Electronics Circuits Module 2

MODULE 2: TUNED VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS & POWER AMPLIFIERS

TUNED AMPLIFIERS
Need of Tuned Amplifier
❖ The types of amplifiers that we have discussed so far cannot work effectively at radio frequencies, even
though they are good at audio frequencies.
❖ Also, the gain of these amplifiers is such that it will not vary according to the frequency of the signal, over a
wide range.
❖ This allows the amplification of the signal equally well over a range of frequencies and does not permit the
selection of desired frequency while rejecting the other frequencies.
❖ So, there occurs a need for a circuit which can select as well as amplify. So, an amplifier circuit along with a
selection, such as a tuned circuit makes a Tuned amplifier.
What is a Tuned Amplifier?
❖ Tuned amplifiers are the amplifiers that are employed for the purpose of tuning. Tuning means selecting.
❖ Among a set of frequencies available, if there occurs a need to select a particular frequency, while
rejecting all other frequencies, such a process is called selection. This selection is done by using a circuit
called as Tuned circuit.
❖ When an amplifier circuit has its load replaced by a tuned circuit, such an amplifier can be called as
a Tuned amplifier circuit.
❖ The tuner circuit is nothing but a LC circuit which is also called as resonant or tank circuit. It selects the
frequency.
❖ A tuned circuit is capable of amplifying a signal over a narrow band of frequencies that are cantered at
resonant frequency.
❖ When the reactance of the inductor balances the reactance of the capacitor, in the tuned circuit at some
frequency, such a frequency can be called as resonant frequency. It is denoted by fr.
RESONANCE CIRCUIT
1.) SERIES RESONANCE CIRCUIT
Fig (a) shows a series resonant circuit, where an inductor and a
capacitor are connected in series to the voltage source (Vs). The
resistance (R) represents the resistance of the inductor coil. The
reactance of the inductor XL and reactance of the capacitor Xc at
a particular frequency f are given by the expressions

❖ In a series RLC circuit, when the frequency is

below resonant inductive reactance (XL) is
small and capacitive reactance Xc) is large (Xc>
XL). The reactance of the circuit is then
capacitive.
❖ At resonant fequency (fr), inductive reactance
becomes equal to capacitive reactance
(Xc=XL). Then the impedance of the circuit
becomes purely resistive and equal to R.
❖ When the frequency is above resonant
frequency XL will exceed Xc (XL >Xc) and the
reactance of the circuit becomes inductive.

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Electronics Circuits Module 2
Fig (b) and (c) respectively shows the variation of line current (I) and impedance (Zs) with source frequency in
a series resonant circuit.
At resonance, in series resonant circuit
➢ Inductive reactance equals capacitive reactance (XL =XC)
➢ Circuit impedance become minimum, equal to the circuit resistance
i.e. Zs=R (minimum)
➢ Current through the circuit becomes maximum
i.e. I=V/R (max)
➢ Resonant frequency fr=1/2√𝑳𝑪

2) PARALLEL RESONANCE CIRCUIT

Fig shows a series resonant circuit, where an inductor and a
capacitor are connected in parallel to the voltage source (Vs).
The resistance (R) represents the resistance of the inductor coil
Impedance
𝑳
𝒁𝒑 =
𝑹𝑪
Note: In practice, the impedance (Z) of the circuit is maximum
and not infinite because of resistance of the coil and hence the
r.m.s. current given to the circuit is minimum (tends to zero),
this is the condition of parallel resonance.

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Electronics Circuits Module 2
Quality factor (Q)
❖ Quality factor (Q) is a measure of the ability of a resonant circuit to select or reject a band of frequencies.
❖ It is defined as the ratio of the inductive reactance of the coil to the resistance of the coil used in the
resonant circuit
𝐗𝐋
𝐐=
𝐑
𝟐𝛑𝐟𝐋
𝐐=
𝐑
Bandwidth (Δf)
❖ The range of frequencies at which the voltage gain of the tuned amplifier falls to 70.7% of the maximum
gain is called its Bandwidth.
❖ The range of frequencies between f1 and f2 is called as bandwidth of the tuned amplifier.
❖ The bandwidth of a tuned amplifier depends upon the Q of the LC circuit i.e., upon the sharpness of the
frequency response. The value of Q and the bandwidth are inversely proportional.
𝐟𝐫
.∆𝐟 =
𝐐
Problems
1. A parallel tuned circuit is resonant at 455 KHz and it has 20kHz bandwidth and XL = 1500Ω. Find
Q factor
2. A parallel resonant circuit has the following C = 100 pf ,L=50mH (with R =l0 ohm) and supply
voltage V = 500 V. calculate resonant frequency, Q factor and bandwidth.
3. A parallel trued circuit is resonant at 455KHz and has a 10KHz bandwidth
and XL = 1255Ω. Find the Q-factor. Calculate the circuit impedance at resonance

Single Tuned Amplifier

An amplifier circuit with a single tuner section being at the collector of the amplifier circuit is called as Single
tuner amplifier circuit.

CONSTRUCTION
❖ A simple transistor amplifier circuit consisting of a
parallel tuned circuit in its collector load, makes a
single tuned amplifier circuit.
❖ The values of capacitance and inductance of the
tuned circuit are selected such that its resonant
frequency is equal to the frequency to be amplified.
❖ The following circuit diagram shows a single tuned
amplifier circuit.

OPERATION OF SINGLE TUNED AMPLIFIER:

❖ When the frequency of the input signal becomes equals
to the resonant frequency of the tuned circuit, the
impedance of the resonant circuit is maximum and a
large signal appears across the output terminal.
❖ If the input signal is a complex wave consisting of many
frequencies, then amplifier will select and amplify
strongly only those frequencies equal and close to its resonant frequency.
❖ The other frequencies will be rejected. Thus, the desired signal is selected and amplified by the tuned
amplifier

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Electronics Circuits Module 2
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
The parallel resonance occurs at resonant frequency fr when the circuit has a high Q. the resonant frequency fr is
given by

The graph shows the frequency

response of a single tuned amplifier circuit.
❖ At resonant frequency fr the impedance of parallel
tuned circuit is very high and is purely resistive.
❖ The voltage across RL is therefore maximum, when
the circuit is tuned to resonant frequency.
❖ Hence the voltage gain is maximum at resonant
frequency and drops off above and below it.
❖ The higher the Q, the narrower will the curve be.

ADVANTAGES OF A SINGLE TUNED AMPLIFIER

❖ The power loss is less due to the lack of collector
resistance.
❖ Selectivity is high.
❖ The voltage supply of the collector is small due to the lack of Rc.

DISADVANTAGES OF A SINGLE TUNED AMPLIFIER

❖ The product of gain bandwidth is small

APPLICATIONS OF SINGLE TUNED AMPLIFIER

❖ This amplifier is used in the primary internal stage of the radio receiver wherever the selection of the front
end can be done using an RF amplifier.
❖ This amplifier can be used in television circuits.

COMPARISON OF SERIES AND PARALLEL RESONANCE CIRCUIT

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Electronics Circuits Module 2

POWER AMPLIFIER
❖ A power amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to increase the magnitude of power of a given input
signal.
❖ The power of the input signal is increased to a level high enough to drive loads of output devices like
speakers, headphones, RF transmitters etc.
❖ Unlike voltage/current amplifiers, a power amplifier is designed to drive loads directly and is used as a final
block in an amplifier chain.

COMPARISON OF VOLTAGE AMPLIFIER AND POWER AMPLIFIER

IMPEDANCE MATCHING IN POWER AMPLIFIER.

❖ Power amplifiers are used to drive loads like loud speakers, antenna etc.
❖ The power generated from the amplifier must be transferred to the load to the maximum extend.
❖ It is possible only if the output impedance of the amplifier equals the load impedance RL. Otherwise it
results in loss of power output.
❖ Usually, a transformer called the output transformer is used for this purpose.

TRANSFORMER ACTION
❖ The transformer used in the collector circuit is for impedance matching. RL is the load connected in the
secondary of a transformer. RL’ is the reflected load in the primary of the transformer.
❖ The number of turns in
the primary are n1 and
the secondary are n2. Let
V1 and V2 be the primary
and secondary voltages
and I1 and I2 be the
primary and secondary
currents respectively.
The below figure shows
the transformer clearly.

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Electronics Circuits Module 2

Problem

CLASSIFICATION OF POWER AMPLIFIER

On the basis of mode of operation power amplifiers may be classified as
(i) Class A (ii) Class AB (iii) Class B (iii) Class C

Class A power amplifier

❖ In class A power amplifier, the collector current
flows at all times during the full cycle of the input
signal.
❖ To obtain class A operation the operating point
‘Q’ is set in the middle of the load line so that the
swing of Q point will be within the active region
only

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Electronics Circuits Module 2

Class B power amplifier

❖ In class B amplifier the collector current
flows only during one half cycle of the input
signal.
❖ For class B operation, the biasing circuit is so Class B power amplifier
adjusted that the operating point ‘Q’ lies at
the cut off (Ic=0)

Class AB power amplifier

❖ In this type of power amplifier collector
current flows for a period of more than half
cycle but less than one cycle of the input
signal.
❖ For class AB operation the operating point is
located near cut off.

Class C power amplifier

Class AB power amplifier

Class C power amplifier

❖ In class C amplifier, the collector current flows for less than half cycle of the input signal.
❖ In this case the ‘Q’ point is fixed beyond the cutoff point by giving some reverse bias to the base.

Comparison of Class A, Class B and Class C Power Amplifiers

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