Common Base and Common

Collector Amplifiers
Reminder: BJT Small Signal
Model
E
B C
i
c

i
b
i
e

Definition of input and output
voltage and current directions
Amplifier
i
in

i
out
v
in v
out
Common Base Amplifiers
Uses the same stabilised bias scheme as CE
configuration.
Common Base Amplifiers
Uses the same stabilised bias scheme as CE
configuration.
The base is grounded for a.c. signals using a
large capacitor.
Signal input at the emitter (between the
emitter and the common base)
Signal output at the collector (between the
collector and the common base)
Common Base Amplifiers
+V
CC
GND
R
E
R
1

R
2
C
B
v
in
R
C
v
out
R
L

Common Base Amplifiers
We will ignore the a.c. coupled load R
L

R
1

R
2
C
B
R
C
v
in
+V
CC
GND
R
E
v
out

CB Amplifier, a.c. equivalent.
E
B
C
i
b

i
c
= i
out

R
C

r

v
in

R
E

i
e

i
in

v
out
i
b

Common Base Amplifier
1
i -
i
i
i
gain Current
e
c
in
out

Common Base Amplifier

c
in
out
r
R
v
v
gain Voltage
C c out R i - v

c
b in
i
r - i r - v
Common Base Amplifier
Input impedance to transistor

) (1
r
i -
r i -
i -
v


e
b
e
in

Common Base Amplifier
E
B
C
i
b

i
c
= i
out

R
C

r

v
in
R
E

i
e

i
in

v
out
i
b

v
in
Common Base Amplifier
Input impedance to stage (whole amplifier)

) (1
r
// R

E

Common Base Amplifier

E
B
C
i
b

i
c
= i
out

R
C

r

v
in
R
E

i
e

i
in

v
out
i
b

Common Collector Amplifier
Signal input between base and common
collector.
Signal output between emitter and common
collector.
Common Collector Amplifier
V
CC
R
1

R
2

R
E

v
in
v
out

CC Amplifier, a.c. equivalent
circuit
v
s

R
S

i
b

r


B
C
i
b
i
o
R
E


v
out

R
B =
R
1
//R
2
v
in

i
e

E
Common Collector Amplifier
b c b e i i i i ) 1 (
] )R (1 [r i R i r i v E b E e b in
Common Collector Amplifier
Transistor input impedance =
] )R (1 [r
i
v
R E
b
in
ib
Common Collector Amplifier
E b E e out )R (1 i R i v
] R ) (1 [r i
R i ) (1

v
v
gain Voltage
E b
E b
in
out

] )R (1 [r i v E b in
Common Collector Amplifier
1
] R ) (1 [r
R ) (1
gain Voltage
E
E

) 1 (
i
i
i
i
gain Current
b
e
in
out

Common Collector Amplifier
To find the output impedance we note that:


Hence


b B S b out r i - R // R i - v
low
) (1
) r R // (R

i
v
R
B S
e
out
out

Common Collector Amplifier

The voltage gain is slightly less than unity.

The CC circuit is sometimes known as an
emitter follower since the output voltage at
the emitter follows the input voltage at the
base.

Common Collector Amplifier
The prime function of this circuit is to
connect a high resistance source to a low
resistance load (a buffer amplifier).

Since voltage gain is approximately one this
is achievable as the current gain is high.