Solving The Emitter Follower Quiz

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a quiz related to an emitter follower circuit, focusing on confirming quiescent values, calculating input impedances at various points, and determining the cutoff frequency of the circuit. Participants are examining theoretical calculations and providing feedback on the accuracy of the answers presented.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Post 1 presents a series of calculations for quiescent values and input impedances, questioning the correctness of answers (a) through (e).
  • Post 2 suggests that the emitter follower acts as a buffer amplifier, indicating that the circuit consists of two isolated low pass filters.
  • Post 3 reiterates the buffer amplifier concept and seeks confirmation on the correctness of answers (a) through (d) without requesting specific solutions.
  • Post 4 expresses a preliminary agreement with the calculations in (a) through (d) after a brief review, though not in detail.
  • Post 5 introduces calculations for two first-order filters in the circuit, providing specific frequency values and a method for determining the dominant lower cutoff frequency.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of answers (a) through (d), and there is uncertainty regarding the calculations in part (e). Multiple competing views on the interpretation of the circuit's behavior and the calculations remain present.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the assumptions made in the calculations, particularly in relation to the behavior of the emitter follower and the implications of the filter characteristics. The discussion includes various mathematical steps that may depend on specific definitions and conditions not fully explored.

Duave
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Thank you for any help that you can offer.

Did I answer all of the questions correctly and thoroughly? Can you please find any errors, and point them out to me so that I can fix them?

Homework Statement



(a) Confirm these quiescent values:

VB = 8.2V
IE = 1.0 mA

(b) show that Zin for the bias network alone is 50K.
(c) Show that for high frequency ac signals Zin measured at point P2 is 500k.
(d) Show that for high frequency ac signals Zin measured at point P1 is 45.5K.
(e) show that f3dB for the entire circuit is ~ 165Hz


https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1901740_10151937081755919_967279941_n.jpg

Homework Equations



{R110k/(R110k + R91k)} x VCC = VB
...................
VB - VBE = VE
.................
VE/RE = IE
.....................
Zbias network = (R91k)(R110k)/(R91k) + (R110k)
.................
Zin,P2 = hFE{(re)^' + (re)}
.................
Zin,P1 = (Zbias network)(Zin,P2)/{(Zbias network) + (Zin,P2)}
.....................
f3dB = 1/(2)(pi)(ZP1 - 7.5k||15k){(C0.033uF)(C0.1uF)/{(C0.033uF + (C0.1uF)}}
........................



The Attempt at a Solution




(a)1 Confirm this quiescent value:

VB = 8.2V
..........

{R110k/(R110k + R91k)} x VCC = VB
.................
110k/(110k + 91k) x 15V = VB
.......
8.2V = VB
.......


(a)2 Confirm this quiescent value:

IE = 1.0 mA
......

VB - VBE = VE
..........
8.2V - 0.6V = VE
......
7.6V = VE
.....
VE/RE = IE
.........
7.6V/7.5mA = IE
.........
1.03mA = IE
.........
1.00mA ~ IE
.........


(b) show that Zin for the bias network alone is 50K.

Zbias network = (R91k)(R110k)/(R91k) + (R110k)
.................
Zbias network = (91k)(110k)/(91k) + (100k)
...........
Zbias network = 49.8k
.........
Zbias network ~ 50.0k
..........



(c) Show that for high frequency ac signals Zin measured at point P2 is 500k.

Zin,P2 = hFE{(re)^' + (re)
...............
Zin,P2 = hFE{(25mV/(IC) + (R7.5k)(R15k)/(R7.5k + R15k)}
.......................
IC = IE
........
Zin,P2 = hFE{(25mV/[(VB - VBE)/RE] + (R7.5k)(R15k)/(R7.5k + R15k)}
............................
Zin,P2 = hFE{25mV(RE)/[(VB - VBE)] + (R7.5k)(R15k)/(R7.5k + R15k)}
............................
Zin,P2 = 100{(25mV[(7.5k)/{(8.2V - 0.6V)]) + (7.5k)(15k)/(7.5k + 15k)}
...............
Zin,P2 = 100{24.671(ohms) + 5k(ohms)}
..........
Zin,P2 = 502.4k(ohms)
......
Zin,P2 ~ 500.0k(ohms)
......



(d) Show that for high frequency ac signals Zin measured at point P2 is 45.5K.

Zin,P1 = (Zbias network)(Zin,P2)/{(Zbias network) + (Zin,P2)}
.....................
Zin,P1 = {(49.8k)(502.0k)/{(49.8k) + (502.0k)}
...........
Zin,P1 = 45.3k
......



Z7.5k||15k = (7.5k)(15k)/(7.5k + 15k)
..........
Z7.5k||15k = 5k(ohms)
..........
Zin,P1 - Z7.5k||15k = ZP1 - 7.5k||15k
............
45.3k - 5k = ZP1 - 7.5k||15k
.........
40.3k = ZP1 - 7.5k||15k
.........

(e) show that f3dB for the entire circuit is ~ 165Hz


f3dB = 1/(2)(pi)(ZP1 - 7.5k||15k){(C0.033uF)(C0.1uF)/{(C0.033uF + (C0.1uF)}}
..........................
f3dB = 1/(2)(pi)(40.3k){(0.033uF)(0.1uF)/{(0.033uF + 0.1uF)}}
..............
f3dB = 1/[(2)(pi)(40.3k){2.48x10-8}}]
.........
f3dB = 159.17 Hz
.......

I can see answer (e) is not 165 Hz. Where is the error? Are answers (a) - (d) correct? If not, where are the errors located?

Thanks again for your help.
 
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For part (e), assume that the emitter follower itself is a buffer amplifier (high input impedance, low output impedance, gain very close to unity). You then have a cascade of two isolated low pass filters...
 
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gneill said:
For part (e), assume that the emitter follower itself is a buffer amplifier (high input impedance, low output impedance, gain very close to unity). You then have a cascade of two isolated low pass filters...

gneil,


I will make corrections to (e) based on your comment. I am not asking for the answer, but does (a) - (d) look as though I have answered the questions?
 
Duave said:
gneil,


I will make corrections to (e) based on your comment. I am not asking for the answer, but does (a) - (d) look as though I have answered the questions?

I didn't go over the math in fine detail, but they look okay to me after a short perusal.
 
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In this circuit we have two first order filter.
The first one
Fd1 ≈ 0.16/(Cin * Zin) = 0.16/(33nF * 45.5kΩ) = 106.5Hz
And the second one
Fd2 ≈ 0.16/(count * RL) = 0.16/(100nF * 15KΩ) = 106.6Hz

And as you can see in our case Fd1 = Fd2 and because of this the dominant lower cutoff frequency is increased by a factor of [itex]\LARGE \frac{1}{\sqrt{ 2^{\frac{1}{n}}-1}}[/itex]
http://202.191.247.221/courses/imag..._Analysis/Resources/Multistage_AMplifiers.pdf

In our case n = 2 so we have [itex]\frac{1}{\sqrt{ 2^{\frac{1}{2}}-1}} = 1.55377[/itex]

And finally

Fc = 106*1.55 = 164.3Hz
 
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