Experiment 7:

Complementary Symmetry
Amps
ELEC 3715-001

Objective:
The purpose of this lab was to become familiar with symmetry amplifiers, also known as
push-pull amps, and their applications.
Analysis:
Push-pull amplifiers are created by connecting two complementary pair of transistors to
a load, one of them NPN and the other PNP. The output is a result of each transistor alternating
either supplying or absorbing current to or from the load. This type of amplifier is more efficient
than other designs because the output power achieved is higher and no power is dissipated in
output transistors when no signal is present. The circuit analyzed can be seen in Figure 1 below.













*Figure1



*Figure 2

Figure 2 above is the output of the push-pull amp. When the input is greater than 0.7V
and positive, the NPN is on and the PNP off. When the input is less than -0.7V, the PNP is on
and the NPN off. During the positive cycle, the positive DC supply is supplying the current and
the negative DC supply is sinking current during the negative part of the cycle.
Distortion is often seen in complementary symmetry amps because when -0.7<Vs<0.7,
both BJTs are off. This is the cross-over region between the npn and pnp cycles. In our circuit
tested, the op-amp was added to clean up this distortion, which is why you do not see it in the
o-scope picture.
For the experiment 1Vpp used for Vsig and 1kHz for the frequency. The gain is ~ 1.



Conclusion:
There was not enough time to finish the entire lab which is why only one circuit was
analyzed and tested. The circuit chosen demonstrated the abilities of the complementary
symmetry amplifier well.