Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering

BEE2213 Analog Electronics I

ASSIGNMENT
BJT FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Mapping CO,PO: CO3,PO1,CO5,PO10
CO3: Analyze the frequency response of various BJT configurations.
PO1: Ability to acquire in-depth technical competency in specific engineering discipline
CO5: Work effectively as an individual and in a group.
PO10: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of engineering and management principles and
apply these to ones own work, as a member and leader in a team, to manage projects and
in multidisciplinary environments.
Theory

The frequency response of an amplifier is presented in a form of a graph that shows

output amplitude (or, more often, voltage gain) plotted versus frequency. Typical plot of
the voltage gain of an amplifier versus frequency is shown in Figure 1. The gain is null at
zero frequency, then rises as frequency increases, level off for further increases in
frequency, and then begins to drop again at high frequencies. The frequency response of
an amplifier can be divided into three frequency regions, which are low, high and midband region. The frequency response begins with the lower frequency region designated
between 0 Hz and lower cutoff frequency, fL. At lower cutoff frequency, fL ,the gain is
equal to 0.707 Amid. Amid is a constant mid-band gain obtained from the mid-band
frequency region. The third, the upper frequency region covers frequency between upper
cutoff frequency, fH and above. Similarly, at upper cutoff frequency, fH, the gain is equal
to 0.707 Amid. After the upper cutoff frequency, the gain decreases with frequency
increases and dies off eventually.

Figure 1. Frequency response of an amplifier

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The lower frequency response

Since the impedance of coupling capacitors increases as frequency decreases, the voltage
gain of a BJT amplifier decreases as frequency decreases. At very low frequencies, the
capacitive reactance of the coupling capacitors may become large enough to drop some of
the input voltage or output voltage. Also, the emitter-bypass capacitor may become large
enough so that it no longer shorts the emitter resistor to ground.
The upper frequency response
The capacitive reactance of a capacitor decreases as frequency increases. This can lead to
problems for amplifiers used for high-frequency amplification. Transistor has inherent
shunt capacitances between each pair of terminals. At high frequencies, these
capacitances effectively short the ac signal voltage.
Your task
Figure 2 is a BJT amplifier with the capacitors. As mentioned above, there are some
capacitors in this circuit will affect the low frequency response and high frequency
response. To get both responses, you need to do DC and AC analysis on this circuit. Then
use the given information from the circuit and calculated current and voltage values
(from AC and DC analysis) to calculate lower cutoff frequency f L and upper cutoff
frequency fH. Finally, plot the frequency response on the semi-log paper.

Figure 2. BJT amplifier circuit

*Given values : CWi = 5pF , CWo = 8pF
Cbc =12 pF , Cbe = 40 pF, Cce = 8pF

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For this assignment, there are several sub-tasks that you need to do. All tasks are listed as
follow:
1. Find 4 cycles semi-log graph paper on internet, then download and print it (four
copies). On that graph paper, determine the linear and log scale. You should
understand and know how to plot the frequency response.
2. Lower frequency response:
a) Draw a DC equivalent circuit for the BJT amplifier of Figure 2 (switch is
ONN)
b) Calculate emitter current IE by using DC analysis.
c) Calculate re
d) Draw an AC equivalent circuit for the BJT amplifier of Figure 2.
e) Determine Zi and Zo.
f) Calculate Avmid
g) Calculate fLS, fLC, fLE and determine the low cutoff frequency.
h) Sketch the asymptotes of the Bode plot defined by the cutoff frequencies of
part (g) on the first semi-log paper.
i) Sketch the low-frequency response for the amplifier using the result of part (g)
3. High frequency response:
a) Draw an AC equivalent circuit for the BJT amplifier of Figure 2, including the
capacitors that affect the high frequency response (switch is ONN)
b) Calculate input and output Miller capacitances.
c) Calculate fHi, fHo and determine the upper cutoff frequency.
d) Sketch the asymptotes of the Bode plot defined by the cutoff frequencies of
part (c) on the second semi-log paper.
e) Sketch the low-frequency response for the amplifier using the result of part (c)

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4. Answer the following questions:

a) Determine which capacitor affects on the lower cutoff frequency and the
upper cutoff frequency of the amplifier circuit.
b) Is there any different result between the amplifier circuit with load resistor and
without load resistor? If yes, explain briefly.
c) In theory, RL is a load resistor. If in practical, what is a suitable device that
similar with RL?
**Submission Deadline (hardcopy) : 12 December 2014, before 2PM
** Total Marks = 50 Marks

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