ANALOGUE ELECTRONICS

Cascaded Amplifiers
Syllabus
Cascade connection, cascode connection, Darlington
connection, transformer coupling.

CASCADED AMPLIFIERS
PART I
BJT AMPLIFIERS
ACKNOLEDGEMENT

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Many applications cannot be handled with singletransistor 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
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

(i) Cascade /RC coupling

R C1

RB

R C2
.

vo

Q2
C

vi

Q1

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

(ii) Cascode

R1

RL
.

vo

Q2
R2
vi

Q1
R3
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

(iii) Darlington/Direct coupling

R1

R2
.

vo

Q2
vi

Q1

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

(iv)

Transformer coupling
.

vo

Q2

R1

vi

Q1

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

i) 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
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

i) Cascade connection

Tutorial. 1:
Example1.
R1
15 kW

V CC
RC1
2.2 kW

b 1 = b 2 = 200

+20 V

ro1 = ro2 =

R3
15 kW

RC2
2.2 kW

Ro
Ri
R2
4.7 kW

RE1
1 kW

R4
4.7 kW

RE2
1 kW

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

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 Solution
V CC +20 V

DC analysis
The circuit under DC
condition (stage 1 and
stage 2 are identical)

R1
15 kW

RC1
2.2 kW
Q1

R2
4.7 kW

RE1
1 kW
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 Solution (contd)
V CC

Applying Thevenins theorem, the

circuit becomes;

4.7
VBB =
VCC = 4.7 V
(4.7 + 15)
15(4.7)
RBB = 15 4.7 =
= 3.57 KW
(15 + 4.7)

I BQ1 = I BQ 2 = 19.89 A
I CQ1 = I CQ2 = 3.979 mA

RC1
2.2 kW

V BB
4.77 V

bIB

R BB
IB

20 V

3.58 kW

(1+b )I B
RE1
1 kW

r 1 = r 2 = 1.307 kW
g m1 = g m 2 = 0.153 A/V

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 Solution (contd)
AC analysis
The small-signal equivalent circuit (mid-band);
Vi

R B1

B1

r1

B2

C1
+
v1
-

R C1
g m 1v 1

R B2

r2

+
v2
-

E1

RB1 = R1 // R2

Vo

C2

RC2
g m 2v 2
E2

RB 2 = R3 // R4
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 Solution (contd)

Vo = g m 2v 2 RC 2

A2 =

Vo
= 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

v 2
A1 =
= g m1 (RC1 // RB 2 // r 2 )
Vi
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 Solution (contd)
The small-signal voltage gain;

A = A1 A2 = g m1 g m2 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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 1 Solution (contd)

The input resistance;

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

The output resistance;

Ro = RC 2 = 2.2 kW

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

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 commonemitter stage

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Tutorial-1
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.
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Direct couple (DC)
A common-emitter driving an
emitter-follower.

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 - Solution
V CC

DC analysis

+5 V

I1

RBB

RE2

R1 R2
=
= 33.3 kW
R1 + R2

RC1

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1
IB1

R BB

V BB

R2

VBB = VEE + (VCC VEE )

R1 + R2
= 1.667

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

V CC

The base-emitter loop of Q1

I1

RE2
RC1

VBB + RBB I B1 + VBE1

+ RE1 I E1 + VEE = 0

VE2

VC1
IB1

V BB

= VBB VEE VBE1

5 kW
IB2

Rearranging;

RBB I B1 + (b1 + 1)RE1 I B1

+5 V

R BB

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

V CC

Substituting values;

+5 V

I1

RE2

33.3 103 I B1

RC1

+ (170 + 1)2 103 I B1

= 1.667 + 5 0.7

I B1 = 7 A

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1
IB1

V BB

R BB

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW

I C1 = b1I B1 = 1.19 mA
V EE -5 V
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

V CC

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

I1

RE2
RC1

VB1 = VBB RBB I B1 = 1.9 V

VE1 = RE1 I E1 + VEE

IB1

= 2.606 V
V BB

+5 V

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1

R BB

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

V CC

For the RC1 collector of Q1

base of Q2 RE2 loop;

RE 2 I E 2 + VEB 2 = RC1I1

I1

RE2
RC1

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1
IB1

R BB

V BB

I E 2 = (b 2 + 1)I B 2

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

I 1 = I C1 I B 2
and

+5 V

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V

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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)
V CC

+5 V

Substituting values;
I1

(150 + 1)2 103 I B 2 + 0.7

RE2

= 5 10 1.19 10 I B 2
3

RC1

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1

I B 2 = 17 A
I C 2 = b 2 I B 2 = 2.565 mA

IB1

V BB

R BB

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)
V CC

I E 2 = (b 2 + 1)I B 2 = 2.582 mA

I1

RE2
RC1

I1 = I C1 I B 2 = 1.19 0.017
= 1.173 mA
VC1 = VCC RC1 I1
= 5 5 1.173
= 0.865 V

+5 V

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1
IB1

V BB

R BB

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)
V CC

VE 2 = VCC RE 2 I E 2

+5 V

I1

= 5 2 2.582
= 0.164 V

RE2
RC1

5 kW
IB2

VE2

VC1

VC 2 = RC 2 I C 2 + VEE
= 1.5 2.565 5
= 1.175 V

IB1

V BB

R BB

2 kW
IE2

Q2
IC1

VB1

Q1
VE1

RE1

IE1

VC2

RC2

IC2

1.5 kW

2 kW
V EE -5 V
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

AC analysis

V 2
A1
Vs

Vo
A2
V 2

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

V 2 = g m1V 1 (RC1 // r 2 )

Rin

V 1 = Vs
RS + Rin

V 2
= g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )
V 1

V 1
Rin
=
Vs RS + Rin
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

Rin
V 2 V 2 V 1

A1 =
=

= g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )
Vs
V 1
Vs
RS + Rin

Vo = g m 2V 2 (RC 2 // RL )

A2 =

Vo
= g m 2 (RC 2 // RL )
V 2

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

Rin
g m 2 (RC 2 // RL )
A = A1 A2 = g m1 (RC1 // r 2 )
RS + Rin
Rin
(RC1 // r 2 )(RC 2 // RL )
A = g m1 g m 2
RS + Rin

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

gm2

I C 2 2.565
=
=
= 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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 2 Solution (contd)

Rin
(RC1 // r 2 )(RC 2 // RL )
A = g m1 g m 2
RS + Rin

3.342
= 45.77 98.65
(5 // 1.52)(1.5 // 5)
0.5 + 3.342

A = 5286 V/V

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Tutorial-1
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 = .
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution
DC analysis
The circuit under DC condition:
Applying Thevenins
theorem at the input;

RBB = R1 // R2

VBB

70 6
=
= 5.53 kW
70 + 6
6
= 10
5 = 4.21 V
70 + 6

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)
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) 0.2 I B1

= 4.21 + 5 0.7

I B1 = 2.93A

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

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

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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)
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
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)
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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)
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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

VCE1 = VC1 VE1

= 2.98 + 4.93
= 7.91 V
VCE 2 = VC 2 VE 2
= 5 2.28
= 2.72 V

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

(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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

The circuit under ac condition

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

Smallsignal equivalent circuit

47

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

r 1 =

bVT
I C1

125 0.026
=
= 8.88 kW
0.000366

I C1 0.000366
g m1 =
=
= 14.08 mA/V
VT
0.026
r 2 =

gm2

bVT
IC 2

125 0.026
=
= 0.676 kW
0.00481

I C 2 0.00481
=
=
= 185 mA/V
VT
0.026

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

V 2

Vo =
+ g mV 2 (RE 2 // RL )
r 2

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

V 2
= V 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
r 2
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

The voltage gain of the

second stage is;

Vo
Av 2 =
Vo '
V 2
(1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
r 2
=
V 2
V 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
r 2
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

The voltage gain of the

second stage is;

(
1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
=
r 2 + (1 + b )(RE 2 // RL )
Substituting values;

(
1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
Av 2 =
0.676 + (1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)
= 0.996

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

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

= 0.676 + (1 + 125)(1.5 // 10)

= 165 kW

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

V 1

Vs = V 1 +
+ g m1V 1 RE1
r 1

Vo ' = g m1V 1 (RC1 // Rib 2 )

Vo '
Av1 =
Vs
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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

g m1 (RC1 // Rib 2 )
=
1

1 + + g m1 RE1
r 1

b (RC1 // Rib 2 )
Av1 =
r 1 + (1 + b )RE1

54

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)
Substituting values;
(b)

b (RC1 // Rib 2 )
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

CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

Example 3 Solution (contd)

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

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
Av1 =
vs

and

vo
Av 2 =
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

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CASCADED BJT AMPLIFIER

EXERCISE 1 (contd)

FIG. E1
58