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@5 - Power Amplifiers - A - B - C - D Classes

The document discusses different classes of power amplifiers including class A, B, AB, C and D. It describes the operating principles, biasing, efficiency and applications of each class. Key circuits for class B amplifiers like transformer coupled, complementary symmetry and quasi-complementary push-pull are also covered.

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19 views30 pages

@5 - Power Amplifiers - A - B - C - D Classes

The document discusses different classes of power amplifiers including class A, B, AB, C and D. It describes the operating principles, biasing, efficiency and applications of each class. Key circuits for class B amplifiers like transformer coupled, complementary symmetry and quasi-complementary push-pull are also covered.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Agenda

Introduction

Series-Fed Class A Amplifier

Transformer-Coupled Class A Amplifier

Class B Amplifier Operation

Class B Amplifier Circuits


INTRODUCTION
Amplifier Classes
• In small-signal amplifiers, the main factors are usually amplification linearity and
magnitude of gain.
• Large-signal or power amplifiers, on the other hand, primarily provide sufficient power
to an output load to drive a speaker or other power device, typically a few watts to tens
of watts.
• The main features of a large-signal 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.
• Amplifier classes represent the amount the output signal varies over one cycle of
operation for a full cycle of input signal.

Power Amplifier Classes:


1. Class A: The output signal varies
for a full 360° of the input signal.
• Bias at the half of the supply

2. Class B: provides an output signal


varying over one-half the input
signal cycle, or for 180° of signal.
• Bias at the zero level
Amplifier Efficiency
Power Amplifier Classes …
3. Class AB: An amplifier may be biased at a dc level above the zero-base-current level
of class B and above one-half the supply voltage level of class A.

4. Class C: The output of a class C amplifier is biased for operation at less than 180° of
the cycle and will operate only with a tuned (resonant) circuit, which provides a full
cycle of operation for the tuned or resonant frequency.

5. Class D: This operating class is a form of amplifier operation using pulse (digital)
signals, which are on for a short interval and off for a longer interval.

• The power efficiency of an amplifier, defined as the ratio of power output


to power input, improves (gets higher) going from class A to class D.
SERIES-FED CLASS A AMPLIFIER
SERIES-FED CLASS A AMPLIFIER
• DC Bias Operation

• AC Operation
Power Considerations
• The power drawn from the supply is

• Output Power

• Efficiency

• Maximum Efficiency

N.B.:
Example
TRANSFORMER-COUPLED CLASS A
AMPLIFIER
Transformer Action
• A transformer can increase or decrease
voltage or current levels according to its
turns ratio a=N1:N2

• The impedance connected to one side of


a transformer can be made to appear
either larger or smaller (step up or step
down) at the other side of the
transformer.

• Impedance Transformation
• Voltage Transformation

• Current Transformation
Operation of Amplifier Stage
• Signal Swing and Output AC Power

• Efficiency

• power loss

• Maximum Theoretical Efficiency

• Check EXAMPLE 12.4 !


CLASS B AMPLIFIER OPERATION
Push–Pull Amplifier
• Class B operation is provided when the dc bias
leaves the transistor biased just off, the
transistor turning on when the ac signal is
applied.
• This is essentially no bias, and the transistor
conducts current for only one-half of the signal
cycle.

• Connection of push–pull amplifier to load

• The current drawn from a single


power supply has the form of a full-
wave rectified signal
• whereas that drawn from two power
supplies has the form of a half-wave
rectified signal from each supply.
Efficiency & Power Consideration
• Maximum Power Considerations

• Efficiency

• Power Dissipated by Output Transistors


CLASS B AMPLIFIER CIRCUITS
Phase-Splitter Circuits
Class B Amplifier Circuits
• Transformer-Coupled Push–Pull Circuits

Transistors are bulky !


Class B Amplifier Circuits..
• Complementary-Symmetry Circuits • Complementary-symmetry push–pull
circuit using Darlington transistors.

Needs two separate


voltage supplies!

Biasing the transistors


in class AB improves
this operation

o higher output current


o lower output resistance.
Class B Amplifier Circuits…
• Quasi-Complementary Push–Pull Amplifier

o In practical power amplifier circuits, it


is preferable to use npn transistors
for both high-current-output devices.

o The push–pull operation is achieved


by using complementary transistors
(Q 1 and Q2) before the matched npn
output transistors ( Q3 and Q4 ).

o R2 can be adjusted to minimize


crossover distortion.

o It is the most popular form of power


amplifier
• Quasi-complementary push–pull
transformerless power amplifier.
Example
Agenda

Amplifier Distortion

Power Transistor Heat Sinking

Class C & Class D Amplifiers


AMPLIFIER DISTORTION
Amplifier Distortion
• A pure sinusoidal signal has a single frequency at which the voltage varies positive and
negative by equal amounts. Any signal varying over less than the full 360° cycle is
considered to have distortion.
• Distortion can occur because the device characteristic is not linear, in which case non-
linear or amplitude distortion occurs.
• Distortion can also occur because the circuit elements and devices respond to the input
signal differently at various frequencies, this being frequency distortion.
• One technique for describing distorted but period waveforms uses Fourier analysis

• Harmonic Distortion
A signal is considered to have harmonic distortion when there are harmonic
frequency components

A1 : amplitude of the fundamental frequency


An : amplitude of the nth frequency component

• Total Harmonic Distortion


Harmonic Distortion
• Second Harmonic Distortion

• Power of a Signal Having Distortion


Graphical Description of Harmonic
Components of a Distorted Signal
POWER TRANSISTOR HEAT SINKING
Power Transistor Heat Sinking
• The maximum power handled by a
particular device and the
temperature of the transistor
junctions are related since the
power dissipated by the device
causes an increase in temperature
at the junction of the device.
CLASS C & CLASS D AMPLIFIERS
Class C Amplifier
• Although class A, class AB, and class B
amplifiers are most used as power amplifiers,
class D amplifiers are popular because of their
very high efficiency.
• Class C amplifiers, although not used as audio
amplifiers, do find use in tuned circuits as in
communications.

• The tuned circuit in the output, however, will


provide a full cycle of output signal for the
fundamental or resonant frequency of the tuned
circuit ( L and C tank circuit) of the output.
• This type of operation is therefore limited to use
at one fixed frequency, as occurs in a
communications circuit, for example.
Class D Amplifier

• Class D amplifier is designed to operate with


digital or pulse-type signals.
• An efficiency of over 90% is achieved, making it
desirable in power amplifiers.
• It is necessary to convert any input signal into a
pulse-type waveform before using it to drive a
large power load and to convert the signal back
into a sinusoidal-type signal to recover the
original signal.

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