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FET Amplifiers
Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Ruzlaini Bt Ghoni
Objectives
• Explain the operation and amplification properties of FET amplifiers
• Explain and analyze the operation of common-source, common-drain,
and common-gate amplifiers
Introduction
• FET amplifiers are similar to BJT amplifiers in operation.The purpose of
the amplifier is the same for both FET amplifiers and BJT amplifiers. FET
amplifiers have certain advantages over BJT amplifiers such as high input
impedance. However, the BJT normally has a higher voltage gain.
• There are also similarities in the three amplifier configurations of FETs and
BJTs. Common-source (emitter), common-drain (collector), and common-
gate (base) are the three FET amplifier configurations.
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FET Amplification
• Let’s first look at an equivalent FET circuit to
better understand it’s operation. The FET is
basically a current source that is controlled by
VGS. Note that the resistance from gate to
source can be neglected since it is so large in
value and in most cases the drain to source
resistance (rds) can be neglected as well.
• ID = gmVGS (gm is the symbol for
transconductance)
FET Amplification
• Voltage gain (Av) for any amplifier can
certainly be determined by the formula
AV = Vout /Vin or in the case of an FET
amplifier, AV = Vds /Vgs . AV can also be
determined by way of the transconductance
and the drain resistor.
• AV = gm RD
The rds can lower the gain if it is not sufficiently greater than RD. Note that the two
resistances are in parallel.
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FET Amplification
• RS can affect the gain as well. The gain is
lowered with higher values of Rs and
decreases with higher values of Rs . The
formula below shows the relationship.
• Av = gm RD /1+gm RS
Common-Source Amplifiers
• The common-source amplifier is biased
such that the input stays within the linear
range of operation.
• Self biased common source amplifier. Note
the source is at ac ground by way of C2 .
Common-Source Amplifiers
• The transfer characteristic curve and drain
curves with load line give us a graphical
representation of how the input signal
affects the drain current with relation to the
Q-point.
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Common-Source Amplifiers
• DC analysis of a common-source amplifier
requires us to determine ID . Biasing at
midpoint is most common so ID will be half
of ID SS . Note that the capacitors are viewed
as open components when only dc is
considered.
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Common-Source Amplifiers
• With ac equivalent circuit analysis we view
the capacitors effectively as shorts. Notice
that the source is at ground and RD and RL
are in parallel.
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Common-Source Amplifiers
• The load (RL ) must be considered when
viewing the ac equivalent circuit of an FET
amplifier, RL is in parallel with the drain
resistor (RD ). This will lower the gain by
lowering the overall drain resistance which
is represented by Rd . Calculation for Rd can
be determined by parallel resistance
calculation methods. Once Rd is
determined the voltage gain can be
determined by the familiar gain formula
below.
• Av = gm Rd
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D-MOSFET Amplifier Operation
• With this zero biased D-MOSFET amplifier it
is quite easy to analyze the drain circuit
since ID = ID SS .
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D-MOSFET Amplifier Operation
• With a zero-biased D-MOSFET amplifier the
swings occur in both enhancement mode
and depletion mode. The methods for ac
analysis for the D-MOSFET amplifier is
identical to the JFET amplifier discussed
previously.
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E-MOSFET Amplifier Operation
• For a voltage-divider biased E-MOSFET
circuit the voltage divider sets the VG S
needed to set the Q-point above the
threshold. DC analysis of the drain circuit
requires determination of the constant (K)
from the formula discussed in the previous
chapter.
• K = ID (on) /(VG S - VG S(th))2
• ID = K(VG S – VG S(th))2
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E-MOSFET Amplifier Operation
• Notice that with the E-MOSFET amplifier
operation occurs exclusively in the
enhancement mode. Voltage gain
calculation for the E-MOSFET amplifier is
the same as the JFET and D-MOSFET.
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Common-Drain Amplifiers
• The common-drain amplifier is similar to the
common-collector BJT amplifier in that the
Vin is the same as Vout with no phase shift.
The gain is actually slightly less than 1. Note
the output is taken from the source.
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Common-Gate Amplifiers
• The common-gate is similar to the common
base BJT amplifier in that it has a low input
resistance. The voltage gain can be
determined by the same formula as used
with the JFET common-source amplifier.
The input resistance can be determined by
the formula below.
• Rin(source) = 1/gm
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Summary
• FET amplifier configuration operation are similar to BJT amplifiers.
• The transconductance (gm) relates the drain current (ac output) to the ac input voltage (Vgs)
• Gain can be affected by drain circuit resistance
• The input resistance for a FET at the gate is extremely high
• The common-source is the most used type of FET amplifer and has a phase inversion is
180º.
• The common-drain has no phase shift, a gain slightly less than 1 and the output is taken
from the source.
• The common-gate has no phase shift and low input resistance.
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