THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY EE2003-E02

Department of Electrical Engineering

EE2003-E02: Design of a Small Signal Common-Emitter Amplifier

Objectives
1. To design and build a single stage small-signal common-emitter (CE) amplifier.
2. To explain the effects on voltage gain of component change.

Materials and Equipment:

1. Seven resistors: 510 Ω, 2 kΩ, 3.9 kΩ, 5.1 kΩ, 6.2 kΩ (x 2), 50 kΩ

2. Three capacitors: 10 µF(x 3)

3. NPN Transistor: 2N2222A
4. DC power supply
5. Signal generator
6. Digital oscilloscope
7. Prototype board.

Procedure
1. Design and construct the transistor amplifier circuit shown in Figure 1 to meet the
following d.c. specifications:
VCC = 15 V, VB = 1.6 V, IC = 1.8 mA.
Select RC for maximum sinusoidal output voltage swing, and choose the d.c. current
through R1 to be approximately 0.15IC.

Figure 1: Common Emitter Amplifier

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 THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY EE2003-E02
Department of Electrical Engineering

2. Write down the values you selected for the following resistors:
R1 = ____________ RC = ____________
R2 = ____________ RE = ____________

3. Set the signal generator frequency to be 1 kHz, and adjust the signal generator to
amplitude of 10 mV (this amplitude may need to be adjusted). Using an oscilloscope
captures waveforms of the input vi (CH1) and output vo (CH2). Make sure that vo is
always sinusoidal wave.

4. Use the digital multimeter to measure the d.c. levels at VB, VC, and VE. Apply Ohm’s law
to calculate the IB, IC, and IE.

5. Using the oscilloscope to measure the input peak-to-peak voltage and the output peak-to-
peak voltage, and hence calculate the voltage gain Av = vo/vi. Estimate the phase
difference between vi and vo.

6. Compare the results of measurement with those obtained, or assumed, in your calculation
in Step 1.

7. With vi unchanged, halve the value of RC. Measure the new d.c. levels in step 4 and Av in
step 5.

8. Increase the original value of RC by 50% (i.e., 1.5 times the RC in step 2) and measure the
new d.c. levels in step 4 and Av in step 5.

9. Restore RC to its original value and remove the 20 µF by-pass capacitor across RE.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 above.

Processing the results

1. Give your design procedure for the selection of the resistors.
2. Wherever it is possible put your results in tabular form.
3. Give reasons why you obtained different values of d.c. levels and Av from your initial
design.
4. Derive an equation how Av depends on RC.

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 THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY EE2003-E02
Department of Electrical Engineering

have a β of at least 100 in optimal conditions.

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