Experiment

1.

To the circuit you already built in Fig. 2.6, add capacitors to the input and output as shown in Fig. 2.7.

  

Figure 2.7: CE Circuit for small signal gain

2.

Apply an input signal to the circuit as shown in Fig. 2.7. For v_in use a 0.1V, 100KHz signal from your wavetek. Determine the voltage gain. Sketch v_out versus v_in.

3.

Increase the input signal amplitude until the output gets clipped. This clipping represents distortion which usually means that the output signal is not an exact replica of the input. The output amplitude right before clipping occurs is called the swing of the amplifier. What is the swing of your circuit? Why does clipping occur?

4.

Replace R_C with a 5K resistor and determine the voltage gain and swing.

5.

Design: Choose a new value for R_C to give a voltage gain of approximately -7V/V. What is the swing of your new amp?