GAIN CONTROL OF TRANSISTOR

AMPLIFIERS:

TYPES OF AGC:

Peak (non keyed ) AGC

System

The average value of any video signal depends on

brightness of the scene besides signal strength and so is
not a true representation of the RF signal picked up at the
antenna.
For example, a dark scene would develop more AGC bias
as compared to a white one, the signal strength
remaining the same. This, if used to control the gain of
the receiver, would tend to make dark scenes more dark
and white ones more bright.
The amplitude of the sync level would change only if the
signal strength changes. The sync amplitude level, then
can serve as the true reference level of the strength of
the picked up signal. The system based on sampling the
sync tip levels is known as Peak AGC system.

A typical peak detector circuit is shown in Fig., where a

separate diode is used to rectify the signal which is fed to it
through capacitor C1 from the output of the last IF amplifier.
During positive half cycles of the modulated video signal,
diode D1 conducts and the capacitor C1 charges to peak
value of the input signal with the polarity marked across the
capacitor.
During periods other than sync pulse intervals the diode is
reverse biased and no current flows through it. However, the
capacitor tends to discharge through secondary winding of
the IF transformer and R1,the capacitor discharges only
partially and regains charge corresponding to the sync tip
(peak) amplitude on each successive sync pulse.
Thus the current that flows through R1 is proportional to the
peak value of the modulated video signal and the voltage
drop across it becomes the source of AGC bias

Drawbacks of non keyed AGC

system

In fringe areas noise pulses develop an additional

AGC voltage which tends to reduce the overall gain.
This effect is more pronounced for dark scenes. The
net effect is that S/N ratio further decreases and this
results in a lot of snow on the picture.
Even when the input signal strength is quite low, a
small AGC voltage gets developed and this reduces
the gain of the receiver, when actually, maximum
possible gain is desired for a satisfactory picture and
sound output.

To overcome these drawbacks special AGC circuits

known as keyed or gated AGC circuits have
been developed and are used in almost all
present day television receivers. The problem of
reduction of gain with weak input signals is
resolved by using delayed AGC action.

MERITS OF KEYED AGC SYSTEM

AGC voltage developed is a true representation

of the peak of fixed sync level and thus
corresponds to the actual incoming signal
strength.

Noise effects are minimized because conduction

is restricted to a small fraction of the total line
period.

NOISE CANCELLATION:

IF SUB-SYSTEMS EMPLOYING ICs

Video IF Sub-system CA 3068

The main sections of IC CA 3068 are:
(i) High gain wide-band IF amplifiers
(overall gain 87 db)
(ii) Keyed AGC with noise immunity circuits
(iii) Delayed AGC for the tuner
(iv) Video detector
(v) Video preamplifier
(vi) Intercarrier sound detector
(vii) Sound IF amplifier
(viii) Zener regulated dc reference source

Practical Video IF Circuit Using

CA 3068