Electronics: Linear Circuits and Devices

Example Paper 5/1 Solutions

(Homerton College Student Version)

Tianxin Lu

Gonville and Caius College

University of Cambridge

November 7, 2009

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

(i)
VCC − VBE 20 V − 0.7 V
R1 = = = 193 kΩ (1)
IB 100 µA
VCC − VCE 20 V − 10 V
R2 = = = 400 Ω (2)
IC 25 mA
VCC − VCE 20 V − 10 V
R3 = = = 398 Ω (3)
IB + IC 100 µA + 25 mA
VCE − VBE 10 V − 0.7 V
R4 = = = 93 kΩ (4)
IB 100 µA

(ii)

For output characteristic, the load line should pass the operating point
(10 V , 25 mA) and (20 V , 0 mA), and should intersect curves IB =50 µA
and IB0 =150 µA when VCE = 14 V and VCE 0
= 6.5 V , respectively. For input
characteristic, IB =50 µA and IB0 =150 µA correspond with VBE = 0.65 V
0
and VBE = 0.75 V . The voltage gain of the amplifier is
0
VCE − VCE 6.5 V − 14 V
G= 0
= = -75 (5)
VBE − VBE 0.75 V − 0.65 V

(i)

Draw a small signal equivalent circuit similar with that on page 14 of

notes. Note that dc supplies are earth for small signals.
Output resistance
1
1 400 Ω × 300 µS
RO = R2 k = 1 = 357 Ω (6)
hoe 400 Ω + 300 µS

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

remind that the unit siemens (S) for conductance is defined by S = Ω−1 .
Input voltage
v1 = ib hie (7)
Output voltage
v2 = −hf e ib RO (8)
Voltage gain
v2 hf e 250
G= =− RO = − × 357 Ω = -89 (9)
v1 hie 1 kΩ

(ii)

Output resistance
1
1 400 Ω × 300 µS
RO = R3 k = 1 = 357 Ω (10)
hoe 400 Ω + 300 µS

Input voltage
v1 = ib hie (11)
Output voltage
hf e RO
v2 = −hf e ib RO = − v1 (12)
hie
Input current
h R
v1 v1 − v2 v1 (1 + fheie O )v1
i1 = ib + i01 = + = + (13)
hie R4 hie R4
Input resistance

v1 1 1
RI = = = = 508 Ω (14)
i1 h R
(1+ fhe O ) 1 (1+ 250×357 Ω
)
1
+ ie
1 kΩ
+ 1 kΩ
93 kΩ
hie R4

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

(i)

Input voltage

vbe = hie ib1 + hie ib2 = hie [ib1 + (ib1 + hf e ib1 )] = hie ib1 (2 + hf e ) (15)

Base circuit resistance

vbe
Rb = = hie (2 + hf e ) (16)
ib1

(ii)

Output current

ic = hf e ib1 + hf e ib2 = hf e [ib1 + (ib1 + hf e ib1 )] = hf e ib1 (2 + hf e ) (17)

Current gain
ic
G= = hf e (2 + hf e ) (18)
ib1

The 270 kΩ resistance can be neglected in the input circuit, and the input
voltage at low frequency

v1 = ib (R1 + hie ) = (9 kΩ + 1 kΩ) × ib = 10 kΩ × ib (19)

Output voltage
1 1
v2 = −50ib ( k R3 k R4 ) = −50ib = −222 kΩ × ib
hoe 25 µS + 10 1kΩ + 1
10 kΩ
(20)
Voltage gain
v2
G= = -22 (21)
v1

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

(a)

Emitter current
30 V − VCE
IE = (22)
100 Ω
Base potential
VB = 30 V − VCE + 0.7 V = 30.7 V − VCE (23)
Therefore, base current
30 − VB VCE − 0.7 V
IB = = (24)
39 kΩ 39 kΩ
But IE = (1 + hf e )IB , and hence
30 V − VCE (1 + hf e )(VCE − 0.7 V )
= (25)
100 Ω 39 kΩ
1.17 × 106 + (1 + hf e ) × 70
VCE = (26)
3.9 × 104 + (1 + hf e ) × 100
Because hf e is in the range of 100 - 500, VCE is in the range of 13.1 - 23.8 V .

(b)

For the circuit of 5(b) with Thevenin equivalent of the base bias circuit,
input resistance
7.7 kΩ × 5.4 kΩ
RI = 7.7 kΩ k 5.4 kΩ = = 3.2 kΩ (27)
7.7 kΩ + 5.4 kΩ
5.4 kΩ
V = 30 V = 12.3 V (28)
7.7 kΩ + 5.4 kΩ
Since IE = (1 + hf e )IB similar with 5(a),
30 − VCE (1 + hf e )[V − (30 V − VCE + 0.7 V )]
= (29)
100 Ω R

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

9.6 × 104 + 100(1 + hf e ) × 18.4

VCE = (30)
3.2 × 103 + (1 + hf e ) × 100
Because hf e is in the range of 100 - 500, VCE is in the range of 19.1 - 21.2 V .

In a small signal model, we first omit the bias resistors, and will combine
them later. In current model, the sum currents at the emitter
0 − v2
hf e ib + ib + =0 (31)
RE
where base current
v1 − v2
ib = (32)
hie
Combining the above two equations and eliminating v2 , we have the input
resistance looking into the base
v1
RI0 = = hie + (1 + hf e )RE = 21.1 kΩ (33)
ib
In the circuit of 5(a), this is in parallel with a bias resistor of 39 kΩ, so the
input resistance is 39 kΩ k 21.1 kΩ = 13.7 kΩ . In the circuit of 5(b), this is
in parallel with a bias network of resistance of 3.2 kΩ, so the input resistance
is 39 kΩ k 3.2 kΩ = 2.76 kΩ .

This differential amplifier has differential inputs and outputs, so the dif-
ferential gain is
v3 − v4
AD = (34)
v1 − v2
However, as the circuit is balanced, it is only necessary to consider vv31 or vv24 .

For a pure differential input, the voltage at the top of R5 stays constant,
so the ‘half circuit’ approach can be used. At the output

v3 = −hf e ib R3 (35)

At the input
v1 = hie ib + R1 (ib + hf e ib ) (36)

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

Combining the above two equations gives

v3 R hf e
AD = = − hie +R31 (1+hf e)
(37)
v1

For common-mode signals, i.e. v1 = v2 , the current changes equally in both

transistors so analysis is possible by splitting R5 into two parallel resistors
each of 2R5 .At the output
v3 = −hf e ib R3 (38)
At the input
v1 = hie ib + (R1 + 2R5 )(ib + hf e ib ) (39)
Combining the above two equations gives
v3 R3 hf e
ACM = = − hie +(R1 +2R 5 )(1+hf e )
(40)
v1
If R5 = 0, this reduces to AD as expected.

The common mode rejection ratio, CMRR, is

AD hie + (R1 + 2R5 )(1 + hf e )

CM RR = = = 365 (41)
ACM hie + R1 (1 + hf e )

Note the role of R5 in setting the CMRR.

The input impedance for differential signals is that seen between the input
terminals 1 and 2. However, this is simply twice the value obtained using
the ‘half-circuit’ approach.
v1
RI = = hie + (hf e + 1)R1 (42)
ib
(for ‘half circuit’ from equation (36)). Therefore,

RI (D) = 2RI = 2[hie + (hf e + 1)R1 ] = 22.1 kΩ (43)

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T. Lu Homerton College Engineering Tripos 1B Supervision

The voltage across a Zener diode remains very nearly constant over a
wide range of current. In this circuit the Zener diode sets the base voltage
constant. Provided that the base emitter voltage VBE is sensibly constant,
the voltage across R4 will be constant, giving a constant emitter current.
Stability against changes in VBE is helped by making the voltage across R4
several times VBE . If the base current of the transistor is small, a constant
emitter current translates into a constant collector current.
5 V − 0.7 V
I= = 4.3 mA (44)
1 kΩ
The current can be analysed by applying a test voltage vx at the collector.
The Zener diode is a short circuit for small signals. At the collector
vE − vx
1 − hf e ib + ix = 0 (45)
hoe

At the emitter
vx − vE VE
hf e ib + ib + 1 − =0 (46)
hoe
R4
Also, ib = − −V
RB
E
. Combining the above equations gives

vx 1 hf e R4 hie R4
= (1 + )+ (47)
ix hoe hie + R4 hie + R4
1 hf e R4
As hoe
>> 1, and hie +R4
>> 1

hf e R4
RO ≈ = 0.33M Ω (48)
hoe (hie + R4 )

If this circuit were used to replace R5 in Fig. 6, the CMRR would be greatly
increased.