Complementary Push-Pull Amplifiers
The principal disadvantage of the push-pull amplifier circuits we have discussed so far is the cost and bulk of their output transformers. High-power amplifiers in particular are encumbered by the need for very large transformers capable of conducting large currents without saturating. Figure 16-25(a) shows a popular design using complementary (PNP and N PN) output transistors to eliminate the need for an output transformer in push-pull operation. This design also eliminates the need for a driver transformer or any other drive circuitry producing out-ofphase signals.
(b) When the input is positive, QI conducts and Q2 is (c) When the input is negative, Q2 conducts and QI is cut off.
Figure 16-25(b) shows that current flows in a counterclockwise path through the load when the input signal on the base of NPN transistor QI is positive. The positive input simultaneously appears on the base of PNP transistor Q2 and keeps it cut off. When the input is negative. QI is cut off and Q2 conducts current through the load in the opposite direction, as shown in 16-25(c).
The amplifier in Figure 16-25 must deliver 30 W to a 15-0 load under maximum drive.
1. What is the minimum value required for each supply voltage?
2. What minimum collector-to-base breakdown-voltage rating should each transistor have’!
Solution
Example 16-11
The push-pull amplifier in Figure 16-25 has iVcni = iVcni = 30 V and RI. = SPICE 15 O. The input coupling capacitor is 100 p,F. Assuming the transistors have their . default parameters, use SPICE to obtain a plot of one full cycle of output then the input is
1. a 1-kHz sine wave with peak value 30 V;
2~ a ‘l-kl-lz sine wave with peak value 2 V.
Figure 16-26(a) shows the SPICE circuit and input data file for the case where the input signal has peak value 30 V. The resulting plot is shown in Figure 16-26(b). We see that the computed output swings from -29 to +28.98 V. The output that results when the peak value of the input is changed to 2 V is shown in Figure 16-26(c). Crossover distortion is now clearly apparent in this low-amplitude case
Figure 16-27 shows two variations on the basic complementary, push-pull amplitier. 1;’1 (a); thetransistors arc replaced by emitter-follower Darlington pairs. Since power transistors tend to have low betas, particularly at high current levels, the Darlington pair improves the drive capabilities and the current gain of the amplifier as discussed in Chapter l l , These devices are available in matched complementary sets with current ratings up to 20 A. Figure 16-27(b) shows how emitter-follower ‘transistors can be operated in parallel to increase the overall current-handling capability of the amplifier. In this variation, the parallel transistors must be matched closely to prevent “current hogging,” wherein one device carries most of the load, thus subverting the intention of load sharing. Small emitter resistors R; shown in the figure introduce negative feedback and help prevent current hogging, at the expense of efficiency. Amplifiers capable of dissipating several hundred watts have been constructed using this arrangement.
One disadvantage of the complementary push-pull amplifier is the need for two power supplies. Also, like the transformer-coupled push-pull amplifier, the complementary class-B umplilicr produces crossover distortion in its output: Figure \6-2X(a) shows another version of the complementary amplifier that eliminates these problems and that incorporales some additional features .
The complementary amplifier in Figure 16-28 can be operated with a single power supply because the output v” is biased at half the supply voltage and is capacitor-coupled to the load. The resistor-diode network connected across the transistor bases is used to bias each transistor near the threshold of conduction. Crossover distortion can be reduced or eliminated by inserting another resistor
(not shown in the figure) in series with the diodes to bias the transistors further into AB operation. Assuming that all components are perfectly matched, the supply voltage will divide equally across each half of the amplifier, as shown in Figure 16-2X(b). (In practice, one of the resistors R can be made adjustable for balance
Resistors R; provide bias stability to prevent thermal runaway (see
Section 6-1) but are made ( s small as possible since they adversely affect efficiency. Since each half of the amp ifier has Vccl2 volts across it, the forward-biased diode drops appear across the base-emitter junctions with the proper polarity to bias each transistor toward conduction. The diodes arc selected so that their characteristics track the base-emitter junctions under temperature changes and thus ensure bias stability. The diodes are typically mounted nil the same heat sinks as the transistors so that both change temperature in the same way
In ac operation, when input VI is positive and 0, IS conductk.g, current is drawn from the power supply and flows through 0, to the load. When 0, is cut off by a negative input, no current can How fro the supply. At those times, Qz is conducting and capacitor C,. discharges through that transistor. Thus, current flows from the load, through C, and through Q2 to ground whenever the input is negative. The RI.C •. time constant must be much greater than the period of the. lowest signal frequency. The lower cutoff frequency due to Cc is given by
The peak load current is the peak input voltage VI’ divided by RI. + Rf::
thereiore, till; average ac power delivered ° the load is
1. the base-to-ground voltages VIII and Vm of each transistor;
2. the power delivered to the load under maximum signal conditions;
3. the ‘efficiency under maximum signal conditions; and
4. the value of capacitor C•.if the amplifier is to be used at signal frequencies to 20 Hz.
Solution
1. Since all components arc matched, the supply voltage divides equally acre resistor-diode network, as shown in Figure 16- 30. Then, as can be seer the figure, VIII = 10 + 0.7 = 10.7 Vand V/J2 = VIII – 1.4 = 9.3 V.
This result demonstrates a principal disadvantage of the complementary single supply push-pull amplifier: the coupling ca oacitor must be quite large to drive a low-impedance load at a low frequency These operating requirements are typical for audio power amplifiers
Quasi-Complementary Push-Pull Amplifiers
As has been discussed in previous chapters, modern semiconductor technology is’ such that NPN transistors are generally superior to PNP types. Figure 16-31 shows a popular push-pull amplifier design that uses NPN transistors for both output
devices. This design is called quasi-complementary because transistors QJ and Q~ together perform the same function as the PNP transistor in a romp ementary pushp”the input signal is positive, PNP transistor 0.1 is cut off, so NPN transistor 04 receives no base current and is also CUI 011. VVn”,,, the input is negative, OJ conducts and supplies base current to 04, which can then conduct load current. Transistors O. and Oz form an NPN Darlington pair; so 01 and O2 provide emitter-follower action to the load when the input is positive. and 0.\ and 04 perform
that function when the input is negative. The entire configuration thus performs, push-pull operation in the same manner as the comple=-entary push-pull amplifier. The current gain of the Q.lQ4 combination is
This gain is very nearly that of a Darlington pair. Transistors Q, and Q2 are connected as a Darlington pair to ensure that both sides of the amplifier have similar gain
Integrated Circuit Power Amplifiers
Low- to medium-power audio amplifiers (in the 1- to 20-W range) are available in integrated circuit form. Many have differential inputs and quasi-complementary outputs. Figure 16-32 shows an example, the LM3HO2.5-W audio amplifier manufac
tured by National Semiconductor. Transistors Q1 and Q2 are input emitter followers that drive the differential pair consisting of QJ and Q~. Transistors (J~and Q6 are active loads in the configuration discussed in Chapter 12 (Figure l2-2S). Transistors QIOand QII form a current mirror supplying bias current (Figure 6-29). The output of the differential stage, at the collector of Q4, drives a common-emitter stage (QI2), which in turn drives a quasi-complementary output stage. The lO-pF Capacitor provides internal frequency compensation.
One feature of the LM380 is that internal resistor networks (R1 a d R2) are used to set the output bias level automatically at one-half the supply voltage, Vs. The output is normally capacitor-coupled to the load. The voltage gain of the amplifier is fixed at 50 (34 dB). Manufacturer’s specifications state that the bandwidth is 100 kHz and that the total harmonic distortion is typically 0.2%, The supply voltage can be set from 10 to 22 V.