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This flipped class will introduce why we need to use solid state transistors for RF amplifiers and it
will provide in some ways a revision of how transistor circuits are biased but also it will be
important to learn about how to implement transistor circuits to work at radio frequencies. In this
module, we will focus on the bipolar junction transistor as it is a useful circuit from which we can
learn about the fundamentals of RF electronics. We will also learn in other classes about how they
can be designed for low noise amplifiers as well as appreciate how low noise amplifiers work.
In preparing for your flipped class it should take approximately two hours and you may find that
completing the work in two parts will be easier going. Everything is provided in small chunks to
enable you to take on the tasks as you find best. Some of it will involve reading notes, some will
involve watching small video clips while some will involve looking through one or two examples
giving important formative feedback.
Tubes and accelerators - These were first used before solid state technologies and still
are used for certain applications, usually where the transmission of very high power is
required such as broadcasting. For receivers, however, they are not so useful because they
simply are not compact enough and many receivers need to be portable and mobile.
Operational amplifiers As you will know from basic electronics, the operational
amplifier can be designed and built from relatively simple circuitry and substantially high
gain values can be reached. One big disadvantage is that for high RF frequencies the
operational amplifier cannot be used. Therefore this is only an option for some applications
such as the high frequency (HF) band, which is less than about 80MHz. Though there are
some operational amplifiers going as high as 1GHz on the market, they come with
limitations.
Solid state transistor amplifiers - For most RF applications therefore it is necessary to
use a suitable transistor amplifier circuit. This can be achieved with either field effect
transistors (FETs) or bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) but for the purposes of this module
only BJTs will be focussed on.
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Task 3 Function of a By-Pass Capacitor
Watch the short video to learn about the function of the by-pass capacitor. You will find the video
on SurreyLearn in the same directory as these notes.
You may wish to watch the video more than once in order to absorb the information properly.
Make sure you are able to derive the impedance as specified in the video. Ensure you understand
how the circuit enables current to by-pass the resistor when the frequency is high.
C
ZAmplifier
Does this circuit remind you of a filter? If so what form of filter is it and therefore does the value
of capacitance matter when we wish to enable the RF frequencies to enter the amplifier?
You may wish to watch the video more than once in order to absorb the information properly.
Check that you understand why the RF choke is needed and think what would happen to the RF
current if there was no choke present?
You may wish to watch the video more than once in order to absorb the information properly.
Check specifically about the regulator capacitor and ensure you are happy with why that is
required.
Vcc = vce + ic R e
2
Where vce is the voltage across the collector to emitter. Therefore as expected, the RF choke plays
no part at DC and we can see the above equation holds because no DC flows through the DC
blocking capacitor or to the base of the transistor. It is clear from this equation that if a value of
collector current and supply voltage are given, then the value of Re will determine the value of vce.
Vcc
vo
R1
vin
R2
Re Ce
Given that the supply voltage and collector current are known, the desired quiescent collector to
emitter voltage, vceQ needs to be determined. By inspection of Figure 3, it can be seen it is
halfway between the knee voltage and the maximum allowable voltage so therefore:
vk + Vcc
vceQ =
2
Vcc vk
Re =
2icQ
3
ic
ic|max
Q
icQ
vce
vk vce,Q Vcc
You may wish to watch the video more than once in order to absorb the information properly.
This is an important feature to understand how the voltage at the base is determined.
R 2Vcc
vbe + R eicQ
R1 + R 2
It is assumed the base emitter voltage, vbe, is usually around 0.6v found on a datasheet. There
are an infinite range of values of R1 and R2 that will satisfy the above equation, it is clearly the
ratio of the two resistors that is more critical.
Refer back to Figure 2 and ensure that you understand from this how a small alternating current
forms a large alternating current, which will then form a large alternating voltage across the load
resistor.
Tim Brown
November 2016
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