Experiment 8 Direct Coupling Objectives ‘When you have completed this exercise, you will be able to determine the de operating conditions of a direct coupled two-stage amplifier by using measured values. You will determine the ac voltage gain and the input/output phase relationship of a direct coupled amplifier by using measured and calculated values. You will be able to determine the frequency response of a direct coupled amplifier by using measured values. You will verify your results with a multimeter and an oscilloscope. A- DC Operation Introduction and Theoretical Background When the output of the first-stage amplifier (QI) is directly connected to the input of the second-stage amplifier (Q2), the amplifiers are direct coupled. Direct coupling can be used for different amplifier configurations, as shown in Figure E8-1. Figure E8-2 shows the de operation schematic of the direct coupled amplifier circuit on the TRANSISTOR AMPLIFIER CIRCUITS circuit board. The circuit includes two common emitter amplifiers (Ql and. Q2). The first (QI) and second (Q2) stages are NPN and PNP transistors, respectively. The QI output at the collector terminal connects directly to the Q2 input at the base terminal; the first stage collector voltage (Vcy) and second stage base voltage (Vp) are equal. The first stage common emitter amplifier (Q1) is an NPN transistor with de conditions similar to those of NPNs used in previous units. The second stage common emitter amplifier (Q2) is a PNP transistor. Consequently, the amplifier voltage (Vg2) IS about 0.6 Vde more positive than the base voltage (Vz) when the base-emitter junction is forward biased. Because the base-collector junction is reverse biased for normal transistor operation, the collector voltage (Vc2) is less positive than the base voltage (Va).‘Amplifier Ql has a voltage-divider circuit (RI-R2 and R3)to set and stabilize the de bias of the first stage. Q2 does not have a voltage divider circuit; the base voltage (Vp2) is set by the first stage collector voltage (Vc}). (a) NPN COMMON EMITTER AMPLIFIER DIRECT COUPLED TO A PNP COMMON EMITTER AMPLIFIE (o) NPM COMMON ERNTTER AMPLIFIER DIRECT, COUPLED 0 AN NPN COMMON COLLECTOR AMPLIFIER Figure E8-1. Direct coupled two-stage common emitter amplifiers. 107Figure E8-2. Direct coupled amplifier circuit for de operation. The absence of a voltage divider in Q2 makes the de bias more sensitive to temperature changes. The second stage emitter resistor provides some feedback to counteract de bias drift due to temperature, but it is not effective as a voltage divider circuit. The do bias of each stage is not isolated from each other, as in RC or transformer coupled amplifiers. Equipments Required F.A.CE.T. Base Unit TRANSISTOR AMPLIFIER CIRCUITS Circuit Board Power supply, 15 Vde (2 required) Multimeter Oscilloscope, dual trace Generator, sine wave Procedure 1- Locate the DIRECT COUPLING circuit block on the TRANSISTOR AMPLIFIER CIRCUITS circuit board, Connect the direct coupled amplifier circuit of Figure E8-3 for de operation, 108