EKT 204

ANALOGUE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS

Cascaded Amplifiers
Syllabus

Cascade connection, cascode connection, Darlington

connection, transformer coupling.

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 CASCADED AMPLIFIERS
PART I
BJT AMPLIFIERS

ACKNOLEDGEMENT

The materials presented in these notes were partly taken from the
original notes “MULSTISTAGE AMPLIFIERS” by ENCIK SOHIFUL
ANUAR BIN ZAINOL MURAD, School of Microelectronic

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

 Many applications cannot be handled with single-

transistor amplifiers in order to meet the
specification of a given amplification factor, input
resistance and output resistance

 As a solution – transistor amplifier circuits can be

connected in series or cascaded amplifiers

 This can be done either to increase the overall

small-signal voltage gain or provide an overall
voltage gain greater than 1 with a very low output
resistance

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
(i) Cascade /RC coupling

. . .

R C1 RB R C2
.
vo

Q2
C
vi . Q1

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
(ii) Cascode
. .

R1 RL
. vo

Q2

R2

vi .
Q1

R3

5
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
(iii) Direct coupling

. .

R1 R2

. vo

Q2

vi .
Q1

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
(iv) Transformer coupling

. vo
T Q2

R1

vi .
Q1

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
i) Cascade connection

RC coupling

- Coupling capacitor couples the signal from one stage

to another stage and block dc voltage from one
stage to another stage.

- The signal developed across the collector resistor

of each stage is coupled into the base of the next
stage

- The overall gain = product of the individual gain

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
i) Cascade connection

Example 1
V CC +20 V b 1 = b 2 = 200
ro1 = ro2 = 
RC1 R3 RC2
R1 2.2 kW 15 kW 2.2 kW
15 kW

Ro

Ri
R2 R4
4.7 kW RE1 4.7 kW RE2
1 kW 1 kW

Draw the AC equivalent circuit and calculate Av, Ri and Ro. 9

 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 – Solution

V CC +20 V

DC analysis
R1 RC1
15 kW 2.2 kW
The circuit under DC
condition (stage 1 and
stage 2 are identical) Q1

R2 RE1
4.7 kW 1 kW

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

Applying Thevenin’s theorem, the V CC 20 V

circuit becomes;
4.7 RC1
VBB = VCC = 4.7 V V BB
(4.7 + 15) 4.77 V 2.2 kW
15(4.7) bIB
RBB = 15 4.7 = = 3.57 KW R BB
(15 + 4.7)
IB 3.58 kW
(1+b )I B
I BQ1 = I BQ 2 = 19.89 μA RE1
I CQ1 = I CQ2 = 3.979 mA 1 kW

r 1 = r 2 = 1.307 kW
11
12
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d) AC analysis
The small-signal equivalent circuit (mid-band);
RB 2 = R3 // R4
RB1 = R1 // R2

RB1 = RB 2 = R3 // R4 = 15k // 4.7k = 3.579 kW

RC1 // RB 2 // hie 2 = 2.2k // 3.579k // 1.307k = 667 W

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)
Voltage gain of each stage:

(RC || R1 || R2 || β1r' e1)

Av1 = 
r' e1

(2.2kW || 15kW || 4.7kW || (200)(6.5 W)

Av1 =  = 102.3
6.5W

RC2 2.2kΩ
Av2 =  = = 338.46
re2 6.5Ω

The cascaded amplifier gain (Total gain) :

Av = Av1 * Av2 = (-102.3)(-338.46) = 34,624

The output voltage:

Vo = Av * Vi = (34,624)(.025mV) = 0.866V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

The input resistance;

Rin = RB1 // r 1 = 3.579 // 1.307 = 0.957 kW

The output resistance;

Ro = RC 2 = 2.2 kW

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Direct couple (DC) The first stage is directly coupled to
the next stage without going through
a coupling capacitor

A common-emitter stage
driving another common-
emitter stage

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Direct couple (DC)

The biasing network must be

be suitably designed otherwise
the dc bias of one stage will
upset the bias voltage of the
other

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2

Perform a dc analysis
and hence calculate the
voltage gain Av where;

vo
Av =
vs

Assume b1 = 170, b2 =
150 and VBE(ON) = 0.7 V.
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Direct couple (DC)

A common-emitter driving an
emitter-follower.

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 To find VBB use SUPER POSITION METHOD

 R2   R1 
VBB = VCC   + VEE  
 R1 + R2   R1 + R2 
 50k   100k 
= 5  + ( 5) 
 150k   150k 
=  1.667

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 - Solution
V CC +5 V
DC analysis
I1
RE2 2 kW
R1 R2
RBB = = 33.3 kW RC1 5 kW
R1 + R2 IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
 R2   R1 
VBB = VCC   + VEE   VE1 RC2 1.5 kW
 R1 + R2   R1 + R2  V BB IE1
 50k   100k 
= 5  + ( 5)  RE1 2 kW
 150k   150k 
=  1.667
V EE -5 V 21
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

The base-emitter loop of Q1 I1

RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW
VBB + RBB I B1 + VBE1 IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1
+ RE1 I E1 + VEE = 0 IB1 IC1
Q2
R BB VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
Rearranging; VE1 RC2 1.5 kW
V BB IE1

RBB I B1 + (b1 + 1)RE1 I B1 RE1 2 kW

= VBB  VEE  VBE1 V EE -5 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

Substituting values; I1
RE2 2 kW
33.3 103 I B1 RC1 5 kW
VE2 IE2

+ (170 + 1)2 103 I B1

IB2
VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
= 1.667 + 5  0.7 VB1
Q1
VC2 IC2

VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW
I B1 = 7 A V BB
RE1 2 kW
I C1 = b1I B1 = 1.19 mA
V EE -5 V
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

I E1 = (b1 + 1)I B1 = 1.197 mA I1

RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW IE2
VE2
VB1 = VBB  RBB I B1 = 1.9 V IB2
VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
VE1 = RE1 I E1 + VEE VB1
Q1
VC2 IC2

= 2.606 V VE1 RC2 1.5 kW

V BB IE1

RE1 2 kW

V EE -5 V
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d) V CC +5 V

For the RC1 – collector of Q1 I1

– base of Q2 – RE2 loop; RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW IE2
VE2
IB2
RE 2 I E 2 + VEB 2 = RC1I1 VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
I 1 = I C1  I B 2
VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW
V BB
and RE1 2 kW
I E 2 = (b 2 + 1)I B 2
V EE -5 V

(b 2 + 1)RE 2 I B 2 + VEB 2 = RC1 ( I C1  I B 2 )

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V
Substituting values;
I1
(150 + 1)2 103 I B 2 + 0.7 RE2 2 kW

( 3
= 5 10 1.19 10  I B 2
3
) RC1 5 kW
IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
I B 2 = 17 μA VB1
Q1
VC2 IC2

VE1 RC2 1.5 kW

I C 2 = b 2 I B 2 = 2.565 mA V BB IE1

RE1 2 kW

V EE -5 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

I E 2 = (b 2 + 1)I B 2 = 2.582 mA I1
RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW IE2
I1 = I C1  I B 2 = 1.19  0.017
VE2
IB2
VC1 Q2
= 1.173 mA IB1 R BB IC1
VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
VC1 = VCC  RC1 I1 V BB
VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW

= 5  5 1.173 RE1 2 kW
= 0.865 V
V EE -5 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V
VE 2 = VCC  RE 2 I E 2 I1
= 5  2  2.582 RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW
= 0.164 V IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1 Q2
VC 2 = RC 2 I C 2 + VEE IB1 R BB VB1
IC1
VC2 IC2
Q1
= 1.5  2.565  5
VE1 RC2 1.5 kW
= 1.175 V V BB IE1

RE1 2 kW

V EE -5 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

AC analysis

 V 2 Vo
A1  A2 
Vs  V 2
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 2
V 2 = g m1V 1 (RC1 // r 2 ) =  g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )
V 1

 Rin  V 1 Rin
V 1 = Vs   =
 RS + Rin  Vs RS + Rin
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 2  V 2 V 1  Rin 
A1 = =  =  g m1 (RC1 // r 2 ) 
Vs V 1 Vs  RS + Rin 

=  g m 2 (RC 2 // RL )
Vo
Vo = g m 2V 2 (RC 2 // RL ) A2 =
 V 2
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 Rin 
A = A1 A2 =  g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )  g m 2 (RC 2 // RL )
 RS + Rin 

 Rin 
A = g m1 g m 2  (RC1 // r 2 )(RC 2 // RL )
 RS + Rin  32
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

Substituting values;

I C1 1.19
g m1 = = = 45.77 mA/V
VT 26
VT 26
r 1 = b1 = 170  = 3714 W
I C1 1.19 33
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

I C 2 2.565
gm2 = = = 98.65 mA/V
VT 26
VT 26
r 2 = b 2 = 150  = 1520 W
IC 2 2.565

Rin = R1 // R2 // r 1 = 100 // 50 // 3.714 = 3.342 kW 34

 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 Rin 
A = g m1 g m 2  (RC1 // r 2 )(RC 2 // RL )
 RS + Rin 

 3.342 
= 45.77  98.65 (5 // 1.52)(1.5 // 5)
 0.5 + 3.342 
A = 5286 V/V 35
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3

Determine;
(a) Q-points
(b) Av;
(c) Ri;
(d) Ro.

The parameters for

Q1 and Q2 are;
b = 125; VBE(on) =
0.7 V; ro = .

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution

DC analysis

The circuit under DC condition:

Applying Thevenin’s
theorem at the input;

RBB = R1 // R2

70  6
= = 5.53 kW
70 + 6
 6 
VBB = 10   5 = 4.21 V
 70 + 6  37
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The circuit becomes as shown;

Taking the loop VBB – B1 –

E1 – V–;

RBB I B1 + (1 + b )RE1
= VBB  V   VBE1

Substituting values;

5.53I B1 + (1 + 125) 0.2 I B1

= 4.21 + 5  0.7
I B1 = 2.93A 38
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

I C1 = bI B1 = 125  2.93A
= 0.366 mA

I E1 = (1 + b )I B1
= 125  2.93A
= 0.369 mA

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Taking the loop V+ – RC1 – B2 –

E2 – RE2 – V–;

I 3 RC1 + VBE 2 + I E 2 RE 2
= V + V 
But;
I 3 = I C1 + I B 2

and;

I E 2 = (1 + b )I B 2
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Hence;

(I C1 + I B 2 )RC1 + (1 + b )I B 2 RE 2
= V +  V   VBE 2

Substituting values;

(0.366 + I B 2 )5 + (1 + 125)I B 2 1.5

= 5 + 5  0.7
Or;
I B 2 = 38.5 A 41
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Hence;

I C 2 = bI B 2 = 125  38.5 A
= 4.81 mA

I E 2 = (1 + b )I B 2
= (1 + 125) 38.5 A
= 4.85 mA
and;

I 3 = I C1 + I B 2 = 0.366 + 0.0385
= 0.405 mA 42
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

VC1 = V +  I 3 RC1
= 5  0.405  5
= 2.98 V

VE1 = I E1 RE1 + V 
= 0.369  0.2  5
= 4.93 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

VC 2 = V + = 5 V

VE 2 = I E 2 RE 2 + V 
= 4.85 1.5  5
= 2.28 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

VCE1 = VC1  VE1

= 2.98 + 4.93
= 7.91 V

VCE 2 = VC 2  VE 2
= 5  2.28
= 2.72 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

(a) The Q-points are;

I C1 = 0.366 mA;
VCE1 = 7.91 V

and;

I C 2 = 4.81 mA;
VCE 2 = 2.72 V

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The circuit under ac condition 47

 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

48
Small–signal equivalent circuit
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

bVT 125  0.026

r 1 = = = 8.88 kW
I C1 0.000366

I C1 0.000366
g m1 = = = 14.08 mA/V
VT 0.026

bVT 125  0.026

r 2 = = = 0.676 kW
IC 2 0.00481

I C 2 0.00481
gm2 = = = 185 mA/V
VT 0.026
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 2 
Vo =  + g mV 2 (RE 2 // RL )
 r 2 

= (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
V 2
r 2

Vo ' = V + Vo

= V 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
V 2
r 2

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The voltage gain of the

second stage is;

Vo
Av 2 =
Vo '

(1 + b )(RE 2 // RL ) V 2
r 2
=
V 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
V 2
r 2

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The voltage gain of the

second stage is;

=
(1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
r 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )

Substituting values;

Av 2 =
(1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
0.676 + (1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
= 0.996 52
 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Rib 2 = r 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
= 0.676 + (1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
= 165 kW

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 1 
Vs = V 1 +  + g m1V 1  RE1
 r 1 

Vo ' =  g m1V 1 (RC1 // Rib 2 )

Vo '
Av1 =
Vs

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

 g m1 (RC1 // Rib 2 )
=
 1 
1 +  + g m1  RE1
 r 1 

b (RC1 // Rib 2 )
Av1 = 
r 1 + (1 + b )RE1

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Substituting values;

(b) b (RC1 // Rib 2 )

Av1 = 
r 1 + (1 + b )RE1
125(5 // 165)
= = 17.8
8.88 + (1 + 125) 0.2

Av = Av1  Av 2 = 17.8  0.996 = 17.7

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
EXERCISE 1

The parameters for each transistor in FIG. E1 are b = 100, VA =  and

VBE = 0.7 V.
(a) Determine the small-signal parameters gm, r and ro for both
transistors.
(b) Determine the small-signal voltage gain Av1 for stage 1 and Av2 for
stage 2 separately, where
vo1 vo
Av1 = and Av 2 =
vs vo1
(Assume the output of stage 1 is open to determine Av1)
(c) Determine the overall small-signal voltage gain Av, where;

vo
Av =
vs
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 CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER
EXERCISE 1 (cont’d)

FIG. E1
59