ELC102.

2 Laboratory Activity 8: Common Emitter

Circuit
Post-laboratory Report; Submitted: 21 October 2015

Sheanne Eric P. Cabantac Ramon Angelo G. Noel

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering
Ateneo de Manila University Ateneo de Manila University
Philippines Philippines

Abstract— this experiment aims to study the characteristics of a the most commonly used configurations because it provides a
common-emitter transistor amplifier particularly its input and phase reversal between input and output signals.
output characteristics namely: input/output current and
input/output voltage. For this experiment we dealt with yet another
BJT, this time in common emitter configuration. The experiment
involved taking the initial readings of the components of the circuit
and measuring their values. This will also deal with measuring
voltages in both DC and AC. The some of the results we acquired
from the experiment are quite similar to the expected values from
the given circuit while some are way off.

I. INTRODUCTION
The common emitter configuration is one of the most
commonly used configurations for amplifier circuits. This
configuration is an example of an inverting amplifier circuit.
Figure 1. Common Emitter Configuration
The input is fed into the base emitter side and the output is
taken from the collector emitter side of the transistor. This type
In this type of configuration, the currents flowing into
if configuration has a greater input impedance, current and
the transistor should be equal to the current flowing out of the
power gain than the common base configuration but the
transistor (by KCL), so IE = IB + IC.
voltage gain is much lower. The aim of this experiment is to
study the characteristics of the common-emitter configuration
As the load resistance RL is connected in series with
specifically the input and output currents and voltages. The
the collector, the current gain of the common –emitter circuit
amplifier’s output impedance and voltage gain will also be
configuration is quite large. The current gain β in the common
studied. This will be done by constructing an actual common
emitter is defined as the change in collector current divided by
emitter circuit and studying and measuring the input voltages
the change in base current with the collector voltage
(both AC and DC), the node voltages at the transistor terminals
maintained at a constant value.
and the currents flowing in and out of the transistor using the
Δ𝐼𝐶
DMM (for DC) and the oscilloscope (for AC). 𝛽=
Δ𝐼𝐵
(1)
II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND The ratio between the collector current and the emitter
The common-emitter configuration is one of the most current is called alpha (α).
frequently used circuit configuration for practical amplifiers 𝐼𝐶
𝛼=
since it provides good voltage, current and power gain. This is 𝐼𝐸
mainly because the input impedance is low as it is connected to (2)
a forward biased PN-junction, while the output impedance is Because of the electrical relationship between these
high as it is taken from a reverse biased PN-junction. three currents due to the physical construction of the transistor,
a small change in the base current will result in a much larger
The input signal is applied to the base emitter circuit change in the collector current.
and the output is taken from the collector emitter circuit. Since
it is an inverting amplifier circuit, resulting output signal is
180o out-of-phase with the input voltage signal. This makes the III. METHODOLOGY
emitter common both to the input and the output. It is one of A. Materials
 1 unit DMM
  1 unit Capacitance Meter C1 0.047uf 0.04651 uf
 1 unit Power Supply
C2 0.047uf 0.04932 uf
 1 unit Bread board
 1 unit Oscilloscope R1 6.8k 6.66k
 Assorted Connectors and Wires R2 56k 55k
 1 pc 6.8 k R3 680 669
 1 pc 56 k R4 5.6k 5.55k
 1 pc 680 k R5 10k 9.9k
 1 pc 5.6 k R6 10k 9.9k
 3 pc 10 k R7 10k 9.87k
 1 pc 2N3904 Bipolar Transistor Table 1. Nominal and Measured Values of Components
B. Procedure
Under Table 2 are the measured DC voltages for the different
As standard procedure, get all the necessary equipment need nodes of the circuit. All of the measured DC quantities were
to start the experiment. Once done, proceed with the measured using the DMM voltmeter.
experiment.
Quantities Measured Value
Set up the circuit shown on the bread board below in Figure 2:
Vcc 12V
Vc 8.35V
Vb 10V
Ve 371.6mV
Vin1 1.066V
Table 2. DC Voltages

The quantities recorded under Table 2 were measured and

interpreted using the oscilloscope. Before anything else, we
made sure we calibrated our oscilloscope before doing the
experiment. The input was a 200mV peak with a period of
Figure 2. Common-Emitter Circuit
1.018 ms-1, giving us a frequency equal to 982 Hertz. This was
obtained by setting the oscilloscope at 0.2ms/div multiplied to
Then, look at listed nominal values of component in Table 1
5.05 divs thus giving a period of 1.018.
and record the actual measured value on the same table.
Quantities Measured Value
Now measure the quantities listed in Table 2 using the Vin (0.1V/divs)*(2divs) =
appropriate device needed and record them in appropriate 200mV
column. To do this remove Vin and replace it with short Vin1 (0.8divs)*(0.2mV/divs)
circuit to the ground. Since there is no AC component, only = 0.16mV
DC components are measured. Measure the DC quantities Vb (0.8divs)*(0.2mV/divs)
listed in Table 2 and record them in appropriate column. = 0.16mV
Ve (0.05divs)*(0.2mV/divs)
Then remove the short circuit and engage the Vs signal = 0.01 mV
generator. You have to set the oscilloscope in ac coupling and Vc (0.95divs)*(1V/divs) =
measures the quantities listed in Table 3. Record the data in 0.95V
appropriate column.
Vout (0.93divs)*(1V/divs) =
0.93V
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Vout1 (0.5divs)*(1V/divs) =
0.5V
Vout1(open) (12divs)(1V/divs) = 12V
Under Table 1 are the nominal and measured values of all the
components and sources used in our circuit. All these values Vout 0V
were measured using the DMM. Table 3. AC Voltages

Quantities Nominal Value Measured Value Post Lab Activity

Quantities Remarks Computed Value

 IR1=Ic (Vcc-Vc)/R1 0.55mA % diff Ai and (Aie1-Ai)/Aie1 % 0
IR2 (Vcc-Vin1)/R2 0.1988 mA Aie1
IR4 Vin1/R4 0.192mA % diff Ai and (Aie1-Ai)/Aie1 % 0
IR3=Ie Ve/R3 0.556mA Aie1
IR6=Ib (Vin1-Vb)/R6 -0.9024mA % diff Ai and (Aie1-Ai)/Aie1 % 0
hFE Ic/Ib 0.609 Aie1
hIE (Vb-Ve)/Ib 10669.77 Table 6. Percent Differences
Table 4. DC Current Signals Computed from Table 2
As seen above all the values are 0 due to the previous values
AC Current Signals Computed from Table 8.3 being 0. Using the equations 8.8 and 8.20 to derive H,
Quantities Remarks Computed
Value (𝑟𝑒𝑓 ∗ 𝐺𝑜) − 𝑜𝑢𝑡
H=
IR1=ic Vc/R1 142.64 µA 𝐺𝑜 ∗ 𝑜𝑢𝑡
IR2 Vin1/R2 2.91 pA
IR4 Vin1/R4 28.83 pA X(s) Y(s)
IR3=ie Ve/R3 14.95 pA 𝐺𝑜
IR6=ib (Vin1-Vb)/R6 0 1 + 𝐺𝑜 ∗ 𝐻
IR5=IR7 Vout/(R5+R7) 47.04 µA
hfe ic/ib 0 Input of the block Output of the block
hie (vb-ve)/ib 0
Figure 2. Basic Block Diagram with feedback transfer
re hie/hfe 0
function H
ree (estimate) 26mv/ie 1.74 mega
ohms
%diff re (ree-re)/ree % 100% V. CONCLUSION
vsree
Iout1 (short) Vout/R5 93.93 µA This experiment deals with another BJT circuit to create a
rb vb/ib 0 common emitter configuration. Through the observation we
rbe (estimate) Hie + (hfe+1)*R3 0 were able to see that Common-emitter transistor amplifiers are
%diff rbvsrbe (Rbe-Rb)/Rbe % 0 so-called because the input and output voltage points share the
Rs+R5 Vout (open)/Iout1 127.75 k ohms emitter lead of the transistor in common with each other, not
(short) considering any power supplies. And through the results and
Rs (Rs+R5)-R5 117.85 k ohms discussion we were able to observe how the low input
In IR2+IR4+IR6 31.74 pA impedance provided good voltage, current, and power gain.
Iout Vout/(R5+R7) 47.04 µA The amplifier did not work smoothly as seen in the results.
Ai Iout/Iin 1.48 k These errors may have been due to unstable probes, loose
Aie1 Use equation 8.21 0 wires and possible defective DMM. The laboratory
(estimate) experiment was accomplished through the use of a DMM to
Aie2 Use equation 8.22 0 measure all necessary data. Finally this experiment has further
(estimate) widened our knowledge of BJTs and can help us in future
Av Vout/Vin 4.65 related experiments.
Ave1 Use equation 8.19 0
(estimate) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Ave2 Use equation 8.20 0 The authors would like to thank Florencio M. Apolinar
(estimate) Jr. for preparing the laboratory manual entitled “Student
Table 5. AC Current Signals Computed from Table 3 Manual Lab 2”, which served as a guide for the
laboratory report.
Some of the values above are 0 (zero) due to Vin1 being equal REFERENCES
to Vb. This was the value which we got from using our DMM
and even tried using other groups’ DMMs but still got Vin1 [1] Storr, Wayne. 'Bipolar Transistor Tutorial, The BJT
equal to Vb. Transistor'. Basic Electronics Tutorials. N.p., 2013. Web.
15 Oct. 2015.
%Differences [2] [1] Radio-electronics.com, 'Transistor Current Mirror
Quantities Remarks Computed Circuit | Radio-Electronics.Com', 2015. [Online].
Value Available: http://www.radio-
% diff Ai and (Aie1-Ai)/Aie1 % 0 electronics.com/info/circuits/transistor/current-
Aie1 mirror.php. [Accessed: 12- Oct- 2015].