# Transistor circuit low-frequency response

1. Nov 17, 2016

### favq

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

This problem is adapted from the book "Transistor Circuit Techniques" by G. J. Ritchie.

Given the following circuit:

(1) Calculate the AC gain of the circuit, for frequencies where C1 and C2 can be considered as short-circuits.

(2) Sketch the low-frequency response due to capacitors C1 and C2 (assuming that C1 = C2).

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

(1) Below is the AC model for the circuit, shorting the capacitors:

In the calculations below, $i_{b_1}$, $i_{c_1}$ and $i_{e_1}$ are respectively the base, collector and emitter currents of TR1, and $i_{b_2}$, $i_{c_2}$ and $i_{e_2}$ are respectively the base, collector and emitter currents of TR2.
$v_{in}$ can be expressed as the sum of the voltages across $r_{\pi_1}$ and $R_4$:
$$v_{in} = i_{b_1}(r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)R_4)$$
Similarly, $v_{mid}$ can be expressed as the sum of the voltages across $r_{\pi_2}$ and $R_6$:
$$v_{mid} = i_{b_2}(r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6)$$
Applying KCL to the node labeled $v_{mid}$:
$$i_{c_1}+\dfrac{v_{mid}}{R_3}=-i_{b_2}$$
$$v_{mid}=-R_3(i_{b_2}+i_{c_1})=-R_3(i_{b_2}+\beta i_{b_1})$$
Equating both expressions for $v_{mid}$:
$$i_{b_2}(r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6) = -R_3(i_{b_2}+\beta i_{b_1})$$
Solving for $i_{b_2}$:
$$i_{b_2} = \dfrac{-R_3\beta i_{b_1}}{R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6}$$
$v_{out}$ can be expressed as the voltage across $R_6$:
$$v_{out} = i_{e_2}R_6=(\beta+1)i_{b_2}R_6$$
Plugging in the expression for $i_{b_2}$:
$$v_{out} = \dfrac{-\beta(\beta+1)R_3R_6 i_{b_1}}{R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6}$$
Making $i_{b_1} = \dfrac{v_{in}}{(r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)R_4)}$:
$$v_{out} = \dfrac{-\beta(\beta+1)R_3R_6 v_{in}}{(R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6)(r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)R_4)}$$
Finally, calculating the AC gain, $A=\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}}$:
$$A=\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}} = \dfrac{-\beta(\beta+1)R_3R_6}{(R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6)(r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)R_4)}$$

(2) This is where I'm having the most trouble. I'm not sure what the author meant by "low frequency response".
In the book, the author has used the term "low frequency response" referring to how the gain behaves as a function of frequency when the frequency is very low, so that the capacitors can't be considered as short circuits.
So, I assume that I should sketch the gain as a function of frequency, for low values of frequency. In order to try to do that, I redid the AC model to include the capacitors C1 and C2:

In the above model, I named the source voltage $v_s$, and $v_{in}$ is now just the voltage that appears in the base of TR1. The relationship between $v_s$ and $v_{in}$ is the following:
$$v_{in} = \dfrac{r_{in}v_s}{r_{in} + \dfrac{1}{j\omega C_1}}$$
Where:
$$r_{in}=R_1\parallel R_2\parallel \left (r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)\left (R_4+R_5\parallel\dfrac{1}{j\omega C_2}\right )\right)$$
Now, the gain is $A_{\omega}=\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_s}$. From the expression above:
$$A=\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{s}}=\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}}\dfrac{r_{in}}{r_{in} + \dfrac{1}{j\omega C_1}}$$
where $\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}}$ is like the expression found for the AC gain before, but with $R_4$ replaced by $R_4+R_5\parallel\dfrac{1}{j\omega C_2}$.
$$A_{\omega}=\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{s}} = \left ( \dfrac{-\beta(\beta+1)R_3R_6}{(R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6)\left (r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1) \left (R_4+R_5\parallel\dfrac{1}{j\omega C_2} \right ) \right )}\right ) \left (\dfrac{r_{in}}{r_{in} + \dfrac{1}{j\omega C_1}}\right )$$

I'm not sure how to proceed from here. At first, I think I can conclude that, as the frequency becomes very low, the term $\dfrac{r_{in}}{r_{in} + \dfrac{1}{j\omega C_1}}$ approaches zero, so the gain approaches zero for very low frequencies. As the frequency increases, the gain approaches the value of the AC gain that I found in (1).

2. Nov 17, 2016

### Paul Colby

This looks plausible to me. My only question is why is the two stage gain expression negative. Each stage provides negative gain so two minuses should be a positive?

3. Nov 17, 2016

### The Electrician

The TR2 stage is an emitter follower; its gain is not inverting.

4. Nov 17, 2016

### Paul Colby

Ah, yes that it is, that it is.

5. Nov 17, 2016

### Paul Colby

So, the effect of the cap on the input is as you've written it. As the second caps impedance becomes significant the gain of the first stage should increase. Is there a way to chose $R_5$ to partially offset the loss of low frequency gain from $C_1$?

6. Nov 21, 2016

### favq

The gain is basically formed by two factors:
$$A=\left ( \dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}} \right ) \left (\dfrac{r_{in}}{r_{in}+\dfrac{1}{j\omega C}} \right )$$
where $v_s$ is the input voltage, $r_{in}$ is the input impedance at TR1's base, and $v_{in}$ is the voltage at TR1's base.
Suppose the frequency is low. If I make $R_5$ very big, that will increase the input impedance $r_{in}$, so the factor $r_{in} / \left ( r_{in} + \dfrac{1}{j\omega C} \right )$ will approach 1. However, the factor $\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}}$ will decrease (since now TR1's emitter impedance is higher), and will approach a minimum value of:

$$\dfrac{-\beta(\beta+1)R_3R_6}{(R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6)(r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)(R_4+R_5))}$$.

On the other hand, suppose I try to make $R_5$ very small. In that case, $\dfrac{v_{out}}{v_{in}}$ will increase, approaching a maximum value of:

$$\dfrac{-\beta(\beta+1)R_3R_6}{(R_3+r_{\pi_2}+(\beta+1)R_6)(r_{\pi_1}+(\beta+1)R_4)}$$

However, since $r_{in}$ will decrease, then $r_{in} / \left ( r_{in} + \dfrac{1}{j\omega C} \right )$ will decrease too.
It's not very clear to me how I should choose $R_5$.

Last edited: Nov 21, 2016
7. Nov 22, 2016

### Paul Colby

I think $R_5$ is chosen mainly to set the operating point for $Tr_1$ so one can get maximal headroom on the output signal.

8. Dec 2, 2016

### rude man

For low frequencies there are two capacitors determining the gain.
C2 sets a finite gain even at dc, as you point out. The overall gain is essentially reduced from R3/R4 to R3/(R4 + R5). But C1 forms a 1st order low pass network. At dc the overall amplifier gain is thus zero.

9. Dec 3, 2016

### LvW

I rather think that C1 - together with the transistors input resistance - forms a 1st order HIGHPASS.
Hence, both capacitors have an high-pass effect - however with different time constants due to different associated resistors.

10. Dec 3, 2016

### rude man

I rather think you're correct - I meant high-pass for C1.

But C2 does not form a high-pass cutoff the way C1 does. C2 does not establish zero gain at zero frequency; C1 does.
The Laplace gain for C1 alone (input to base) is T1s/(T1s +1) with T1 = (R1 || R2)C1 whereas for C2 alone it's (base to output) of the form (T2s + a)/(T3s + b), with gain = R3/(R4+R5) at zero freq. instead of zero.

11. Dec 3, 2016