BJT Amplifiers

Amplifiers
Are devices that have the ability to amplify a relatively small input signal, into a much larger output signal. An ideal amplifier has three main properties, Input Resistance or ( Rin ), Output Resistance or ( Rout ) and of course amplification known commonly as Gain or ( A ).

Ideal amplifier model

Gain
It is the difference between the input and output signals and is basically a measure of how much an amplifier "amplifies" the input signal. It has no units but is given the symbol "A", which can be simply calculated as the output signal divided by the input signal.

Amplifier Gain
The gain of an amplifier can be said to be the relationship that exists between the signal measured at the output with the signal measured at the input. The multiplication factor relating the magnitude of the output signal to the input signal.

Amplifier gain of the input signal

3 kinds of amplifier Gain

Voltage Gain (Av) the ratio of the output voltage to input voltage. Current Gain (Ai) the ratio of the output current to input current. Power Gain (Ap) the ratio of the output power to input power.

Voltage amplifier Gain

Output Voltage Vout Voltage Gain (A) = = Input Voltage Vin

Current amplifier Gain

Output Current Iout Current Gain (A) = = Input Current Iin

Power amplifier Gain

Output Power
Power Gain (A) = =

Pout Pin

Input Power
Or simply Ap = Ai x Av

Gain can also be expressed in Decibels (dB)

Voltage Gain in dB: av = 20 log Av Current Gain in dB: ai = 20 log Ai Power Gain in dB: ap = 10 log Ap
Gain positive value of dB Loss negative value of dB

Basic BJT Amplifier Configurations

Common Emitter Configuration Common Base Configuration Common Collector Configuration

Common Emitter Configuration

Common Base Configuration

Common Collector Configuration

AMPLIFIER GAIN

CONFIGURATON
COMMON BASE COMMON EMITTER MEDIUM
COMMON COLLECTOR

CURRENT GAIN

LOW

HIGH

POWER GAIN

LOW

HIGH

MEDIUM

VOLTAGE GAIN

HIGH

MEDIUM

LOW

Example 1
Determine the Voltage, Current and Power Gain of an amplifier that has an input signal of 1mA at 10mV and a corresponding output signal of 10mA at 1V. Also, express all three gains in decibels, (dB).

Example 2
An amplifier has an input impedance of 50 ohms and drives a load of 50 ohms. When its input (Vin) is 1 volt, its output (Vout) is 10 volts. What are its voltage gain, current gain and power gain?

characteristics of an ideal
amplifier
The amplifiers gain, ( A ) should remain constant for varying values of input signal. Gain is not be affected by frequency. Signals of all frequencies must be amplified by exactly the same amount. The amplifiers gain must not add noise to the output signal. It should remove any noise that is already exists in the input signal.

characteristics of an ideal
amplifier cont.
The amplifiers gain should not be affected by changes in temperature giving good temperature stability. The gain of the amplifier must remain stable over long periods of time.

The Formula Wheel of Electrical Engineering