EKT 104

ANALOGUE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS

Multistage Amplifiers
Syllabus

Cascade connection, cascode connection, Darlington

connection, transformer coupling.

1
 CASCADED AMPLIFIERS
PART I
BJT AMPLIFIERS

ACKNOLEDGEMENT

The materials presented in these notes were partly taken from the
original notes “MULSTISTAGE AMPLIFIERS” by ENCIK SOHIFUL
ANUAR BIN ZAINOL MURAD, School of Microelectronic

2
 Many applications cannot be handled with single-
transistor amplifiers in order to meet the
specification of a given amplification factor, input
resistance and output resistance

 As a solution – transistor amplifier circuits can be

connected in series or cascaded amplifiers

 This can be done either to increase the overall

small-signal voltage gain or provide an overall
voltage gain greater than 1 with a very low output
resistance

3
(i) Cascade /RC coupling

. . .

R C1 RB R C2
.
vo

Q2
C
vi . Q1

4
(ii) Cascode
. .

R1 RL
. vo

Q2

R2

vi .
Q1

R3

5
(iii) Darlington/Direct coupling

. .

R1 R2

. vo

Q2

vi .
Q1

6
(iv) Transformer coupling

. vo
T Q2

R1

vi .
Q1

7
Cascade connection

RC coupling

- Coupling capacitor couples the signal from one stage

to another stage and block dc voltage from one
stage to another stage.

- The signal developed across the collector resistor

of each stage is coupled into the base of the next
stage

- The overall gain = product of the individual gain

8
i) Cascade connection

Example 1
V CC +20 V b 1 = b 2 = 200
ro1 = ro2 = 
RC1 R3 RC2
R1 2.2 kW 15 kW 2.2 kW
15 kW

Ro

Ri
R2 R4
4.7 kW RE1 4.7 kW RE2
1 kW 1 kW

Draw the AC equivalent circuit and calculate Av, Ri and Ro. 9

Example 1 – Solution

V CC +20 V

DC analysis
R1 RC1
15 kW 2.2 kW
The circuit under DC
condition (stage 1 and
stage 2 are identical) Q1

R2 RE1
4.7 kW 1 kW

10
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

Applying Thevenin’s theorem, the V CC 20 V

circuit becomes;
4.7 RC1
VBB = VCC = 4.7 V V BB
(4.7 + 15) 4.77 V 2.2 kW
15(4.7) bIB
RBB = 15 4.7 = = 3.57 KW R BB
(15 + 4.7)
IB 3.58 kW
(1+b )I B
I BQ1 = I BQ 2 = 19.89 μA
RE1
I CQ1 = I CQ 2 = 3.979 mA 1 kW
r 1 = r 2 = 1.307 kW r =
VT
gm =
I CQ
I BQ VT
g m1 = g m 2 = 0.153 A/V 11
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

AC analysis

The small-signal equivalent circuit (mid-band);

Vi B1 C1 B2 C2 Vo

+ +
R B1 r1 v1 R C1 R B2 r2 v2 RC2
- g m 1v  1 - g m 2v  2

E1 E2

RB1 = R1 // R2 RB 2 = R3 // R4

12
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

Vo =  g m 2v 2 RC 2

Vo
A2 = =  g m 2 RC 2
v 2

v 2 =  g m1v 1 (RC1 // RB 2 // r 2 )

=  g m1Vi (RC1 // RB 2 // r 2 ) v 1 = Vi

=  g m1 (RC1 // RB 2 // r 2 )
v 2
A1 =
Vi
13
Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

The small-signal voltage gain;

A = A1 A2 = g m1 g m 2 RC 2 (RC1 // RB 2 // r 2 )

Substituting values;

RB1 = RB 2 = R3 // R4 = 15 // 4.7 = 3.579 kW

RC1 // RB 2 // r 2 = 2.2 // 3.579 // 1.307 = 667 W

A = 0.153 0.153 2200  667 = 34350 V/V 14

Example 1 – Solution (cont’d)

The input resistance;

Rin = RB1 // r 1 = 3.579 // 1.307 = 0.957 kW

The output resistance;

Ro = RC 2 = 2.2 kW

15
Direct couple (DC) The first stage is directly coupled to
the next stage without going through
a coupling capacitor

A common-emitter stage
driving another common-
emitter stage

16
Direct couple (DC)

The biasing network must be

be suitably designed otherwise
the dc bias of one stage will
upset the bias voltage of the
other

17
Example 2

Perform a dc analysis
and hence calculate the
voltage gain Av where;

vo
Av =
vs

Assume b1 = 170, b2 =
150 and VBE(ON) = 0.7 V.
18
Direct couple (DC)

A common-emitter driving an
emitter-follower.

19
Example 2 - Solution
V CC +5 V
DC analysis
I1
RE2 2 kW
R1 R2
RBB = = 33.3 kW RC1 5 kW
R1 + R2 IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW
V BB
 R2  RE1 2 kW
VBB = VEE + (VCC  VEE ) 
 R1 + R2 
= 1.667 V EE -5 V 20
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

The base-emitter loop of Q1 I1

RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW
VBB + RBB I B1 + VBE1 IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1
+ RE1 I E1 + VEE = 0 IB1 IC1
Q2
R BB VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
Rearranging; VE1 RC2 1.5 kW
V BB IE1

RBB I B1 + (b1 + 1)RE1I B1 RE1 2 kW

= VBB  VEE  VBE1 V EE -5 V

21
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

Substituting values; I1
RE2 2 kW
33.3 103 I B1 RC1 5 kW
VE2 IE2

+ (170 + 1)2 103 I B1

IB2
VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
= 1.667 + 5  0.7 VB1
Q1
VC2 IC2

VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW
I B1 = 7 A V BB
RE1 2 kW
I C1 = b1I B1 = 1.19 mA
V EE -5 V
22
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

I E1 = (b1 + 1)I B1 = 1.197 mA I1

RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW IE2
VE2
VB1 = VBB  RBB I B1 = 1.9 V IB2
VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
VE1 = RE1I E1 + VEE VB1
Q1
VC2 IC2

= 2.606 V VE1 RC2 1.5 kW

V BB IE1

RE1 2 kW

V EE -5 V
23
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d) V CC +5 V

For the RC1 – collector of Q1 I1

– base of Q2 – RE2 loop; RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW IE2
VE2
IB2
RE 2 I E 2 + VEB2 = RC1I1 VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
I 1 = I C1  I B 2
VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW
V BB
and RE1 2 kW
I E 2 = (b 2 + 1)I B 2
V EE -5 V

(b 2 + 1)RE 2 I B 2 + VEB2 = RC1 ( I C1  I B 2 )

24
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V
Substituting values;
I1
(150 + 1)2 103 I B 2 + 0.7 RE2 2 kW

( 3
= 5 10 1.19 10  I B 2
3
) RC1 5 kW
IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1 Q2
IB1 R BB IC1
I B 2 = 17 μA VB1
Q1
VC2 IC2

VE1 RC2 1.5 kW

I C 2 = b 2 I B 2 = 2.565 mA V BB IE1

RE1 2 kW

V EE -5 V

25
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V

I E 2 = (b2 + 1)I B 2 = 2.582 mA I1

RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW IE2
I1 = I C1  I B 2 = 1.19  0.017
VE2
IB2
VC1 Q2
= 1.173 mA IB1 R BB IC1
VB1 VC2 IC2
Q1
VC1 = VCC  RC1 I1 V BB
VE1 IE1
RC2 1.5 kW

= 5  5 1.173 RE1 2 kW
= 0.865 V
V EE -5 V

26
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)
V CC +5 V
VE 2 = VCC  RE 2 I E 2 I1
= 5  2  2.582 RE2 2 kW
RC1 5 kW
= 0.164 V IB2
VE2 IE2

VC1 Q2
VC 2 = RC 2 I C 2 + VEE IB1 R BB VB1
IC1
VC2 IC2
Q1
= 1.5  2.565  5
VE1 RC2 1.5 kW
= 1.175 V V BB IE1

RE1 2 kW

V EE -5 V

27
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

AC analysis

 V 2 Vo
A1  A2 
Vs  V 2
28
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 2
V 2 = g m1V 1 (RC1 // r 2 ) =  g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )
V 1

 Rin  V 1 Rin
V 1 = Vs   =
 RS + Rin  Vs RS + Rin
29
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 2  V 2 V 1  Rin 
A1 = =  =  g m1 (RC1 // r 2 ) 
Vs V 1 Vs  RS + Rin 

=  g m 2 (RC 2 // RL )
Vo
Vo = g m 2V 2 (RC 2 // RL ) A2 =
 V 2
30
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 Rin 
A = A1 A2 =  g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )  g m 2 (RC 2 // RL )
 RS + Rin 

 Rin 
A = g m1 g m 2  (RC1 // r 2 )(RC 2 // RL )
 RS + Rin  31
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

Substituting values;

I C1 1.19
g m1 = = = 45.77 mA/V
VT 26
VT 26
r 1 = b1 = 170  = 3714 W
I C1 1.19 32
Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

I C 2 2.565
gm2 = = = 98.65 mA/V
VT 26
VT 26
r 2 = b 2 = 150  = 1520 W
IC 2 2.565

Rin = R1 // R2 // r 1 = 100 // 50 // 3.714 = 3.342 kW 33

Example 2 – Solution (cont’d)

 Rin 
A = g m1 g m 2  (RC1 // r 2 )(RC 2 // RL )
 RS + Rin 

 3.342 
= 45.77  98.65 (5 // 1.52)(1.5 // 5)
 0.5 + 3.342 
A = 5286 V/V 34
Example 3

Determine;
(a) Q-points
(b) Av;
(c) Ri;
(d) Ro.

The parameters for

Q1 and Q2 are;
b = 125; VBE(on) =
0.7 V; ro = .

35
Example 3 – Solution

DC analysis

The circuit under DC condition:

Applying Thevenin’s
theorem at the input;

RBB = R1 // R2
70  6
= = 5.53 kW
70 + 6
 6 
VBB = 10   5 = 4.21 V
 70 + 6  36
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The circuit becomes as shown;

Taking the loop VBB – B1 –

E1 – V–;

RBB I B1 + (1 + b )RE1
= VBB  V   VBE1

Substituting values;

5.53I B1 + (1 + 125) 0.2I B1

= 4.21 + 5  0.7
I B1 = 2.93A 37
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

I C1 = bI B1 = 125  2.93A
= 0.366 mA

I E1 = (1 + b )I B1
= 125  2.93A
= 0.369 mA

38
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Taking the loop V+ – RC1 – B2 –

E2 – RE2 – V–;

I 3 RC1 + VBE 2 + I E 2 RE 2
= V + V 
But;
I 3 = I C1 + I B 2

and;

I E 2 = (1 + b )I B 2
39
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Hence;

(I C1 + I B 2 )RC1 + (1 + b )I B 2 RE 2
= V +  V   VBE 2

Substituting values;

(0.366 + I B 2 )5 + (1 + 125)I B 2 1.5

= 5 + 5  0.7
Or;
I B 2 = 38.5 A 40
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Hence;

I C 2 = bI B 2 = 125  38.5 A
= 4.81 mA

I E 2 = (1 + b )I B 2
= (1 + 125) 38.5 A
= 4.85 mA
and;

I 3 = I C1 + I B 2 = 0.366 + 0.0385
= 0.405 mA 41
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

VC1 = V +  I 3 RC1
= 5  0.405  5
= 2.98 V

VE1 = I E1 RE1 + V 
= 0.369  0.2  5
= 4.93 V

42
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

VC 2 = V + = 5 V

VE 2 = I E 2 RE 2 + V 
= 4.85 1.5  5
= 2.28 V

43
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

VCE1 = VC1  VE1

= 2.98 + 4.93
= 7.91 V

VCE 2 = VC 2  VE 2
= 5  2.28
= 2.72 V

44
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

(a) The Q-points are;

I C1 = 0.366 mA;
VCE1 = 7.91 V

and;

I C 2 = 4.81 mA;
VCE 2 = 2.72 V

45
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The circuit under ac condition 46

Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

47
Small–signal equivalent circuit
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

bVT 125  0.026

r 1 = = = 8.88 kW
I C1 0.000366

I C1 0.000366
g m1 = = = 14.08 mA/V
VT 0.026

bVT 125  0.026

r 2 = = = 0.676 kW
IC 2 0.00481

I C 2 0.00481
gm2 = = = 185 mA/V
VT 0.026
48
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 2 
Vo =  + g mV 2 (RE 2 // RL )
 r 2 

= (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
V 2
r 2

Vo ' = V + Vo

= V 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
V 2
r 2

49
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The voltage gain of the

second stage is;

Vo
Av 2 =
Vo '

(1 + b )(RE 2 // RL ) V 2
r 2
=
V 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
V 2
r 2

50
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

The voltage gain of the

second stage is;

=
(1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
r 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )

Substituting values;

Av 2 =
(1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
0.676 + (1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
= 0.996 51
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Rib2 = r 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
= 0.676 + (1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
= 165 kW

52
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

 V 1 
Vs = V 1 +  + g m1V 1  RE1
 r 1 

Vo ' =  g m1V 1 (RC1 // Rib2 )

Vo '
Av1 =
Vs

53
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

 g m1 (RC1 // Rib2 )
=
 1 
1 +  + g m1  RE1
 r 1 

b (RC1 // Rib2 )
Av1 = 
r 1 + (1 + b )RE1

54
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

Substituting values;

(b) b (RC1 // Rib2 )

Av1 = 
r 1 + (1 + b )RE1
125(5 // 165)
= = 17.8
8.88 + (1 + 125) 0.2

Av = Av1  Av 2 = 17.8  0.996 = 17.7

55
Example 3 – Solution (cont’d)

56
EXERCISE 1

The parameters for each transistor in FIG. E1 are b = 100, VA =  and

VBE = 0.7 V.
(a) Determine the small-signal parameters gm, r and ro for both
transistors.
(b) Determine the small-signal voltage gain Av1 for stage 1 and Av2 for
stage 2 separately, where
vo1 vo
Av1 = and Av 2 =
vs vo1
(Assume the output of stage 1 is open to determine Av1)
(c) Determine the overall small-signal voltage gain Av, where;

vo
Av =
vs
57
EXERCISE 1 (cont’d)

FIG. E1
58