class A amplifiers are the most common form of power amplifier but only have an efficiency rating of less
than 40%.
Class B amplifiers are more efficient than Class A amplifiers at around 70% but produce high amounts of
distortion.
Class B amplifiers consume very little power when there is no input signal present.
By using the "Push-pull" output stage configuration, distortion can be greatly reduced.
However, simple push-pull Class B Power amplifiers can produce high levels of Crossover Distortion due to
their cut-off point biasing.
Pre-biasing resistors or diodes will help eliminate this crossover distortion.
 Class B Power Amplifiers can be made using Transformers or Complementary Transistors in its output
stage.

10. Describe the operation of class c amplifier and derive the efficiency. (16)

It is an amplifier where the conduction angle for the transistor is significantly less than 180.

The transistor is biased such that under steady-state conditions no collector current flows.

The transistor idles at cut-off.

linearity of the Class-C amplifier is the poorest of the classes of amplifiers.

The Efficiency of Class-C can approach 85 %, which is much better than either the Class-B or the
Class-A amplifier.

In order to bias a transistor for Class-C operation, it is necessary to reverse bias of base-emitter
junction.

External biasing is usually not needed,

One of the major problems with utilizing Class-C in solid-state applications is the large negative
swing of the input voltage, which coincides with the collector/drain output voltagepeaks.
 This is the worst condition for reverse breakdown in any kind of transistor, and even small amounts
of leakage current flowing at this point of the cycle have an important effect on the efficiency.

For this reason true Class-C operation is not often use in solid-state at higher RF and Microwave
frequencies.

In order to survive Class-C operation, the transistor should have a collector voltage breakdown that
is at least three times the active devices own DC voltage supply.

The reason: Class-C amplifiers have low average output power but demand very high input drive
levels.

Thus, the transistors main Class-C failure mode is the low value of the active devices
own reverse breakdown voltage, which is unfortunately exacerbated by the RF input signal
voltage going negative just as the transistors collector voltage reaches its positive peak.