UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY
College of Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
EE105 Lab Experiments
Experiment 5: Single Stage BJT Amplifiers: Common
Collector and Common Base
1 Objective
In the previous lab, we explored the properties of a common emitter amplifier. However, even though it
had an extremely high gain, its output impedance prevented it from properly amplifying a signal to drive a
speaker. In this lab, we will investigate the properties of two other single-stage amplifier configurations: the
common collector and the common base. You will be applying the same techniques learned from the previous
lab to extract the input impedance, output impedance, and gain for both of these amplifier configurations.
By the end of this lab, you should be able to model any single stage amplifier using its two-port model and
identify the strengths and weaknesses of each single-stage amplifier configuration.
2 Materials
Component Quantity
2N4401 NPN BJT 1
8 Ω speaker 1
100 Ω resistor 1
1 kΩ resistor 1
10 kΩ resistor 1
10 µF capacitor 1
10 kΩ potentiometer 1
Table 1: Components used in this lab
3 Procedure
3.1 The Common Base Amplifier
For a common base amplifier, the base acts as the common terminal to the input and output, hence the
name “common base.” The input is applied at the emitter and the output is taken at the collector.
1. Similar to the CE amplifier, the CB amplifier can also be used as a voltage amplifier. Set up the
configuration shown in Figure 1. Let VCC = 12 V, RC = 1 kΩ, and VB = 640 mV.
2. Using ICS, perform a sweep of VIN from −0.1 V to 0.1 V and plot VOUT vs. VIN . Find the voltage
gain from the slope at VIN = 0 V (when the input has no DC offset).
3. Find the input impedance by sweeping VIN from −0.1 V to 0.1 V and plotting IIN .
4. Find the output impedance using the same method used in the previous lab.
5. Suppose the source resistance of VIN is 50 Ω. Would the CB amplifier amplify a signal from this source
well? Why?
1
3 PROCEDURE 2
VCC
RC
+
vout
VB +
− −
+
vin
−
Figure 1: CB amplifier
3.2 The Common Collector Amplifier
The common collector amplifier gets its name from the fact that the collector is common to both the input
and output of the amplifier. Similar to the CE amplifier, the input is applied at the base. However, the
output is taken at the emitter terminal of the BJT.
1. Build the circuit shown in Figure 2, a simple common collector amplifier with no load attached. Note
the RS resistor in series with the function generator. This is to simulate the presence of a large source
resistance. Let RS = 10 kΩ, RE = 100 Ω and VCC = 12 V.
VCC
RS
+
vin
−
VIN +
−
+
RE vout
−
Figure 2: CC amplifier
2. A common collector amplifier is typically biased in the region that would give the greatest output
voltage swing. Based on this criteria, find the DC bias voltage for VIN . Record VOUT and the output
voltage swing.
3. Find the voltage gain, input impedance, and output impedance using the same methods as in the
previous lab. Remove the RS resistor when finding the gain and input impedance.
4. Another name for the CC amplifier is the emitter follower. Based on the gain that you have found,
why do you think it is called that?
3 PROCEDURE 3
3.3 The World’s Second Worst Speaker Amplifier
This part will demonstrate the capabilities of your CC amplifier on a physically observable load.
1. Apply a 1 kHz, 1 V amplitude sine wave directly to the two terminals of the speaker using the function
generator. Measure the voltage drop across the speaker using the oscilloscope and qualitatively observe
how loud it is.
2. Build the circuit shown in Figure 2. Let RE = 100 Ω and C = 10 µF.
3. Bias VIN to achieve the maximum output voltage swing (you should have the bias voltage from a
previous part) and apply a 1 kHz, 1 V amplitude sine wave at the input. Attach the speaker to the
output (indicated by RL in the diagram), measure the output waveform, and observe how loud it is.
Is this louder, quieter, or about the same as when the signal was directly applied using the function
generator? Why? Hint: The output impedance of the function generator is 50 Ω.
VCC
Iin
+
vin C
−
VIN +
−
+
RE RL vout
−
Figure 3: CC amplifier with load speaker attached
