Chapter 3

26/01/2024
TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL AND
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DESIGN 2

CODE: 402060
Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers
Nguyen Huu Khanh Nhan, PhD.
OBJECTIVES
19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 2
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OBJECTIVES
 The classification of amplifier output stages on the basis of

the fraction of the cycle of an input sine wave during which
the transistor conducts.
 Analysis and design of a variety of output-stage types
ranging from the simple but power-inefficient emitter follower
class (class A) to the popular push-pull class AB circuit in
bipolar technologies.
 Transistor considerations in the design and fabrication of
high-output power circuits.
 Useful and interesting circuit techniques employed in the
design of power amplifiers.
 Special types of MOS transistors optimized for high-power
applications.
CHAPTER 3. AUDIO POWER

AMPLIFIERS
3.1. Introduction and Classification of Output Stages
3.2. Class A Output Stage
3.2.1. Operation and Characteristics
3.2.2. Power Dissipation
3.3. Class B Output Stage

3.4. Class AB Output Stage

3.4.1. Operation
3.4.2. Biasing the Class AB Circuit
3.5. Variations on the Class B and AB Configuration
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3.1. INTRODUCTION AND

CLASSIFICATION OF OUTPUT STAGES
 One important aspect of an amplifier is output
resistance.
 This affects its ability to deliver a load without loss of
gain (or significant loss).
 Large signals are of interest and small-signal models
cannot be applied.
Amplifier Output Circuit Model


Total harmonic distortion is good measure of linearity
of output stage.
 Most challenging aspect of output stage design is

efficiency.
Power dissipation is highly correlated to internal

junction temperature.
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 Output stages are classified according to collector
current waveform that results when input signal is applied.
Class A Class B
Class AB Class C

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3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE
402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers

With => short circuit in DC and open circuit in AC.
 Analysis with DC
 Analysis with AC
with
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 Maxswing condition
ICmax=
With
iC  I cm sin .t
when
iL  I Lm sin .t   I cm sin .t
Selected
If Q is a middle point of ACLL
ILm = Icm,max = min{ICmax – ICQ, ICQ}

Ignore Re usually is small, VCEQ ~ VCC don’t depend on ICQ
VCC
I CQ
RL
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7/7/2012 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers
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 The total average supply power
2
VCC  Average power dissipation
PCC  VCC I CQ 
RL 2
VCC I2 R
PC  PCC  PL   cm L
 The average load power RL 2
2 2 2
I Lm RL I Cm RL VCC
PL   PC ,min 
2 2 2 RL
2 2
I CQ RL VCC 2
VCC
PL ,max   PC ,max   VCEQ I CQ
2 2 RL RL
 The power-conversion efficiency  Applied factor
2
PL I 2 ( R / 2)  1  I cm 
  Cm L  
PCC VCC I CQ  2  I CQ 
1
 max   50%
2

Applied for integrated circuit
 Output voltage
 Maximum Output voltage
 Minimum Output voltage
or
 Bias current
An emitter follower (Q1) biased with a

constant current I supplied by transistor Q2
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3.2.2. Power Dissipation With Signal Waveforms

 The power-conversion efficiency
 The average load power
 Peak output voltage
can be combined to yield
The maximum efficiency attainable is 25%

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3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

iL  N iC1  iC 2 
402002 - Mạch khuếch đại công suất âm tần 18

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 Circuit Operation
(OTL – Output
Transformer Less)

 Circuit Operation
(OCL – Output
Capacitor Less)
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 Circuit Operation (OCL – Output
Capacitor Less)
 vi is zero?
 vi goes positive and
exceeds about 0.7 V?
 vi goes negative by
more than about 0.7 V?
=> We conclude that =>
push pull?

 Circuit Operation (OCL – Output Capacitor Less)
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 Transfer Characteristic From S. Sedra & C. Smith [2014],

Microelectronic circuits, 7th edition,
Oxford University Press.

 Transfer Characteristic From S. Sedra & C. Smith [2014],
crossover distortion.
Illustrating how the dead band

in the class B transfer
characteristic results in
crossover distortion.
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 The power-conversion efficiency
 The average load power
 The average power drawn from

each of the two power supplies
The maximum average power

available from a class B

 The average power drawn from
each of the two power supplies
explain
T /2
1 1
PCC VCC . iC1 (t )dt VCC .I cm
T 0
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 The Transistor average power

dissipation:
 The average power dissipation:
 The value of which corresponds

to max average power dissipation:
 Max average power dissipation:

From S. Sedra & C. Smith [2014],

Power dissipation of the class B output stage versus

amplitude of the output sinusoid.
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 Reducing Crossover Distortion
• Crossover distortion of class B output stage may be
reduced substantially:
– Employing High-gain Op-amp
– Overall Negative Feedback
• 0.7V dead band is reduced to 0.7/A0.
• Slew-rate limitation of op-amp will cause alternate
turning on and off of output transistors to be noticeable
• More practical solution is class AB stage.

 Reducing Crossover Distortion
Class B circuit with an op amp connected in a

negative-feedback loop to reduce crossover distortion.
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3.4. CLASS AB OUTPUT STAGE

3.4.1. Operation
• Crossover distortion can
be virtually eliminated
by biasing the
complementary output
transistor with small
nonzero current.
• A bias voltage VBB is
applied between QN and
QP.
=> For vi =0, v0 =0, and a voltage VBB/2 appears across
the base–emitter junction of each of QN and QP
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3.4.1. Operation
 output voltage:
 current IN :
 current IQ =

3.4.1. Operation From S. Sedra & C. Smith [2014],
Transfer characteristic of the class AB stage

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3.4.1. Operation Output Resistance
 Output resistance:
 Small-signal emitter resistance N:
 Small-signal emitter resistance P:
At larger load currents, either iN

or iP will be significant, Rout
decreases as the load current
increases.
where reN and reP are the small-signal emitter
resistances of QN and QP, respectively.

3.4.2. Biasing the Class AB Circuit Biasing Using Diodes
• Figure shows class AB circuit
with bias voltage VBB.
• Constant current IBIAS is passed
through pair of diodes D1 and
D2.
• In circuits that supply large
amounts of power, the output
transistors are large-geometry
devices.
• Biasing diodes, however, need
not be large.
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3.4.2. Biasing the Class AB Circuit
 Biasing Using the VBE Multiplier
A discrete-circuit class AB output

stage with a potentiometer used in A class AB output stage utilizing a
the VBE multiplier. VBE multiplier for biasing.
 Use of Compound Devices
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A class AB output stage

utilizing a Darlington npn and
a compound pnp. Biasing is
obtained using a VBE
multiplier.
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BTL = Balanced Transformer Less
BTL = Balanced Transformer Less
TDA8567Q
Audio Power Amplifier with power output 800W 4  25 W BTL quad car radio power amplifier
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SUMMARY
Operation of power
amplifier circuits
DC Power
Dissipation
Audio Classification
AC Power
Power of Output
Dissipation
Amplifiers Stages
TST Power
Dissipation
Efficiency and
useful factor
HOMEWORKS
From S. Sedra & C. Smith [2014], Microelectronic

circuits, 7th edition, Oxford University Press.
 HWs are problems

- Section 12.2 (pp.983)
- Section 12.3 (pp.983)
- Section 12.4 (pp.984)
- Section 12.5 (pp.985)
 Reading assignment: 17.1 (pp. 1292) to 17.6
(pp. 1322)
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nguyenhuukhanhnhan@tdtu.edu.vn
23

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26/01/2024

TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DESIGN 2

Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers

Nguyen Huu Khanh Nhan, PhD.

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 2

 The classification of amplifier output stages on the basis of

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 3

CHAPTER 3. AUDIO POWER

3.3. Class B Output Stage

3.4. Class AB Output Stage

3.1. INTRODUCTION AND

Amplifier Output Circuit Model

3.1. INTRODUCTION AND

 Most challenging aspect of output stage design is

Power dissipation is highly correlated to internal

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 6

3.1. INTRODUCTION AND

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 7

3.1. INTRODUCTION AND

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 8

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

 Maximum Output voltage

 Minimum Output voltage

An emitter follower (Q1) biased with a

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 14

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 15

3.2. CLASS A OUTPUT STAGE

 The average load power

 The total average supply power

 Peak output voltage

can be combined to yield

The maximum efficiency attainable is 25%

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 17

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

402002 - Mạch khuếch đại công suất âm tần 18

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 19

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 20

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 21

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 22

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

 Transfer Characteristic From S. Sedra & C. Smith [2014],

19/11/2015 402060 – Chapter 3. Audio Power Amplifiers 23

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

Illustrating how the dead band

3.3. CLASS B OUTPUT STAGE

 The average load power

 The average power drawn from

The maximum average power