1C Flashcards by Kassandra Strong

A transistor may be connected in three basic amplifier configurations:

Common Emitter (CE) or Grounded Emitter
Common Base (CB) or Grounded Base
Common Collector (CC) or Emitter Follower or Grounded Collector

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You can use the following steps to identify a transistor amplifier configuration:

Step 1. Identify the element to which the input signal is applied. The input is always
applied to the emitter or base, never the collector element.
Step 2. Identify the element from which the output signal is taken. There will
always be a load resistance in the output. The output is never taken from the base.
Step 3. The remaining element is the common element.

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Apply these steps to identify the configurations shown in Figure 1-117A. If the input signal is applied to the base and the output signal is taken from the collector, the common element is the
emitter (not used for signal). Since the emitter is the remaining element, this transistor is connected in the ___ ___ (CE) configuration.

Common Emitter

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Looking at Figure 1-117B, if the input is applied to the emitter and the output is taken from collector, then the common element is the base (not used for signal). This transistor is connected
in the ___ ___ (CB) configuration.

Common Base

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Finally, looking at Figure 1-117C, if the input is applied to the base and output is taken from the emitter, the common element is the collector (not used for signal). This transistor is connected in the ___ ___ (CC) configuration.

Common Collector

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____ is defined as the average DC voltage (or current) used to establish the operating point in transistor circuits for a static, or quiescent, condition.

Bias

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___ ___ means the circuit is powered on, but there is no input signal (Figure 1-118A), so the transistor is in a fixed, non-varying condition. Figure 1-118B shows the transistor is outputting
a steady voltage.

Static condition

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A circuit’s ability to take a small change input (voltage or current) and produce a larger change in output (voltage or current)

Amplification

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The input is always applied to the emitter or the base; never the collector:

NIC =

Never In the Collector

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The output is never taken from the base:

NOB =

Never Out of the Base

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In the static, or quiescent, state, a transistor is deactivated, or has no input, but what do you call it when the device is activated, or its conditions do vary? The varying condition of an amplifier
circuit is called its ___ ___ or operating condition.

dynamic condition

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This occurs whenever an input signal is applied to a device in a static condition.

dynamic condition/operating condition

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In a silicon transistor, the nominal forward bias across the EB junction is approximately ___ V.

0.6V

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The ___ is the controlling factor for transistor operation

bias

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Figure 1-121A shows an NPN transistor with 0.6V of forward bias across the EB junction and 10V of reverse bias across the CB junction. Under these conditions, current will flow from the
emitter to the base and from the emitter to the collector. The ___ ___ ___ ___ indicates the relative magnitudes of current flow.

width of the arrows

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An increase in forward bias results in a current ___
A decrease in bias will ___ current

increase
decrease

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Earlier, two different batteries were used to provide VEE and VCC. These voltages can also be supplied by a single power source using a ___ ___ ___ (Figure 1-122).

voltage divider circuit

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The single power source is usually referred to as ___. REB represents the resistance of the emitter-base junction. The positive side of the battery is connected to the collector, and the negative side of the battery is connected to the emitter, which is grounded.

Vcc

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Connecting RD between the base of Q1 and VCC provides a complete path for current flow through the emitter-base (EB) junction. RD and REB form a simple voltage divider. Current through this voltage divider network develops voltages across RD and REB. This voltage divider arrangement ___ ___ the emitter-base junction. By RD developing 19.4 V, this leaves 0.6 V for the emitter-base voltage (bias).

forward biases

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The ___ ___ for the collector-base (CB) junction is the difference between the base voltage (0.6V) and VCC (20V). This makes the collector 19.4V more positive than the base, reverse biasing
the CB junction.

reverse bias

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Another way of looking at the reverse biased CB junction is to realize that the most positive potential of the circuit is on the ____, which is N-type material.

collector

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In all transistor circuits, a resistor (RD) connected between VCC and the base is mandatory. This resistor is necessary to determine the ___ of the ___. It determines the amount of base current and the voltage dropped across the EB junction (bias).

bias of the transistor

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In some circuits, a resistor (RB) may be placed in parallel with the EB junction to improve ___ ___ and aid in developing forward bias (Figure 1-123). Since voltages in parallel are common,
the voltage drop across RB will be 0.6V. In this illustration, RB is adjustable and can be used to change the bias of Q1 and the output of the amplifier.

circuit stability

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Another necessary component in transistor circuits is a load resistance (RL). This resistor enables Q1 to develop an output. The load resistor is placed in series with the transistor. By properly biasing the transistor, it allows a specific amount of ___. This same current will flow through the series load resistor developing a voltage (10V). The transistor will drop the remaining voltage (10V).

current

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There are numerous operation classes for amplifiers. The most common amplifier classes are those used to amplify ___.

audio

What are the four classes of amplifiers?

A B AB C

The class of operation is determined by how many ___ of the input signal the amplifier conducts, or how long the amplifier works during an input signal.

degrees

Three terms are used to describe the characteristics of amplifiers:

fidelity, efficiency, and distortion.

___ is defined as the degree to which a device accurately reproduces the signal applied to its input.

Fidelity

Resistor RL controls the gain for the circuit. The size of the resistor is directly ____ to gain.

proportional

Resistor RD develops the ___ ___ for operation of the transistor amplifier.

bias voltage

The ratio between the output signal power and the total input power

Efficiency

The result of changing a waveshape so that its amplitude is no longer proportional to the original amplitude

Distortion

Amplifiers can produce an output signal from all, or ___ ___ ___, of the input signal

just a portion

The following describes which class of amplifier? An exact reproduction of the input at the output Biased so collector current will flow for 360° of the input signal (conduct 100% of the time) Highest fidelity Lowest efficiency

Class A

The following describes which class of amplifier? Some amplitude distortion Biased so collector current flows more than 180°, less than 360° of the input signal (conducts 51% to 99% of the time) Average/good fidelity, poor efficiency

Class AB

All four classes of transistor amplifiers below are assuming you know the normal PN junction forward biasing operation is between .2V and .9V. So, remember to closely look at the ___ ___ and how that effects the reproduced wave on the output.

input signal

The Class A design is the most inefficient (always consuming power) and is used in ___ ___ ___, as well as in very high-end stereo systems.

low power applications

Class AB designs are the most widely used for ___ applications.

audio

The following describes which class of amplifier? Amplitude distortion Biased so collector current flows for 180 of the input signal(conduct 50% of the time) Poor fidelity Average/good efficiency

Class B

The following describes which class of amplifier? Distortion on both alternations Biased so collector current flows for less than 180° of the input signal (less than 50% of the time) Lowest fidelity Most efficient

Class C

Figure 1-29 shows an ___ ___, which is not a class of operation, but an amplifier stage. ___ is an amplitude distortion. If the input signal is applied to an amplifier too large, one alternation will drive the amplifier to saturation, and the other alternation will drive the amplifier to cutoff. The output sine wave is chopped off at the top and bottom, resulting in a signal that is poor in fidelity and efficiency.

Overdriven Amplifier

High gain amplifiers become unstable, unpredictable and create distortion in the circuit. To reduce distortion and noise in an amplifier, the voltage gain (AV) is normally restricted to a gain of about ___.

To achieve the high gain needed, amplifiers are connected in series (or cascaded together) to form ___ ___.

cascade amplifiers

Coupling circuits join the ___ ___ connecting the output of one to the input of another.

amplifiers together

____ is the technical term for an amplifier’s output-to-input magnitude ratio.

Gain

In amplifiers, gain can be expressed in terms of:

voltage, current and/or power

The gain of any device is a ratio of the change in ___ to the change in ___ (in mathematical terms).

output input

The symbol for change is the Greek letter:

Delta (Δ)

Gain is symbolized by the letter ___ and represents the number of times a signal is amplified.

Looking at the schematic diagram in Figure 1-130, we can say that the change in the input is 0.7V and the change in output is almost 10V. Notice this amplifier’s output starts at 5V, but that can be ignored. What you want to look at is the change, which is almost 10V total (peak-to-peak). Using the gain formula, we divide the change in output (10V) by the change in input (0.7V). 10V/.7V =14.29, giving us an answer of 14. This answer is expressed only as a plain number and should not have any voltage value. Any gain that is more than ___ is an increase.

The purpose of the CE amplifier is to provide good current and voltage amplification. This results in a large power increase (because current times voltage equals a power increase). This output change is ___° out of phase with the input signal. The CE amplifier takes a small change in input signal and produces a large change in output signal.

180 degrees

The following describes which kind of amplifier? For this discussion on the CE Amplifier operation, refer back to Figure 1-13,1 if needed. In the static condition, the collector voltage (Vc) is 15V and the voltage drop across the collector load resistor (R3) is 10V. On the positive alternation of the input signal, base current will increase due to an increase in base voltage from .6V to .7V. The increase in IB causes IC to increase. The voltage across R3 increases from 10V to 15V. VC then decreases from 15V to 10V. Note that increasing IB, increases IC and decreases VC. The output signal varies at the same rate as the sine wave input, but the output signal is amplified. The output signal is 180° out of phase with the input signal.

Common Emitter

The ___ ___ amplifier is a “specialist” that can produce a high voltage gain but generates no current gain between the input and the output signals. The input signal is in phase with the output signal. This configuration is used as a voltage amplifier.

Common Base

The following describes which kind of amplifier? A ___ ___ amplifier configuration is shown in Figure 1-132. Notice the input signal is applied to the emitter, and the output signal is taken from the collector. The base is the element that is common to both the input and output. The collector waveform is an amplified reproduction of the positive input alternation. The input and output signals are in phase. Notice that the base is connected to AC ground (a filter) through capacitor C1 and holds DC voltage at the base steady. The power supply voltage (VCC), R1, and R2 provide forward bias for the emitter-base junction. Resistor R4 develops the input signal, and the collector load resistor R3 allows the collector to ground voltage (VC) to change as transistor resistance changes, thus, developing the output signal across the transistor.

Common Base

Uses for this type of amplifier include microphone preamplifiers, along with UHF and VHF RF amplifiers to match impedance.

Common Base

This is a very good/versatile general-use amplifier.

Common Emitter

Because the voltage and current both have gains greater than one (>1), it results in always having a power gain of more than one (>1).

Common Emitter

Because the current gain of a ___ ___ amplifier is less than one (<1), the circuit is not used as a current amplifier. The circuit has a voltage gain greater than 1 (>1). Voltage gain increases and current gain decreases.

Common Base

The ___ ___ amplifier has high current and power gain. It also has excellent stability and frequency response. The amplifier's voltage gain is always less than one (<1), but the current gain is >1.

Common Collector

The following is describing which type of amplifier? As the positive alternation of the input signal is applied to the base of the NPN transistor, an increase in base and emitter currents occurs (forward bias increases). The increase in current through R3 causes a corresponding increase in its voltage drop. In other words, the output signal goes more positive with respect to ground. The negative alternation of the input signal causes base and emitter currents to decrease, causing the output to become less positive. The output signal voltage developed across R3 is controlled by a change in input signal, and the two signals are in phase.

Common Collector

Transistors are very sensitive to temperature variations. The resistance of the junctions and collector current vary greatly with changes in temperature. Therefore, transistor circuits must have additional components or circuits to offset the effects of temperature changes. The process of minimizing undesired current changes in a transistor circuit caused by heat is called ___ ___.

Temperature stabilization

You may recall that transistors have a ____ temperature coefficient.

negative

The following describes which type of amplifier? Input is applied to the base Output is taken from the collector Emitter is the common element (not used for signal) Provides good current and voltage amplification – Larger power increase Output is 180° out of phase with input signal

Common Emitter

The following describes which type of amplifier? Input is applied to the emitter Output is taken from the collector Base is the common element (not used for signal) Has a voltage gain greater than one; current gain less than one Very small input impedance; high output impedance No phase shift

Common Base

The following describes which type of amplifier? Input is applied to the base Output is taken from the emitter Collector is the common element (not used for signal) Also called Emitter Follower Voltage gain is always less than one Used for impedance matching (high to low) Large current and power gain No phase shift

Common Collector

Transistors have a negative temperature coefficient. This means that as temperature increases the resistance of the transistor ____. Temperature and resistance are inversely proportional.

decreases

Changes in temperature can force a transistor to go into saturation or ___.

cutoff

All heat-controlling methods use ways to reduce the current through the transistor. However, in some cases, we must let the transistor run at a higher level of current. When these situations arise, heat is dissipated using a device called a "___ ___".

heat sink

A heat sink is used to move the ___ ___ from the transistor junctions.

heat away

A heat sink consists of metal with a very large surface area attached directly to the metal case of a ____.

transistor

Some heat sinks have ____ to dissipate heat into the surrounding air more rapidly. The heat produced at the junctions of the transistor transfers to the metal case of the transistor. Since the heat sink makes direct contact with the metal case, the heat transfers to the heat sink, and then the air. This lowers the operating temperature at the junction of the transistor.

fins

Although heat sinks are ideal for small components, to remove heat from larger areas and/or components we must utilize a ___ ___.

cooling fan

___ ___ are circuits which join the amplifiers together. They connect the output of one amplifier to the input of another amplifier.

Coupling circuits

The term cascade refers to how the output of one amplifier is connected to the input of another, and it tells us they are connected in series. It does not, however, tell us the ___ of coupling circuit used to connect them.

type

Each of the amplifiers in a cascade amplifier is called a ___. Each ___ consists of the transistor and its associated components.

stage

The three-stage cascade amplifier shown in Figure 1-136 below uses a ____ between each stage.

coupling

To keep the amplifier stable and predictable, the signal gain of an individual amplifier must be kept low. Low gain amplifiers, however, do not amplify the input signal enough to be of practical use at the load circuit. Using ___ ___, high voltage gain is achieved without incurring distortion.

cascade amplifiers

The overall voltage gain of a cascade amplifier is equal to the product of the individual gains, or:

AV(TOTAL) = AV1 x AV2 x AV3.

In a Three stage cascade amplifier the overall gain for this cascade amplifier is ___. (AV (TOTAL) = AV1 x AV2 x AV3 = 10 x 10 x 10 = ___).

1000

What are the four types of cascade amplifier coupling types?

Direct coupling, RC coupling, LC coupling, Transformer coupling

Used to pass DC voltages as well as AC signals. ___ ___ amplifiers are not very efficient and the losses increase as the number of stages increase. Because of the disadvantages, ___ ___ is not used very often.

Direct Coupling

An ___ ___ is made up of a resistor and a capacitor in the coupling circuit. The ___ ___ is the most used type of coupling. The ___ ___ is also used to amplify the audio range of frequencies.

RC coupling

An ___ ___ is made up of an inductor and a capacitor. Up to this point, the coupling circuits have been limited to the audio range of frequencies. ___ ___ is used to amplify much higher frequencies. The reactance of the inductor at low frequencies is not large enough to produce good voltage gain.

LC coupling

Used at the radio frequencies and has the advantage over LC coupling of being easier to tune. Provides isolation between stages so that one stage does not feedback and interfere with another stages. Provides impedance matching between stages.

Transformer Coupling

A very important type of transistor developed after the Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) is the ___ ___ ___.

Field Effect Transistor (FET)

Virtually all electronic devices use ___, including radio and television receivers, computers, space vehicles and guided missiles.

FETs

____ are very durable, very small, very inexpensive, and have a high resistance to physical shock.

FETs

FETs are transistors that use voltage to control current flow through a ___.

channel

FETs are similar in construction to BJTs. FETs have three terminals. They are ___, ___ and ___. These terminals correspond roughly to the emitter, the collector, and the base of the BJT.

Source (S), Drain (D), and Gate (G).

The ____ is the source, or entry point, of the current.

Source

The ___ is where the current leaves, or drains, from the FET.

Drain

The ___ terminal may be thought of as controlling the opening and closing of a physical gate.

Gate

Two main types of FETs used in communications:

Junction FET (JFET) Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET (MOSFET)

Which FET is the following describing? Simplest type Three-terminal semiconductor devices Used as electronically controlled switches, amplifiers, or voltage controlled resistors Current does not have to cross through the PN junction

Junction FET (JFET)

Which FET is the following describing? Most widely used FET Used in digital integrated circuits and provide switching functions needed to implement logic gates

Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET (MOSFET)

The JFET and the MOSFET are the main ___ used in communications electronics.

transistors

What are the advantages of FETs?

High input resistance Produces less noise Immune to radiation Better thermal stability

The main advantage of the FET is its ___ ___ ___.

high input resistance

The MOSFET has a drawback of being very susceptible to overload voltages, thus requiring special handling during installation. The fragile insulating layer of the MOSFET between the gate and channel makes it vulnerable to ___ ___. This is not usually a problem after the device has been installed in a properly designed circuit.

electrostatic damage

Earlier in the module you learned about the shunt/Zener voltage regulator. The purpose of that circuit is to control the voltage output and changing load conditions for critical circuits requiring it. The simple Zener diode regulator works very well, but it does have a few issues that can be corrected by using other components. The purpose of an ___ ___ ___ (EVR) is to allow larger degrees of input voltage fluctuation and to react somewhat quicker to those fluctuations.

Electronic Voltage Regulator (EVR)

Integrated Circuit (IC) manufacturers began producing a voltage regulator on a ___ ___ years ago.

semiconductor microchip

The first IC EVRs required external components along with ____ terminals, or pins, that were connected in various ways to get the desired output results. This was a big disadvantage of the early IC regulators. Second generation IC voltage regulators incorporate practically all needed components internally and require only a ___-pin connection (unregulated input, regulated output, and a common or ground).

eight three

The three-terminal regulator is available in many different fixed voltage values ranging from __V to about __V.

5v to about 30V

As in all electronic regulators, the voltage of an IC regulator requires that the unregulated input voltage be at least __ to __ volts higher than the desired regulated output because the internal components drop some of the voltage.

2 to 3

The following are advantages of what? Reduce unwanted ripple Regulate output voltages Miniature, all-in-one board applications Improved reliability Current limiting capability Provide over voltage protection.

IC EVR

The following are the disadvantages of what? Only one voltage is available Only useable for low voltage applications.

IC EVR

A solid-state relay (SSR) is a semiconductor device that may be used in place of a ___ ___.

mechanical relay

Solid state relays are purely ___ and contain no moving parts.

electronic

A SSR contains a ___ ___ ___ in the primary circuit, which provides optical coupling to a photodiode array (PDA). The PDA connects to a switching device, typically two MOSFETs.

light emitting diode (LED)

When no voltage is applied to the LED, the MOSFETs are shut off, and no current flows in the secondary circuit. When voltage is applied to the LED, it shines on the PDA, which produces a voltage between the MOSFET’s source and its gate. This causes the MOSFET to turn on allowing current to flow in the secondary circuit. A MOSFET cannot block current in both directions, so if the secondary voltage is AC, ____ MOSFETs are arranged back-to-back with their source pin tied together. This allows the two MOSFETs to act as an open switch when no voltage is applied to the LED and as a closed switch when voltage is applied to the LED.

two

What are the advantages of SSRs?

SSRs have no mechanical moving parts and no contact materials to wear out during frequent use leading to a long operating life.

What are the disadvantages of SSRs?

SSRs are more expensive than normal relays, and they are restricted to single pole, normally open (NO) configurations.

The term common refers to the element that is connected to ___, while the other two elements will either receive the input signal or produce the output signal.

ground

The way to identify the class of amplifier is by calculating its ____, ____, and ____ ratios.

fidelity, efficiency, and distortion

Transistor amplifiers are used to obtain ____ or ____ amplification.

voltage or current

We discussed three configurations for amplifiers: the common ___ is used when increasing both voltage and current, the common ___ produces a high voltage gain, while the common ___ produces high current gain and power.

common emitter common base common collector

Transistors like the Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT), the Field Effect Transistor (FET), Junction FET (JFET) and the Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET (MOSFET) are used to control ___ ___.

current flow

Each type of transistor has three components that make it work; the ___ has the emitter, collector, and base, while the ___ have the source, the drain, and the gate.

BJT FET

These special transistor types supported the addition of two types of voltage regulators; the Electronic Voltage Regulator (EVR) and the Integrated Circuit EVR (IC EVR), in which they basically do the same job as the ___ ___.

Zener regulator

You also learned that the Solid State Rely (SSR) is a specialized relay because it has no moving parts and works on the principle of ____ controlling it.

light