Low Frequency

Response of BJT
Presenter: Aqsa Aziz
Physics-V

When
Whenfrequency
frequencyisislow
lowenough,
enough,the
thecoupling
couplingand
and
bypass
bypasscapacitors
capacitorscan
canno
nolonger
longerbebeconsidered
consideredasas
shorts
because
their
reactances
are
large
enough
to
shorts because their reactances are large enough to
have
havesignificant
significanteffect.
effect.Also,
Also,when
whenthe
thefrequency
frequencyisis
high
highenough,
enough,the
theinternal
internaltransistor
transistorcapacitances
capacitancescan
canno
no
longer
longerbebeconsidered
consideredasasopens
opensbecause
becausetheir
theirreactances
reactances
become
becomesmall
smallenough
enoughtotohave
havesignificant
significanteffect
effecton
onthe
the
amplifier
operation.
This
is
called
the
frequency
amplifier operation. This is called the frequency
response
responseofofananamplifier.
amplifier.

InInlooking
lookingatatthe
thelow
lowfrequency
frequencyacacequivalent
equivalentcircuit
circuitofofaa
capacitor
capacitorcoupled
coupledamplifier
amplifierwe
wecan
cansee
seethere
thereare
arethree
threeRC
RC
circuits
circuitswhich
whichwill
willlimit
limitlow
lowfrequency
frequencyresponse.
response.The
Theinput
input
atatthe
thebase,
base,the
theoutput
outputatatthe
thecollector,
collector,and
andthe
theemitter.
emitter.

A typical capacitively coupled common-emitter amplifier.

The low-frequency ac equivalent circuit of the

amplifier consists of three high-pass RC circuits.

Av ( mid )

Rc

r 'e

Av ( mid )

Rc

r 'e RE1

1. The Input RC Circuit:

1. The Input RC Circuit:
For the BJT amplifier it is formed by C1 and the amplifiers
For the BJT amplifier it is formed by C1 and the amplifiers
input resistance.
input resistance.

R
V
in
Vbase
in
Rin2 X C2
1

The frequency at
The frequency at
which the gain is
which the gain is
down by 3dB is
down by 3dB is
called the lower
called the lower
critical
critical
frequency (fc).
frequency (fc).

X C1

Rin
2f c C1

1
fc
2Rin C1

1
fc
2 ( Rs Rin )C1

The decrease in voltage gain with frequency is called the roll-off. A ten times
The decrease in voltage gain with frequency is called the roll-off. A ten times
change in frequency is called a decade. The attenuation measured in dB at each
change in frequency is called a decade. The attenuation measured in dB at each
decade is the dB/decade. A plot of dB voltage gain vs. frequency is called a
decade is the dB/decade. A plot of dB voltage gain vs. frequency is called a
bode plot. Sometimes roll-off is expressed in dB/octave, which is a doubling or
bode plot. Sometimes roll-off is expressed in dB/octave, which is a doubling or
halving of the frequency.
halving of the frequency.

In addition to reducing the voltage gain, the input RC circuit also causes an
In addition to reducing the voltage gain, the input RC circuit also causes an
increasing phase shift through an amplifier as the frequency decreases.
increasing phase shift through an amplifier as the frequency decreases.

X C1

Rin

tan 1

For midrange frequencies, Xc1 0 , so

For midrange frequencies, Xc1 0 , so

0
tan 1 (0) 0o
Rin

tan 1

At the critical frequency, Xc1 = Rin, so

At the critical frequency, Xc1 = Rin, so

Rin
tan 1 (1) 45o
tan
Rin
1

Phase angle
angle versus
versus frequency
frequency for
for the
the input
RC
RC circuit.

A decade below the critical frequency,

A decade below the critical frequency,
Xc1 = 10Rin, so
Xc1 = 10Rin, so

10 Rin
tan 1 (10) 84.3o
Rin

tan 1

Input RC circuit causes the base voltage to lead the input

voltage below midrange by an amount equal to
to the
the circuit
circuit
phase
phase angle.
angle.

2. The Output RC Circuit:

2. The Output RC Circuit:
This circuit is formed by coupling capacitor C3, the
This circuit is formed by coupling capacitor C3, the
resistance at the collector and the load resistance RL.
resistance at the collector and the load resistance RL.
fc = 1/2 (RC + RL)C3
fc = 1/2 (RC + RL)C3

Development of the equivalent low-frequency output RC circuit.

3. The Bypass RC circuit:

3. The Bypass RC circuit:
It includes the bypass capacitor C2. For midrange frequencies it is
It includes the bypass capacitor C2. For midrange frequencies it is
assumed that XC2 0 , effectively shorting the emitter to ground
assumed that XC2 0 , effectively shorting the emitter to ground
so that the amplifier gain is Rc/re. As frequency is reduced, XC2
so that the amplifier gain is Rc/re. As frequency is reduced, XC2
increases. The impedance from emitter to ground increases, gain
increases. The impedance from emitter to ground increases, gain
decreases. Av = Rc / (re + Re).
decreases. Av = Rc / (re + Re).

Development of the equivalent bypass RC circuit

THANK YOU!

FET LOW
FREQUENCY
AMPLIFIER
RESPONSE

A zero biased D-MOSFET

amplifier with capacitive
coupling on the input and
output .The midrange voltage
gain of a zero biased amplifier
is

THE INPUT RC CIRCUIT

the reactance of the
input coupling
capacitor increases
as the frequency
decreases

fcl(input
)=

 The input resistance is

RIN =RG RIN(GATE)

RINGATE =
Fcl(input
)=

The phase angle in low frequency input RC

circuit is =
(Xc1/Rin)

THE OUTPUT RC CIRCUIT

Fcl(output)
=

The phase angle in the low

frequency output RC circuit
is

The phase angle is 45 and approaches 90

as the frequency approaches zero
.however, starting at the critical frequency,
the phase angle decreases from 45 and
becomes very small as the frequency goes
higher.