Design of Common Emitter Amplifier

Selection of transistor
Transistor is selected according to the frequency of operation, and power requirements. The 𝛽 of
the transistor is another aspect we should be careful about. Low frequency gain of a BJT
𝑅
amplifier is given by the expression. Voltage gain Av = − 𝛽 𝑅𝐿 . In the worst case with 𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝑖 ,
𝑖
𝐴𝑣 = 𝛽 . 𝛽 of any transistor will vary in large ranges. For example, the 𝛽 of C1383 (a general
purpose transistor) varies from 50 to 250. Therefore a transistor must be selected such that its
minimum guaranteed 𝛽 is greater than or equal to 𝐴𝑣 require.
Selection of supply voltage 𝑽𝒄𝒄
For a distortion less output from an audio amplifier, the operating point must be kept at the
middle of the load line selecting 𝑉𝐶𝐸𝑄 = 50%𝑉𝑐𝑐 (= 0.5𝑉𝑐𝑐 ). This means that the output voltage
swing in either positive or negative direction is half of 𝑉𝑐𝑐 . However, 𝑉𝑐𝑐 is selected 20% more
than the required voltage swinging. For example, if the required output swing is 10 V, 𝑉𝑐𝑐 is
selected 12 V.
Selection of collector current 𝑰𝒄
The nominal value of 𝐼𝑐 can be selected from transistor data sheet given in appendix .Usually
will be given corresponding to ℎ𝐹𝐸 bias. It is the bias current at which ℎ𝐹𝐸 is measured. For
C1383 it is 1 mA.
Design of emitter resistor 𝑹𝑬
Current series feedback is used in this circuit using 𝑅𝐸 . It stabilizes the operating point against
temperature variation. Voltage across 𝑅𝐸 must be as high as possible. But, higher drop across 𝑅𝐸
will reduce the output voltage swing. So, as a rule of thumb, 10% of 𝑉𝐶𝐶 is fixed across 𝑅𝐸 .
Design of 𝑹𝒄
Value of 𝑅𝑐 can be obtained from the relation 𝑅𝑐 = 0.4𝑉𝐶𝐶 /𝐼𝑐 since remaining 40% of 𝑉𝐶𝐶 is
dropped across 𝑅𝑐 .
Design of potential divider 𝑹𝟏 and 𝑹𝟐
𝐼
Value of 𝐼𝐵 is obtained by using the expression 𝐼𝐵 = 𝛽𝐶 . At least 20𝐼𝐵 should be allowed to flow
through 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 for the better stability of bias voltages. If the current through 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 is near
to 𝐼𝐵 , slight variation in 𝐼𝐵 will affect the voltage across 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 . In other words, the base
current will load the voltage divider. When 𝐼𝐵 gets branched into the base of transistor, 20𝐼𝐵
flows through R2. Values of 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 can be calculated from the dc potentials created by the
respective currents.
Design of bypass capacitor 𝑪𝑬
The purpose of the bypass capacitor is to bypass signal current to ground. To bypass the
frequency of interest, reactance of the capacitor 𝑋𝐶𝐸 computed at that frequency should be much
less than the emitter resistance. As a rule of thumb, it is taken 𝑋𝐶𝐸 ≤ 𝑅𝐸 /10.
Design of coupling capacitor 𝑪𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝟐
The purpose of the coupling capacitor is to couple the ac signal to the input of the amplifier and
block dc. It also determines the lowest frequency that to be amplified. Value of the coupling
capacitor is obtained such that its reactance 𝑋𝐶 at the lowest frequency (say 100 Hz or so for an
audio amplifier),
should be less than the input impedance of the amplifier. That means must be 𝑋𝐶 ≤ Rin/10. Here
Rin = 𝑅1 ||𝑅2 ||(𝛽𝑟𝑒 ) where 𝑟𝑒 is the internal emitter resistance of the transistor given by the
expression = 25 mV/𝐼𝐸 at room temperature.
 Design
Output requirements: Mid-band voltage gain of the amplifier = 50 and required output voltage
swing = 10 V.
Selection of transistor
Select transistor C1383 since its minimum guaranteed 𝛽(= 200) is more than the required gain
(=50) of the amplifier.
DC biasing conditions
𝑉𝑐𝑐 is taken as 20% more than required output swing. Hence
𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 12 V

𝐼𝐶 = 1 mA
, because 𝛽 is guaranteed 100 at that current as per data sheet.
Design of 𝑹𝑬
𝑉𝑅𝐸 = 𝐼𝐸 𝑅𝐸
𝐼𝐶 ≅ 𝐼𝐸 = 1𝑚𝐴 ≈ 0.906𝑚𝐴,𝑉𝑅𝐸 = 10% 𝑉𝐶𝐶 ,
𝑆𝑜, 𝑉𝑅𝐸 = 1𝑉
𝑉𝐸
𝑅𝐸 =
𝐼𝐸
1𝑉
𝑅𝐸 =
1𝑚𝐴
𝑅𝐸 = 1𝐾Ω

From this, we get because, 𝐼𝐶 ≅ 𝐼𝐸 .

𝑅𝐸 = 1𝐾Ω

Design of 𝑹𝒄
𝑅𝐶 = (𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐶𝐸𝑄 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸 )/𝐼𝐶
10 − 5 − 0.7
𝑅𝐶 =
0.906

𝑅𝐶 ≈ 4.7𝐾Ω
 𝑅𝐶
= 4.7𝐾Ω

Design of voltage divider 𝑹𝟏 and 𝑹𝟐

Assume the current through 𝑅1 =20𝐼𝐵 and that through 𝑅2 =19𝐼𝐵 for a stable voltage across 𝑅1 and 𝑅2
independent of the variations of the base current.
𝑉𝑅2 = Voltage drop across𝑅2 = 𝑉𝐵𝐸 + 𝑉𝑅𝐸 i.e., 𝑉𝑅2 = 𝑉𝐵𝐸 + 𝑉𝑅𝐸 = 0.7 + 1.0 = 1.7 V.
𝑅1 = (𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 1.7)/20𝐼𝐵
1
𝑅1 = (𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 1.7)
1
20 ∗ C
β
1
𝑅1 = (10 − 1.7)
1
20 ∗ C
β
1
𝑅1 = (10 − 1.7)
0.906
20 ∗ 200
𝑅1 = 96.3𝐾Ω ≅ 100𝐾Ω

𝑅1 = 100𝐾Ω

𝑅2 = 20𝐾Ω
Design of coupling capacitors 𝑪𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝟐

𝑋𝐶1 should be less than the input impedance of the transistor. Here, 𝑅𝑖𝑛 is the series impedance. Then
𝑋𝐶1 ≤= 𝑅𝑖𝑛 /10. 𝑅𝑖𝑛 =𝑅1 ⎹⎹ 𝑅2
Here, because is 𝑅𝐸 bypassed.
We get 𝑅𝑖𝑛 = 100⎹⎹ 20.
𝑅𝑖𝑛 =16.67KΩ
1
𝐶1 =
2 ∗ 3.14 ∗ 𝑓 ∗ 𝑅𝑖𝑛
𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑓 = 1𝐾𝐻𝑧

1
𝐶1 =
2 ∗ 3.14 ∗ 1𝐾𝐻𝑧 ∗ 16.67𝐾Ω
𝐶1 = 𝐶2 = 0.59 ≅ 0.1µ𝐹
Design of bypass capacitors CE
To bypass the lowest frequency (say 100Hz), 𝑋𝐶𝐸 should be less than or equal to the resistance𝑅𝐸 . i.e.,
𝑋𝐶𝐸 ≤ 𝑅𝐸 /10 Then, 𝐶𝐸 ≈ 2µ𝐹
Frequency Input Voltage Output Voltage Voltage Gain
(KHz) VPP (mV) VO(V) AV=VO/Vpp
1 50 2.18 43.6
2 50 3.04 60.8
3 50 4.44 88.8
4 50 5.04 100.8
5 50 5.36 107.2
6 50 5.56 111.2
7 50 5.84 116.8
8 50 5.88 117.6
9 50 5.96 119.2
10 50 6.04 120.8
11 50 6.04 120.8
12 50 6.04 120.8
13 50 6.04 120.8
14 50 6.04 120.8
15 50 6.04 120.8
16 50 6.04 120.8
17 50 6.04 120.8
18 50 6.04 120.8
19 50 6.04 120.8
20 50 6.04 120.8
21 50 6.04 120.8
22 50 6.04 120.8
23 50 6.04 120.8
24 50 6.04 120.8
25 50 6.00 120.8
26 50 6.00 120.8
27 50 6.00 120.8
28 50 6.00 120.8
29 50 6.00 120.8
30 50 6.00 120..8
31 50 5.92 118.4
32 50 5.92 118.4
33 50 5.92 118.4
34 50 5.88 117.6
35 50 5.88 117.6
36 50 5.88 117.6
37 50 5.88 117.6
38 50 5.88 117.6
39 50 5.88 117.6
40 50 5.84 116.8
41 50 5.80 116
42 50 5.80 116
43 50 5.80 116
44 50 5.76 115.2
45 50 5.76 115.2
46 50 5.76 115.2
47 50 5.76 115.2
48 50 5.72 114.4
49 50 5.72 114.4
50 50 5.68 113.6
51 50 5.68 113.6
52 50 5.64 112.8
53 50 5.64 112..8
54 50 5.60 112
55 50 5.60 112
56 50 5.60 112
57 50 5.56 111.2
58 50 5.56 111.2
59 50 5.56 111.2
60 50 5.52 110.4
61 50 5.52 110.4
62 50 5.52 110.4
63 50 5.52 110.4
64 50 5.48 109.6
65 50 5.48 109..6
66 50 5.48 109..6
67 50 5.44 108.88
68 50 5.40 108
69 50 5.40 108
70 50 5.36 107.2
71 50 5.36 107.2
72 50 5.32 106.4
73 50 5.32 106.4
74 50 5.28 105.6
75 50 5.28 105.6
76 50 5.24 104.8
77 50 5.24 104.8
78 50 5.20 104
79 50 5.20 104
80 50 5.16 103..2
81 50 5.16 103.2
82 50 5.16 103.2
83 50 5.16 103.2
84 50 5.12 102.4
85 50 5.12 102.4
86 50 5.12 102..4
87 50 5.08 101.6
88 50 5.08 101.6
89 50 5.08 101.6
90 50 5.04 100.8
91 50 5.04 100.8
92 50 5.04 100.8
93 50 5.00 100
94 50 5.00 100
95 50 5.00 100
96 50 4.96 99.2
97 50 4.96 99.2
98 50 4.96 99.2
99 50 4.92 98.4
100 50 4.92 98.4
101 50 4.92 98.4
102 50 4.88 97.6
103 50 4.88 97.6
104 50 4.88 97.6
105 50 4.84 96.8
106 50 4.84 96.8
107 50 4.84 96.8
108 50 4.80 96
109 50 4.80 96
110 50 4.80 96
111 50 4.76 95.2
112 50 4.76 95.2
113 50 4.76 95.2
114 50 4.72 94.4
115 50 4.72 94.4
116 50 4.72 94.4
117 50 4.68 93.6
118 50 4.68 93.6
119 50 4.68 93.6
120 50 4.64 92.8
121 50 4.64 92.8
122 50 4.64 92.8
123 50 4.60 92
124 50 4.60 92
125 50 4.60 92
126 50 4.54 90.8
127 50 4.54 90.8
128 50 4.54 90.8
129 50 4.50 90
130 50 4.50 90
131 50 4.50 90
132 50 4.46 89.2
133 50 4.46 89.2
134 50 4.42 88.4
135 50 4.42 88.4
136 50 4.42 88.4
137 50 4.38 87.6
138 50 4.38 87.6
139 50 4.38 87.6
140 50 4.34 86.8
141 50 4.34 86.8
142 50 4.34 86.8
143 50 4.30 86
144 50 4.30 86
145 50 4.30 86
146 50 4.26 85.2
147 50 4.26 85.2
148 50 4.26 85.2
149 50 4.22 84.4
150 50 4.22 84.4
151 50 4.22 84.4
152 50 4.18 83.6
153 50 4.18 83.6
154 50 4.18 83.6
155 50 4.14 82.8
156 50 4.14 82.8
157 50 4.14 82.8
158 50 4.10 82
159 50 4.10 82
160 50 4.10 82
161 50 4.10 82
162 50 4.06 81.2
163 50 4.06 81.2
164 50 4.02 80.4
165 50 4.02 80.4
166 50 4.02 80.4
167 50 3.98 79.6
168 50 3.98 79.6
169 50 3.98 79.6
170 50 3.98 79.6
171 50 3.94 78.8
172 50 3.94 78.8
173 50 3.94 78.8
174 50 3.94 78.8
175 50 3.90 78
176 50 3.90 78
177 50 3.90 78
178 50 3.90 78
179 50 3.86 77.2
180 50 3.86 77.2
181 50 3.86 77.2
182 50 3.86 77.2
183 50 3.82 76.4
184 50 3.82 76.4
185 50 3.82 76.4
186 50 3.82 76.4
187 50 3.78 75.8
188 50 3.78 75.8
189 50 3.78 75.8
190 50 3.78 75.8
191 50 3.74 74.8
192 50 3.74 74.8
193 50 3.74 74.8
194 50 3.74 74.8
195 50 3.74 74.8
196 50 3.70 74
197 50 3.70 74
198 50 3.70 74
199 50 3.70 74
200 50 3.66 73.2
201 50 3.66 73.2
202 50 3.66 73.2
203 50 3.66 73.2
204 50 3.62 72.4
205 50 3.62 72.4
206 50 3.62 72.4
207 50 3.62 72.4
208 50 3.58 71.6
209 50 3.58 71.6
210 50 3.58 71.6
211 50 3.58 71.6
212 50 3.54 70.8
213 50 3.54 70.8
214 50 3.54 70.8
215 50 3.54 70.8
216 50 3.50 70
217 50 3.50 70
218 50 3.50 70
219 50 3.50 70
220 50 3.46 69.2
221 50 3.46 69.2
222 50 3.46 69.2
223 50 3.46 69.2
224 50 3.42 68.4
225 50 3.42 68.4
226 50 3.42 68.4
227 50 3.42 68.4
228 50 3.38 67.6
229 50 3.38 67.6
230 50 3.38 67.6
231 50 3.38 67.6
232 50 3.34 66.8
233 50 3.34 66.8
234 50 3.34 66.8
235 50 3.34 66.8
236 50 3.30 66
237 50 3.30 66
238 50 3.30 66
239 50 3.26 65.2
240 50 3.26 65.2
241 50 3.26 65.2
242 50 3.22 64.4
243 50 3.22 64.4
244 50 3.18 63.6
245 50 3.18 63.6
246 50 3.18 63.6
247 50 3.14 62.8
248 50 3.14 62.8
249 50 3.14 62.8
250 50 3.14 62.8
251 50 3.10 62
252 50 3.10 62
253 50 3.10 62
254 50 3.06 61.2
255 50 3.06 61.2
256 50 3.06 61.2
257 50 3.06 61.2
258 50 3.02 60.4
259 50 3.02 60.4
260 50 3.02 60.4
261 50 3.02 60.4
262 50 2.98 59.6
263 50 2.98 59.6
264 50 2.98 59.6
265 50 2.98 59.6
266 50 2.98 59.6
267 50 2.98 59.6
268 50 2.94 58.8
269 50 2.94 58.8
270 50 2.94 58.8
271 50 2.94 558.8
272 50 2.94 58.8
273 50 2.90 58
274 50 2.90 58
275 50 2.90 58
276 50 2.90 58
277 50 2.90 58
278 50 2.86 57.2
279 50 2.86 57.2
280 50 2.86 57.2
281 50 2.86 57.2
282 50 2.86 57.2
283 50 2.80 56
284 50 2.80 56
285 50 2.80 56
286 50 2.80 56
287 50 2.80 56
288 50 2.80 56
289 50 2.76 55.2
290 50 2.76 55.2
291 50 2.76 55.2
292 50 2.76 55.2
293 50 2.76 55.2
294 50 2.76 55.2
295 50 2.72 54.4
296 50 2.72 54.4
297 50 2.72 54.4
298 50 2.72 54.4
299 50 2.72 54.4
300 50 2.72 54.4
301 50 2.68 53.6
302 50 2.68 53.6
303 50 2.68 53.6
304 50 2.68 53.6
305 50 2.68 53.6
306 50 2.68 53.6
307 50 2.68 53.6
308 50 2.64 52.8
309 50 2.64 52.8
310 50 2.64 52.8
311 50 2.64 52.8
312 50 2.60 52
313 50 2.60 52
314 50 2.60 52
315 50 2.60 52
316 50 2.56 51.2
317 50 2.56 51.2
318 50 2.56 51.2
319 50 2.56 51.2
320 50 2.52 50.4
321 50 2.52 50.4
322 50 2.52 50.4
323 50 2.52 50.4
324 50 2.52 50.4
325 50 2.48 49.6
326 50 2.48 49.6
327 50 2.48 49.6
328 50 2.48 49.6
329 50 2.48 49.6
330 50 2.44 48.8
331 50 2.44 48.8
332 50 2.44 48.8
333 50 2.44 48.8
334 50 2.40 48
335 50 2.40 48
336 50 2.40 48
337 50 2.40 48
338 50 2.36 47.2
339 50 2.36 47.2
340 50 2.36 47.2
341 50 2.36 47.2
342 50 2.32 46.4
343 50 2.32 46.4
344 50 2.32 46.4
345 50 2.28 45.6
346 50 2.28 45.6
347 50 2.28 45.6
348 50 2.28 45.6
349 50 2.24 44.8
350 50 2.24 44.8
351 50 2.24 44.8
352 50 2.20 44
353 50 2.20 44
354 50 2.20 44
355 50 2.18 43.6
356 50 2.18 43.6
357 50 2.18 43.6