Electrical Engineering - FET Common Source Configuration with Load

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving a homework problem related to a FET common source configuration with specific resistor values and parameters. The main challenge is determining the voltage gain (A_v) and transconductance (g_m), with participants discussing how to derive these values from the given circuit. A key point is the realization that the input voltage (v_in) can be treated as an unknown, allowing calculations to proceed in terms of v_in. The conversation highlights confusion around the definitions of various parameters and the need to clarify the roles of DC and AC voltages in the calculations. Ultimately, the participants aim to derive a formula for A_v that accurately reflects the circuit's behavior.
GreenPrint
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Homework Statement



jfetamp.gif


I'm given this configuration with a AC source at v_{i} with a R_{sig} connect to the source before the capacitor.

R_{sig} = 0.6 KΩ
R_{G} = 1 MΩ
R_{D} = 2.7 KΩ
R_{L} = 4.7 KΩ
I_{DSS} = 10 mA
v_{p} = -6 V

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I was able to find z_{i} and z_{o} very easily. I'm trying to find A_{v} and was able to find the formula A_{v} = g_{m}(R_{D}||R_{L}). The only problem is that I don't know how to find g_{m}. I know that g_{m} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|v_{P}|}(1 - \frac{v_{GS}}{v_{p}}). I'm not so sure how to find v_{GS}. I know that v_{GS} = v_{G} - v_{S} and that v_{S} = 0 so this comes down to finding v_{G}. I seem to be having some problems doing this. I now that v_{G} = \frac{R_{G}v_{I}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}} but this doesn't seem to really help since I don't know the AC input v_{I}. Thanks for any help.
 
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What do you want to calculate, and what are all those variables?

VG will depend on VI, and I think you will have to treat this as unknown input. Just calculate everything in terms of an unknown VI (if that is too hard in general, it might be interesting to consider a sine wave).
 
Here's the actual picture from my book.

http://imageshack.com/a/img600/8114/gz12.png

For part (a) I'm asked to determine A_{v_{NL}}, Z_{i}, and Z_{o}.

Finding Z_{i}, and Z_{o} isn't a problem I just have a problem trying to find A_{v_{NL}}

Below is my small signal equivalent circuit

http://imageshack.com/a/img21/4747/y59u.png

What I get for the A_{v_{NL}} is

http://imageshack.com/a/img268/4091/f6ze.png

Which I don't see how it's wrong. My professor some how gets a value. He doesn't really show how he got his values but

*edit* I realize that I forgot v_{p} in my equation for g_{m} and the negative sign in my equation for A_{v_{NL}} which I'm adding now.

http://imageshack.com/a/img713/7876/gi2i.png

I'm not sure how he got A_{v_{NL}}

I see how he gets g_{mo}

g_{mo} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|v_{p}|} = \frac{2(10 mA)}{6 V} ≈ 3.333 mS

I also know that

g_{m} = g_{mo}(1 - \frac{v_{GS}}{v_{P}})

But I don't see how he got a value for g_{m} because we don't know what v_{GS} is other than v_{GS} = \frac{R_{G}v_{S}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}} which doesn't really help because we don't know v_{s} which leads me to believe that there must be some other way to find v_{GS} that I'm not seeing.

Oh apparently he's finding A_{v_{NL}} = \frac{v_{o}}{v_{s}}
 
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Oh apparently he's finding A_{v_{NL}} = \frac{v_{o}}{v_{s}}

which leaves me with this instead.

http://imageshack.com/a/img811/3217/naxp.png

but still not able to estimate because we don't know v_{s}

hm
 
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AVNL sounds like "no-load voltage gain". That would mean not including RL in your gain computation.
 
I agree, but I am still left with the problem of not knowing how what v_{s}. Taking what you say into consideration I get

A_{v_{NL}} = -\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{D}}{|v_{P}|(R_{G} + R_{sig})}(1 - \frac{R_{G}v_{s}}{v_{p}(R_{G} + R_{sig})})

I do I go about getting around this?

This is how I got that formula

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8845/ls8c.png

Thanks for the help.
 
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JFET circuit

Haven't we discussed this before? You get VS by equating the expression for FET current to the current flowing thru RS. I thought you said you understood this.

I also note that you are still using upper case vs. lower case in a confusing manner. For example, g_{m} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|v_{P}|}(1 - \frac{v_{GS}}{v_{p}}), VGS and VP are both dc quantities and so should be capitalized. Use vgs for ac signals. I found this problem in several of your equations.

What BTW is gm0? How's it different from gm? There is only one value of gm unless you change the circuit.

I think I'll let others take a shot at this since I feel you & I have already gone over this ground pretty thoroughly in another similar problem. Or am I mistaking you for someone else - that's happened too ...
 
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Well v_{s} in this problem though is the input AC voltage. I know that i_{D} = i_{S} and that I can find the voltage at the source of the transistor this way using the equation for i_{D} for a FET, also symbolized by v_{S} I do understand this process now. The only problem is that v_{s} in my equation for V_{GS} isn't the voltage at the source of the transistor but the input AC voltage to the circuit, which isn't given.

In this problem I take v_{S} the voltage at the source of the transistor to be zero since in the small signal equivalent it's connected to ground.

I'll be sure to use capital values for V_{GS} and V_{P} since they aren't AC parameters.

To me g_{mo} is kind of silly. My book also defines
g_{m} = g_{mo}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})
where
g_{mo} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|V_{P}|}
which would be the value of g_{m} when V_{GS} is zero
 
GreenPrint said:
In this problem I take v_{S} the voltage at the source of the transistor to be zero since in the small signal equivalent it's connected to ground.

That is correct. So that makes the problem extremely simple. So vgs in your equivalent circuit is just vg which is just a voltage divider away from vin. You should not have labeled the input Vs or vs. That's very confusing. Label it vin.

So now surely you can solve for vo. What did you compute for Vs and gm?
 
  • #10
Ya I established that.

so can I do this then.

For FET
i_{D} = i_{S} [1]
Here I use
I_{D} = I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2}
and
i_{S} = g_{m}V_{GS} and plug these into [1]
I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2} = g_{m}V_{GS} [2]
I use this formula for g_{m} and plug into [2]
g_{m} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|V_{P}|}(1 - \frac{v_{GS}}{V_{P}})
I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|V_{P}|}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})V_{GS}[3]
Here I try and find V_{GS}
V_{GS} = V_{G} - V_{S} [4]
I know that
V_{S} = 0 V
so this simplifies [4] to this
V_{GS} = V_{G} [4]
I apply a voltage divider to find v_{G} and get this formula
V_{G} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}}
I plug this into [4]
V_{GS} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}} [4]
I plug this into [3]
I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{V_{P}(R_{sig} + R_{G})})^{2} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|V_{P}|}(1 - \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{V_{P}(R_{sig} + R_{G})})\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}} [3]
simplify
1 - \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{V_{P}(R_{sig} + R_{G})} = \frac{2}{|V_{P}|}\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}}
move second term on LHS to RHS
1 = \frac{2}{|V_{P}|}\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}} + \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{V_{P}(R_{sig} + R_{G})}
Factor
1 = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}}(\frac{2}{|V_{P}|} + \frac{1}{V_{P}})
solve for v_{in}
\frac{R_{sig} + R_{G}}{R_{G}}\frac{1}{\frac{2}{|V_{P}|} + \frac{1}{V_{P}}} = v_{in}
simplify
(\frac{R_{sig}}{R_{G}} + 1)\frac{1}{\frac{2}{|V_{P}|} + \frac{1}{V_{P}}} = v_{in}
plug in values
(\frac{0.6 KΩ}{1 MΩ} + 1)\frac{1}{\frac{2}{|-6 V|} - \frac{1}{6 V}} = v_{in}
(6x10^{-4} + 1)\frac{1}{\frac{2}{6 V} - \frac{1}{6 V}} = v_{in}
(6x10^{-4} + 1)\frac{1}{\frac{1}{6 V}} = v_{in}
(6x10^{-4} + 1)6 V = v_{in}
6.0036 V = v_{in}

Does this look better for v_{in}? If so from here it's easy.

Now that I have v_{in} I solve for V_{GS} = V_{G}
v_{G} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}} = \frac{(6.0036 V)(1 MΩ)}{0.6 KΩ + 1 MΩ} = 6 V
I plug this into the equation for g_{m}
g_{m} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|V_{P}|}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2} = \frac{2(10 MΩ)}{6 V}(1 + \frac{6 V}{6 V})^{2} = \frac{1}{3000}(1 + 1)^{2} = \frac{1}{3000}2^{2} = \frac{4}{3000} ≈ 1.333 mS

This isn't what my professor got for the supposed solution.

*edit* I added in some explanations.
 
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  • #11
?

vin is a given. It can be anything you like - within limits.

You are supposed to solve for vo, given vin. AvNL = vo/vin with RL removed.

I don't understand your equations.

I didn't see numbers for gm and Vs.
 
  • #12
rude man said:
?

vin is a given. It can be anything you like - within limits.

You are supposed to solve for vo, given vin. AvNL = vo/vin with RL removed.

I don't understand your equations.

I didn't see numbers for gm and Vs.

Wait really I can make up v_{in} to be anything I want? So I can just go with one volt? That seems weird, I was able to solve for it some how.

By v_{s} you mean the the AC voltage? It's just zero because it's connected to ground in the small signal equivalent circuit.
 
  • #13
GreenPrint said:
Wait really I can make up v_{in} to be anything I want? So I can just go with one volt? That seems weird, I was able to solve for it some how.

By v_{s} you mean the the AC voltage? It's just zero because it's connected to ground in the small signal equivalent circuit.

You need to understand what is meant by "gain". Gain = v_out/v_in. That ratio is independent of v_in.

I did not say v_s. I said V_s.
 
  • #14
Gain is the output voltage divided by the AC input? I solved for the AC input voltage and got 6.0036 volts. Oh I need the DC voltage V_S and use that value for V_GS

alright.

But wait,

In order to find V_{G} I just use the DC schematic diagram and get

V_{G} = \frac{R_{G}v_{in}}{R_{sig} + R_{G}}

So I don't know v_{in} but I should be able to solve without hm.
 
  • #15
Vin = 0.
You need VGS to solve for gm. You know VG = 0.

Equate the expression for the dc FET current to the dc drain current to get VS.

Then use your formula for gm.
 
  • #16
This is starting to make sense, but why do you take Vin = 0?
 
  • #17
Why can you let v_{in} be anything you want?
 
  • #18
A_{V_{NL}} = \frac{v_{O}}{v_{in}}
v_{O} = -g_{m}V_{GS}R_{D}
A_{V_{NL}} = -\frac{g_{m}V_{GS}R_{D}}{v_{in}}
V_{GS} = V_{G} - V_{S}
V_{G} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}}
V_{GS} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - V_{S}
V_{S} = I_{S}R_{S}
I_{S} = I_{D} = I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2}
V_{S} = I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2}R_{S}
V_{GS} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})^{2}R_{S}
V_{GS} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{2V_{GS}}{V_{P}} + \frac{V_{GS}^{2}}{V_{P}^{2}})R_{S}
V_{GS} = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S} + \frac{2I_{DSS}V_{GS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - \frac{V_{GS}^{2}R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}}
0 = \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S} + \frac{2I_{DSS}V_{GS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - \frac{V_{GS}^{2}R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}} - V_{GS}
0 = -\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}}V_{GS}^{2} + (\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)V_{GS} + \frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S}
V_{GS} = \frac{-(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1) \underline{+} \sqrt{(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)^{2} + 4(\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})(\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S})}}{2(-\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})}
V_{GS} = \frac{\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1 \overline{+} \sqrt{(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)^{2} + 4(\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})(\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S})}}{\frac{2R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}}}
A_{V_{NL}} = -\frac{g_{m}(\frac{\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1 \overline{+} \sqrt{(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)^{2} + 4(\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})(\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S})}}{\frac{2R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}}})R_{D}}{v_{in}}
A_{V_{NL}} = -\frac{g_{m}(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1 \overline{+} \sqrt{(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)^{2} + 4(\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})(\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S})}R_{D}V_{P}^{2}}{v_{in}2R_{S}I_{DSS}}
g_{m} = \frac{2I_{DSS}}{|V_{P}|}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})
A_{V_{NL}} = -\frac{2I_{DSS}(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1 \overline{+} \sqrt{(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)^{2} + 4(\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})(\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S})}R_{D}V_{P}^{2}}{v_{in}2R_{S}I_{DSS}|V_{P}|}
A_{V_{NL}} = -\frac{(1 - \frac{V_{GS}}{V_{P}})(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1 \overline{+} \sqrt{(\frac{2I_{DSS}R_{S}}{V_{P}} - 1)^{2} + 4(\frac{R_{S}I_{DSS}}{V_{P}^{2}})(\frac{v_{in}R_{G}}{R_{G} + R_{sig}} - I_{DSS}R_{S})}R_{D}}{v_{in}R_{S}}
etc... this problem sucks. I'm not sure how to solve this problem when I don't know v_{in}. The previous problem, this information was given.
 
  • #19
GreenPrint said:
This is starting to make sense, but why do you take Vin = 0?

Because that is the dc operating point of your circuit.
 
  • #20
GreenPrint said:
Why can you let v_{in} be anything you want?

You have an amplifier. It has a fixed gain vout/vin. And you can make vin anything you want. Otherwise it's not an amplifier.

I am signing off this thread, sorry.
 
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