Class A Power Amplifiers

Output Stages

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 PA: Class A …

Series feed Class A PA

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 PA: Class A …
Series feed PA with Load

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, Series Feed PA
No AC

vo

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, Series Feed PA
No AC With AC Maximum
vo

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, Series Feed PA (Example)
𝑣𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑖𝐶 𝑅𝐶 𝑃𝑖(𝑑𝑐) , 𝑃0(𝑎𝑐) , η0 =?
𝑉𝐶𝐶
𝑣𝐶𝐸(𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓) = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝑖𝐶(𝑠𝑎𝑡) =
𝑅𝐶

𝑖𝑏(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘)
= 10𝑚𝐴

𝑖𝑐(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘) = 𝛽𝑖𝑏(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘) = 25 10𝑚 = 250𝑚𝐴

2
𝑖𝑐(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘) 250 × 10−3 2
𝑃0(𝑎𝑐) = 𝑅𝐶 = 20 = 0.625𝑊
2 2
𝑃𝑖(𝑑𝑐) = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝐼𝐶𝑄 = 20 0.48 = 9.6𝑊
𝑃0(𝑎𝑐) 0.625
η0 = × 100 = × 100 = 6.5%
𝑃𝑖(𝑑𝑐) 9.6

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, SF, PA (Transformer Coupling)
Voltage Ratio
𝑣1 𝑁1
=
𝑣2 𝑁2

Current Ratio
𝑖2 𝑁1
=
𝑖1 𝑁2

Impedance Ratio
𝑣1 𝑖2 𝑁1 𝑁1
× = ×
𝑣2 𝑖1 𝑁2 𝑁2
𝑅ሖ 𝐿 𝑅1 𝑣1 /𝑖1 𝑁1 𝑁1 e.g., for a step up transformer:
= = = ×
𝑅𝐿 𝑅2 𝑣2 /𝑖2 𝑁2 𝑁2 𝑣1 < 𝑣2 ; 𝑖1 > 𝑖2 ; 𝑅1 < 𝑅2 ; 𝑃1 = 𝑃2
2 e.g., for a step down transformer:
𝑁1
ሖ
𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝐿 𝑣1 > 𝑣2 ; 𝑖1 < 𝑖2 ; 𝑅1 > 𝑅2 ; 𝑃1 = 𝑃2
𝑁2

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, SF, PA (Transformer Coupling)
DC Load Line
The transformer coupling will not be energized for DC
No resistance at the Collector
Output Ch’c Equation is (for DC only)
𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶
DC load line is perpendicular to 𝑉𝐶𝐸 axis at 𝑉𝐶𝐶

DC Load Line

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, SF, PA (Transformer Coupling)
DC Load Line
The transformer coupling will not be energized for DC
No resistance at the Collector
Output Ch’c Equation is (for DC only)
𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶
DC load line is perpendicular to 𝑉𝐶𝐸 axis at 𝑉𝐶𝐶

AC Load Line
The transformer coupling will be energized for AC
Reflected resistance 𝑅ሖ 𝐿 will be felt at the Collector
Output Ch’c Equation would be (for AC)
𝑣𝑐𝑒 = −𝑖𝑐 𝑅ሖ 𝐿 𝑣𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐸 + 𝑣𝑐𝑒 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑖𝑐 𝑅ሖ 𝐿
The AC load line would have a slope of 𝑅ሖ 𝐿
It will pass through the Q-point (using point-slope form)
1 𝑉𝐶𝐶
𝑖𝐶 = − 𝑣𝐶𝐸 + + 𝐼𝐶𝑄
𝑅ሖ 𝐿 𝑅ሖ 𝐿

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, SF, PA (Transformer Coupling)
DC Load Line
𝑃𝑖𝑛(𝑑𝑐) =

𝑃𝑜(𝑎𝑐) =

η𝑜 =

Pout

Maximum Power

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS
 Class A, SF, PA (w/wo Transformer Coup)
A power transistor working in Class-A amplifier …

𝑉𝐶𝐶 =10V

𝑖𝑐(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘) = 50𝑚𝐴
𝑅𝐿 = 4Ω

(a) Without transformer coupling

(b) With transformer coupling

𝑃𝑖𝑛(𝑑𝑐) =

𝑃𝑜(𝑎𝑐) =

η𝑜 =

Electronics Circuit Design Dr. Muhammad Aqil Copyright © 2019 DEE, PIEAS