CLASS-B COMPLEMENTARY SYMMETRY AUDIO POWER AMPLIFIER
CLASS-B COMPLEMENTARY SYMMETRY AUDIO POWER AMPLIFIER
In most applications where AC power is driving a load, a complementary symmetry
(push-pull) power amplifier is employed. This amplifier usually has a voltage gain of one, and a
large current gain. It is the most efficient configuration for transforming DC power from the
power supply to the AC power driving the load.
A basic complementary symmetry BJT power amplifier is shown in Fig. 1:1
Figure 1.1: Basic Complementary Symmetry Power Amp
The BJT's provide a current gain of , and a low output resistance. When the input is
positive and greater than 0.7V, the npn BJT is on and the pnp is off. Under these conditions, the
npn acts like an emitter follower, taking the input current from the base, multiplying it by , to
provide current and a low source resistance to drive the load. Of course the extra current derived
from the multiplication has its origin at the positive DC power supply. When the input voltage
is less the -0.7V, the npn is off and the pnp is on. Under these conditions, the pnp acts like an
emitter follower, taking the input current from the base, multiplying it by , to sink current and
provide a low source resistance to sink the load. Here, the extra current required by
multiplication has its origin at the negative DC power supply. The output resistance Rout is given
by the parallel output resistance of the npn and the pnp (Ron||Rop). For the positive side of the
cycle, since the pnp is off, Rop = . So under these conditions the output resistance is just
that of the npn which is
During the negative cycle Ron , which yields the following for the negative cycle output
resistance:
Where gmn, gmp, n and p are the small signal transconductances and current gains of the npn and
pnp BJT's respectively. (Note the approximation sign. This is because, strictly speaking, we are
not dealing with small signals so using a single value of gm is only an approximation.)
To appreciate how power is converted from supply by the circuit, consider the
following. Each power supply provides current during only half the cycle. During the
positive cycle, the positive DC supply is sourcing current; while during the negative part
of the cycle the negative DC supply is sinking current. Therefore, the average current
provided by the positive supply is
which for a sinusoidal waveform gives
During the negative part of the cycle, a totally analogous analysis applies, but for the negative
supply current I-supply. to give the same result. The average power for the total cycle is then
obtained by adding the power from each half cycle:
Psupply=VCCI+supply+VEEI-supply
Since we take the magnitudes of the DC supplies to be equal, we have
The power conversion efficiency which gives a measure of how well power is
transferred from the supply to the load, is given by the ratio of the power to the load PL to the
power provided by the supplies Psupply:
Thus, for full swing Vo Vcc the power conversion efficiency of the complementary
symmetry reaches is maximum value of approximately 75%. This number is much greater than
that of the single ended emitter follower that we discussed earlier.
You may have noticed that the complementary symmetry configuration has a small
problem which is that no signal can propagate when -0.7 < Vs < 0.7 because both BJT's are off at
this time. This region is often referred to as the cross-over region between the npn and pnp cycles.
Hence, the accompanied distortion that results is often referred to as crossover distortion.
To avoid crossover distortion, circuit designers often bias the two transistors slightly into
the forward active region with diodes.
For example, look at the circuit in Fig. 3.2
Figure 3.2: Complementary Symmetry Amp Biased to Eliminate Cross-Over Distortion
The diodes, in conjunction with resistors R1 and R2, constitute the biasing network to make sure
these is always a Vbe 0.7V across both transistors. That way one BJT is always on, and the
crossover region is eliminated.
Aim:
1. To study operation of complementary symmetry audio power amplifier.
2. Top observation of crossover distortion in basic (unbiased) complementary symmetry
configuration.
3. To measurement of efficiency of amplifier for a given load ( Ohm)
Figure 1
Apparatus required:
1. Class-B complementary symmetry audio power amplifier module….
2. Dual trace CRO.
3. Power output meter.
4. DC Ammeter…0-200mA…2 Nos
Experimental Procedure:
1) Connect the trainer to the mains and switch on the power supply, measure
the output of the regulated power supply i.e. + 12V
Note. Power supply is internally connected to the circuit and so no need to connect externally.
2) Connect 0-200 mA ammeters in the circuit with proper polarities. And switch on the base
unit.
3) Connect circuit as shown in fig 1:1 by shorting diodes D1 and D2.
4) Feed the ac signal at the input. Keep the frequency at 100 Hz.
5) By slowly varying the input signal, observe the input and output signals on CRO. Output
will be zero till the input voltage is of 1.2 Vpp. You will find the output signal with cross
over distortion for the input signals above 1.2Vpp.
6) Now remove the short circuit (D1, D2) and connect R1, R2 to the respective collector
points of Q1 and Q2 to form the circuit as shown in fig 1:2.
7) Now connect power output meter to the output of the amplifier along with Oscilloscope.
And select load impedance of the power output meter to. ____Ohm.
8) Slowly increase the input signal amplitude till you read around 30 mA in both the current
meters.
9) Note down the power meter reading and record it as ac output power Pac
10) Calculate the dc input power:
DC Input power (Pdc) = Vcc X I +supply + Vee X I-supply
Where Vcc = 12V, Vee = 12V,
I +supply = Ammeter 1 reading & I-supply = Ammeter 2 reading
11) % Efficiency = (Output ac power (Pac)/ Input dc power (Pdc)) X100
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