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Small-Signal and Large-Signal Amplifiers

The document discusses small-signal and large-signal amplifiers. Small-signal amplifiers handle small input signals (a few microvolts to millivolts) and operate in the linear region to amplify signals with little distortion. Large-signal amplifiers handle larger input signals (a few volts) and are designed to provide high power output to drive devices like speakers. While voltage amplifiers aim for high voltage gain, power amplifiers focus on maximum output power. Key factors that determine performance of power amplifiers include collector efficiency, distortion, and power dissipation capability. The maximum theoretical collector efficiency of a class A series-fed power amplifier is 25%.

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183 views6 pages

Small-Signal and Large-Signal Amplifiers

The document discusses small-signal and large-signal amplifiers. Small-signal amplifiers handle small input signals (a few microvolts to millivolts) and operate in the linear region to amplify signals with little distortion. Large-signal amplifiers handle larger input signals (a few volts) and are designed to provide high power output to drive devices like speakers. While voltage amplifiers aim for high voltage gain, power amplifiers focus on maximum output power. Key factors that determine performance of power amplifiers include collector efficiency, distortion, and power dissipation capability. The maximum theoretical collector efficiency of a class A series-fed power amplifier is 25%.

Uploaded by

Alexander Egyapa
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© © All Rights Reserved
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SMALL-SIGNAL AND LARGE-SIGNAL AMPLIFIERS

The input signal to a multistage amplifier is generally small (a few mV from a


cassette or CD or a few µV from an antenna). Therefore, the first few stages of a
multistage amplifier handle small signals and have the function of only voltage
amplification. However, the last stage handles a large signal and its job is to produce
a large amount of power in order to operate the output device (e.g. speaker).

(i) Small-signal amplifiers


Those amplifiers which handle small input a.c. signals (a few µV or a few mV) are
called small-signal amplifiers. Voltage amplifiers generally fall in this class. The
small-signal amplifiers are designed to operate over the linear portion of the output
characteristics. Therefore, the transistor parameters such as current gain, input
impedance, output impedance etc. do not change as the amplitude of the signal
changes. Such amplifiers amplify the signal with little or no distortion.

(ii) Large-signal amplifiers


Those amplifiers which handle large input a.c. signals (a few volts) are called large-
signal amplifiers. Power amplifiers fall in this class. The large-signal amplifiers are
designed to provide a large amount of a.c. power output so that they can operate the
output device e.g. a speaker. The main features of a large-signal amplifier or power
amplifier are the circuit’s power efficiency, the maximum amount of power that the
circuit is capable of handling and the impedance matching to the output device. It
may be noted that all large-signal amplifiers are not necessarily power amplifiers but
it is safe to say that most are. In general, where amount of power involved is 1W or
more, the amplifier is termed as power amplifier.
Difference between Voltage and Power Amplifiers
A voltage amplifier is designed to achieve maximum voltage amplification. It is,
however, not important to raise the power level. On the other hand, a power amplifier
is designed to obtain maximum output power.

1. Voltage amplifier
The voltage gain of an amplifier is given by:

In order to achieve high voltage amplification, the following features are


incorporated in such amplifiers:
(i) The transistor with high β (>100) is used in the circuit. In other words, those
transistors are employed which have thin base.
(ii) The input resistance Rin of the transistor should be quite low as compared to the
collector load RC.
(iii) A relatively high load RC is used in the collector. To permit this condition,
voltage amplifiers are always operated at low collector currents (approx. 1 mA). If
the collector current is small, we can use large RC in the collector circuit.

2. Power amplifier
A power amplifier is required to deliver a large amount of power and as such it has
to handle large current. In order to achieve high power amplification, the following
features are incorporated in such amplifiers:
(i) The size of power transistor is made considerably larger in order to dissipate the
heat produced in the transistor during operation.
(ii) The base is made thicker to handle large currents. In other words, transistors with
comparatively smaller β are used.
(iii) Transformer coupling is used for impedance matching.
The comparison between voltage and power amplifiers is given below in the
tabular form:

Performance Quantities of Power Amplifiers


(i) Collector efficiency
The main criterion for a power amplifier is not the power gain rather it is the
maximum a.c. power output. Now, an amplifier converts d.c. power from supply into
a.c. power output. Therefore, the ability of a power amplifier to convert d.c. power
from supply into a.c. output power is a measure of its effectiveness. This is known
as collector efficiency and may be defined as under:
The ratio of a.c. output power to the zero signal power (i.e. d.c. power) supplied by
the battery of a power amplifier is known as collector efficiency.
Collector efficiency means as to how well an amplifier converts d.c. power from the
battery into a.c. output power. For instance, if the d.c. power supplied by the battery
is 10W and a.c. output power is 2W, then collector efficiency is 20%. The greater
the collector efficiency, the larger is the a.c. power output. It is obvious that for
power amplifiers, maximum collector efficiency is the desired goal.

(ii) Distortion
The change of output wave shape from the input wave shape of an amplifier is known
as distortion. A transistor like other electronic devices, is essentially a non-linear
device. Therefore, whenever a signal is applied to the input of the transistor, the
output signal is not exactly like the input signal i.e. distortion occurs. Distortion is
not a problem for small signals (i.e. voltage amplifiers) since transistor is a linear
device for small variations about the operating point. However, a power amplifier
handles large signals and, therefore, the problem of distortion immediately arises.

(iii) Power dissipation capability


The ability of a power transistor to dissipate heat is known as power dissipation
capability. A power transistor handles large currents and heats up during operation.
As any temperature change influences the operation of transistor, therefore, the
transistor must dissipate this heat to its surroundings. To achieve this, generally a
heat sink (a metal case) is attached to a power transistor case. The increased surface
area allows heat to escape easily and keeps the case temperature of the transistor
within permissible limits.

Expression for Collector Efficiency


For comparing power amplifiers, collector efficiency is the main criterion. The
greater the collector efficiency, the better is the power amplifier.
where, Vce is the r.m.s. value of signal output voltage and Ic is the r.m.s. value of
output signal current. In terms of peak-to-peak values (which are often convenient
values in load-line work), the a.c. power output can be expressed as:

Maximum Collector Efficiency of Series-Fed Class A Amplifier


A series – fed class A amplifier is shown in figure 12.6(i). This circuit is seldom used
for power amplification due to its poor collector efficiency. Nevertheless, it helps to
understand the class A operation. The d.c. load line of the circuit is shown in Fig.
12.6 (ii). When an ac signal is applied to the amplifier, the output current and voltage
will vary about the operating point Q. In order to achieve the maximum symmetrical
swing of current and voltage (to achieve maximum output power), the Q point should
be located at the centre of the dc load line. In that case, operating point is
IC = VCC/2RC and VCE = VCC/2 .
Thus, the maximum collector efficiency of a class A series-fed amplifier is 25%. In
actual practice, the collector efficiency is far less than this value.

#Reference and Image Courtesy: Principles of Electronics, V.K. Mehta and Rohit Mehta, 11th Edition.

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