BENE 3143: SYSTEM ELECTRONICS 2

Power Amplifier

Outline
Introduction The class A amplifier The class B and class AB Push-Pull amplifier The class C amplifier

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Outline

Introduction
A power amplifier is designed to deliver a large amount of power to the load. To perform this function, a power amplifier must itself be capable of dissipating large amount of power.
POWER

AMPLIFIER
LOAD
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 It must so designed that the heat generated when it is operated at high current and voltage levels is released into the surroundings at a rate fast enough to prevent destructive temperature buildup.

HEAT RELEASE

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 Consequently, power amplifiers typically contain bulky component s having large surface areas to enhance heat transfer to environment. A power amplifier is often the last, or output, stage of an amplifier system. The preceding stages may be designed to provide amplification, to provide buffering to a high impedance signal source, or to modify signal characteristics in some predictable way.
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 Power amplifier are widely used in audio component such as radio and television receivers, phonographs and tape players, stereo and high fidelity system, recording-studio equipment, and public address system.

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 The load of these applications is most often a loudspeaker (speaker) which requires considerable power to convert electrical signal to sound waves.

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Sound Test Room!

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 It also used in electromechanical control system to drive electric motors. Example include computer disk and tape drives, robotic manipulators, autopilots, antenna rotator

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 One important aspect in the design power amplifiers is that it delivers a specified power to the load efficiently.

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Outline

Power amplifiers are classified according to the percent time the output transistors are conducting, or turn on.

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point 2 load lines Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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Class A operation
A power amplifier is a large signal amplifier that produces a replica of the input signal on its output. In the case shown here, the output is an inverted replica of the input.
Vin 0 Vout 0

Av

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 Output is shown 180o out of phase with the input (inverted)

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 The output of a class A amplifier conducts for the full 360 of the cycle.

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point 2 load lines Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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Heat Dissipation and Centered Q-point

A class A power amplifier is a large signal amplifier that operates in the linear region. Ideally, a class A amplifier is designed to operate in the center of the ac load line.
IC Ic(sat) AC load line ICQ Q DC load line
Notice that a class A amplifier dissipates dc power even with no signal. The dc power dissipated is the product of ICQ and VCEQ.

VCEQ

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VCE

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The Q-point is set at the middle of the load line so that the AC signal can swing a full cycle.

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 If the Q-point is not centered on the ac load line, the output signal will be limited

a) Amplitude limited by cutoff

b) Transistor driven into cutoff with an increase of the input amplitude

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 Here is shown when the Q-point is moved away from center towards saturation.

a) Amplitude Vce and Ic limited by saturation

b) Transistor driven into saturation by a further Sadhiqin 2011 increase in input amplitude

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point 2 load lines Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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2 Load Lines

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point 2 load lines Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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Power Gain
A power amplifier delivers power to the load. The power gain of an amplifier is the ratio of the output power (power delivered to the load) to the input power.

PL Ap Pin

Ap is the power gain PL is signal power delivered to the load Pin is signal power delivered to the amplifier
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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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DC Quiescent Power
The power dissipation of transistor with no signal input is the product of its Q-point current and voltage.

PDQ I CQVCEQ

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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Output Power
The maximum power from a class A amplifier is

Pout(max) 0.5ICQVC EQ

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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Efficiency
The ratio of the output signal power supplied to a load to the total power from the dc supply

Po(ac) Pi(dc)

100%

%max 0.25 25%

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Increase Efficiency with Transformer Coupling

By using the transformer coupling, the efficiency can be increased by 50% but there are several drawbacks such as:
Size of transformers Cost of transformers Potential distortion problems once the transformer begins to saturate

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Outline

Class A Amplifier
Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
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Example 1
Determine the voltage gain and the power gain of the class A power amplifier below:

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Example 2
Determine the efficiency of the same power amplifier

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Example 3
Figure below shows a CE power amplifier in which the collector resistor serves also as the load resistor. Assume
DC ac 100
a) Determine the dc Qpoint (ICQ and VCEQ) b) Determine the voltage gain and the power gain.
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c) The power dissipated in the transistor with no load d) The total power from the power supply with no load e) The signal power in the load with a 500mV input

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Example 4
Determine each Q-point for each amplifier below:

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Example 5
Find the maximum output signal power to the load and efficiency for the amplifier in the figure below with a 500 resistor.

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Example 6
Calculate the input power, output power, and efficiency of the amplifier circuit below for and input voltage that results in a base current of 10mA peak.

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End of Class A Amplifier

Class A operation Heat dissipation and Centered Q-Point Power Gain DC Quiescent Power Output Power Efficiency Examples
Back to outline
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