ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DESIGN 1
402058
Chapter 1
Signals & Amplifiers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This slide is adopted from lecture slides of
Microelectronic Circuits Text by Sedra and Smith,
Oxford Publishing.
Oxford University Publishing
Microelectronic Circuits by Adel S. Sedra and Kenneth C. Smith (0195323033)
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INTRODUCTION
IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL LEARN…
That electronic circuits process signals.
The Thevenin and Norton representations of
signal sources.
The representation of a signal as sum of sine
waves.
The analog and digital representations of a
signal.
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INTRODUCTION
IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL LEARN…
The signal amplifier.
How amplifiers are characterized (modeled)
How the frequency response of an amplifier is
measured and calculated.
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1. SIGNALS
Signal – contains information
e.g. voice of radio announcer reading the news
Process – an operation which allows an observer
to understand this information from a signal
generally done electrically
Transducer – device which converts signal from
non-electrical to electrical form
e.g. microphone (sound to electrical)
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1. SIGNALS
Q: How are signals represented?
A: thevenin form – voltage source vs(t) with
series resistance RS
preferable when RS is low
A: norton form – current source is(t) with parallel
resistance RS
preferable when RS is high
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1. SIGNALS
Two alternative representations of a signal source:
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(a) the Thévenin form; (b) the Norton form.
2. FREQUENCY SPECTRUM OF
SIGNALS
Frequency spectrum – defines a time-domain
signal in terms of the strength of harmonic
components
Fourier series vs. Fourier transform
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WHAT IS A FOURIER SERIES?
Decomposition – of a periodic function into the
(possibly infinite) sum of simpler oscillating
functions
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FOURIER SERIES EXAMPLE
4Va 1 1
f( x ) sin( tt
) sin(3 ) sin(5 t )
0 0 0
3 5
The frequency spectrum (also known as the line
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2. FREQUENCY SPECTRUM OF
SIGNALS
Q: Can the Fourier Transform be applied to a non-
periodic function of time?
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3. ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS
Analog signal – is continuous with respect to both
value and time
Discrete-time signal – is continuous with respect
to value but sampled at discrete points in time
Digital signal – is quantized (applied to values) as
well as sampled at discrete points in time
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3. ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS
analog signal
discrete-time signal
digital signal
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3. ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS
sampling
quantization
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3. ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS
Q: Are digital and binary synonymous?
digital
digital and
binary
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4. AMPLIFIERS
Q: Why is signal amplification needed?
Linearity – is property of an amplifier which
ensures a signal is not “altered” from amplification
Distortion – is any unintended change in output
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4.1. SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION
Voltage amplifier – is used to boost voltage
levels for increased resolution.
Power amplifier – is used to boost current levels
for increased “intensity”.
output / input relationship for amplifier
v o (t ) Av v i (t )
voltage gain
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4.2. AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT SYMBOL
(a) Circuit symbol for amplifier. (b) An amplifier with a
common terminal (ground) between the input and output
ports.
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4.3. POWER AND CURRENT GAIN
Q: What is one main difference between an
amplifier and transformer? …Because both alter
voltage levels.
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4.4. EXPRESSING GAIN IN DECIBELS
Q: How may gain be expressed in decibels?
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5. CIRCUIT MODELS FOR
AMPLIFIERS
Model – is the description of component’s (e.g.
amplifier) terminal behavior
neglecting internal operation / transistor design
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5.1. VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS
model
of amplifier
input
terminals
model
of amplifier
output
terminals
Ri RL
input voltage vi (v s ) output voltage vo (Avovi )
R R R R
source i s open-ckt L o
volt. output
source and
input voltage output and
load
resistances resistances
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5.1. VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS
Q: How can one model the amplifier behavior
from previous slide?
A: Model which is function of: vs, Avo, Ri, Rs,
Ro, RL
R RL Ri RL
vo Avo (v s ) i
Avovs
source Ri Rs RL Ro
Ri Rs RL Ro
volt.
source and output and
input load
resistances
resistances
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open-ckt output – Chap 1: Signals & Amplifiers
voltage 23
5.1. VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS
Q: What is one “problem” with this behavior?
A: Gain (ratio of vo and vs) is not constant,
and dependent on input and load resistance.
R RL Avovs Ri RL
vo Avo (v s ) i
source
R R R R
i s L o Ri Rs RL Ro
volt.
source and output and
input load
resistances
resistances
The ideal open-ckt
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voltage
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& Amplifiers
5.1. VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS
Ideal amplifier model – is function of vs and Avo
only!!
It is assumed that Ro << RL…
It is assumed that Ri << Rs…
non-ideal model
ideal model
key characteristics of ideal voltage amplifier model = high input
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Amplifiers 25
5.1. VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS
Ideal amplifier model – is function of vs and Avo
only!!
It is assumed that Ro << RL…
It is assumed that Ri << Rs…
Ri RL
vo Avov s Avov s
Ri Rs RL Ro ideal
model
non-ideal model
key characteristics of ideal voltage amplifier model = source
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load –resistance
Chap 1: SignalsR& Amplifiers
L have no effect on gain
26
S
5.2. CASCADED AMPLIFIERS
In real life, an amplifier is not ideal and will not have
infinite input impedance or zero output impedance.
Cascading of amplifiers, however, may be used to
emphasize desirable characteristics.
first amplifier – high Ri, medium Ro
last amplifier – medium Ri, low Ro
aggregate – high Ri, low Ro
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EXAMPLE 1.3: CASCADED
AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATIONS
Examine system of cascaded amplifiers on next
slide.
Q(a): What is overall voltage gain?
Q(b): What is overall current gain?
Q(c): What is overall power gain?
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EXAMPLE 1.3: CASCADED
AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATIONS
Three-stage amplifier for Example 1.3.
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5.3. OTHER AMPLIFIER TYPES
voltage amplifier current amplifier
transconductance amp. transresistance amp.
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5.3. OTHER AMPLIFIER TYPES
v0 Ri i0 Ri 0
Av 0 with Av 0 with
vi i0 0
Ro 0 ii v0 0
Ro
voltage amplifier current amplifier
transconductance amplifier transresistance amplifier
i0 Ri v0 Ri 0
Gm with Rm with
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Ro –
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Chap 1: Signals & Amplifiers
Ro 0 31
0
5.4. RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN FOUR AMP MODELS
Interchangeability – although these four types
exist, any of the four may be used to model any
amplifier
They are related through Avo (open circuit gain)
current
to voltage transres.
amplifier transcond. to voltage
to voltage
amplifier
amplifier
Ro Rm
Avo Ais GmRo
Ri Ri
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5.5. DETERMINING RI AND RO
Q: How can one calculate input resistance from terminal
behavior?
A: Observe vi and ii, calculate via Ri = vi / ii
Q: How can one calculate output resistance from terminal
behavior?
A:
Remove source voltage (such that vi = ii = 0)
Apply voltage to output (vx)
Measure negative output current (-io)
Calculate via Ro = -vx / io
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Section 1.5.5:
Determining Ri and Ro
question: how can we calculate input resistance from terminal behavior?
answer: observe vi and ii, calculate via Ri = vi / ii
question: how can we calculate output resistance from terminal
behavior?
answer:
remove source voltage (such that vi = ii = 0)
apply voltage to output (vx)
measure negative output current (-io)
calculate via Ro = -vx / io
Determining the output resistance.
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5.6. UNILATERAL MODELS
Unilateral model – is one in which signal flows only
from input to output (not reverse)
However, most practical amplifiers will exhibit
some reverse transmission…
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EXAMPLE 1.4: COMMON-EMITTER
CIRCUIT
Examine the bipolar junction transistor (BJT).
three-terminal device
when powered up with dc source and operated
with small signals, may be modeled by linear
circuit below.
C
E
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input resistance (r)
base Example 1.4. collector
output resistance (ro)
examine:
bipolar junction transistor (BJT):
three-terminal device
when powered up with dc source and operated with small signals,
may be modeled by linear circuit below.
short-circuit small-signal circuit model for
a bipolar junction transistor
conductance (BJT)
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m
EXAMPLE 1.4: COMMON-EMITTER
CIRCUIT
Q(a): Derive an expression for the voltage gain vo /
vi of common-emitter circuit with:
Rs = 5kohm
r = 2.5kohm
gm = 40mA/V
ro = 100kohm
RL = 5kohm
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input and output share common terminal
source load
The BJT connected as an amplifier with the emitter as
a common terminal between input and output (called a
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common-emitter amplifier).
6. FREQUENCY RESPONSE OF
AMPLIFIERS
Reading assignment:
Section 1.6 pg 33-43
Sedra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 7e.
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SUMMARY
IN THIS CHAPTER, YOU HAVE LEARNED:
the Thevenin and Norton representations of
signal sources
the representation of a signal
the signal amplifier and its characteristics
the frequency response of an amplifier
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HOMEWORK
Sedra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 7e.
Chapter 1 problems:
1.2, 1.5 ,1.6
1.10, 1.14, 1.15
1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19
1.20, 1.39, 1.43, 1.63
Prepare Chapter 4: Diodes
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