Class C Amplifier

Ic

Class A

Class AB Class B

Vce
Class C

Class C Biasing
The Class C amplifier has a negative voltage at the base, and zero volts at the emitter. The Base-Emitter junction is reverse biased The transistor will turn on at a signal voltage of 4.7V. The transistor will only conduct a small pulse through to the collector output. Amplifier is very efficient but has very little usefulness. Unless.

12V +V

1k -5/5V NPN 1.0 kHz 1k

TP2
About 0.3V

-4V DC

Class C Application
Collector resonant circuit responds to an impulse by ringing at its resonant frequency. This is like pushing someone on a swing. A sharp short push each trip allows the swing to oscillate back and forth at its resonant frequency Collector impulses occur by design at the resonant frequency of the tank circuit. Resonant circuit continues to ring and restores the sine wave at the output Class C Amplifier is used in radio/RF applications and is also called a tuned amplifier.
12V +V

Resonant (tank) circuit

C1

1uF

1uH

Positive alternations filled in by tank circuit ring

TP3 -5/5V NPN 1.0 kHz 1k

-4V DC