MAHALAKSHMI

ENGINEERING COLLEGE
TIRUCHIRAPALLI-621213.

UNIT III – TUNED AMPLIFIERS

PART A (2 Marks)

1. What is meant by tuned amplifiers?

Tuned amplifiers are amplifiers that are designed to reject a certain range of frequencies below
a lower cut off frequency ωL and above a upper cut off frequency ωH and allows only a narrow band
of frequencies.

2. Classify tuned amplifiers.

1. Single tuned amplifier.
2. Double tuned amplifier.
3. Synchronously tuned amplifier.
4. Stagger tuned amplifier.

3. What are the advantages of double tuned amplifier?

 In double tuned amplifiers, the tuning is done both at the primary and secondary.
 The double tuned amplifiers provide a wider bandwidth, flatter pass band and a greater
selectivity.

4. Define resonance.
The reactance of the capacitor equals that of the inductor reactance. i.e ωC. = 1 / ωL.

5. What is Quality factor?

The ratio of inductive reactance of the coil at resonance to its resistance is known as quality
factor.
Q = XL / R.

6. Define gain bandwidth product of a tuned amplifier.

The gain bandwidth (GBW) product is a figure of merit defined in terms of mid band gain and
upper 3-db frequency fh as GBW = | Aim fh | = gm / 2πc.

7. What is the other name for tuned amplifier?

Tuned amplifiers used for amplifying narrow band of frequencies hence it is also known as
“narrow band amplifier” or “Band pass amplifier”.

8. What is a synchronously tuned amplifier?

When tuned amplifiers are cascaded if all the amplifier stages are identical and tuned to same
frequency fo then it is called as synchronously tuned amplifier. This results in a increased in gain and
reduction in bandwidth.

9. What is meant by neutralization?

It is the process by which feedback can be cancelled by introducing a current that is equal in
magnitude but 180o out of phase with the feedback signal at the input of the active device. The two
signals will cancel and the effect of feedback will be eliminated. This technique is termed as
neutralization.

10. What is unilateralisation?

It is the phenomenon by which a signal can be transmitted from the input to the output alone
and not vice versa. In a unilateralised amplifier both resistive and reactive effects are cancelled.

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 11. What is stagger tuned amplifier?
In this configuration one or more tuned amplifiers are cascaded each amplifier stage is tuned
to different frequencies. This results in decreased gain and increased bandwidth.

12. What is the effect of ‘Q’ on stability?

Higher the value of Q provides better selectivity, but smaller bandwidth and larger gain.
Hence it provides less stability.

13. What is the application of tuned amplifiers?

The application of tuned amplifiers to obtain a desired frequency and rejecting all other
frequency in
(i). Radio and T .V broadcasting as tuning circuit.
(ii). Wireless communication system.

14. What is meant by unloaded and loaded Q of tank circuit? [APR – 2003]
 Unloaded Q is the ratio of stored energy to dissipated energy in a reactor or resonator.
 The loaded Q (or) QL of a resonator is determined by how tightly the resonator is coupled to
its terminations.

15. Mention the applications of class ‘c’ tuned amplifier.[APR – 2003]

 One of the most common applications for mixer is in radio receivers. The mixer is used to
convert incoming signal to a lower frequency where it is easier to obtain the high gain and
selectivity required.
 Mixer circuits are used to translate signal frequency to some lower frequency or to some
higher frequency. When it is used to translate signal to lower frequency it is called down
converter. When it is used to translate signal to higher frequency, it is called up converter.

16. Mention the need for stagger-tuned amplifier.

The double tuned amplifier gives greater 3 db bandwidth having steeper sides and flat top. But
alignment of double tuned amplifier is difficult. To overcome this problem two single tuned
amplifiers are cascaded.

17. What are the advantages of tuned circuit?

 High selectivity
 Smaller collector supply voltage
 Small power gain.
18. Mention the bandwidth of a double tuned amplifier.
Bandwidth (ω2 – ω1) = ωo / Q √ (b2 –1) + 2b
Where, ωo is the resonance frequency in cycle per sec.
Q is the Quality factor of the coil alone.
B is a constant.

19. What is principle of Hazel tine neutralization?

Hazel tine introduced a circuit in which the troublesome effect of the collector to base
capacitance of the transistor was neutralized by introducing a signal which cancels the signal coupled
through the collector to base capacitance.

20. List the performance measure of a tuned amplifier.

 Selection of a desired radio frequency signal.
 Effective quality factor.
 Gain
 Bandwidth.

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 
21. What are the characteristics of an ideal tuned amplifier?
 Selects a single radio frequency and amplifiers the same by rejecting all other frequencies.
 Bandwidth is zero.
 Harmonic distortion is zero.

22. Write down the relationship between bandwidth and effective Q of a tuned amplifier?
Bandwidth = ωo / Q effective.

23. What are the different methods of coupling? (or) Point out different methods of coupling the
load to a tuned amplifier.
The different methods of coupling the load to a tuned amplifier are:
Capacitive coupling, Inductive coupling.

24. Why tuned amplifier cannot be used at low frequency?

For low frequencies the size L and C are large. So the circuit will be bulky and expensive,
hence the tuned amplifiers cannot be used at low frequency.

25. What are band pass amplifiers?

Band pass amplifiers are amplifiers circuits which allow a certain range of frequencies in
between two cut off frequencies (f1, f2) and attenuates all the other frequencies or rejects all other
frequencies.

26. What are the drawbacks of a single tuned amplifier?

 Narrow bandwidth on smaller pass band, which will result in poor production of the audio
signal.
 The sides (and the top) of a gain versus frequency curve are not steeper.

27. The band width of sing tuned amplifier is 10 KHz. If four such stages are connected in
series, What is its effective bandwidth.
The bandwidth of „n‟ number of tuned amplifiers connected in series is,
BWT = BW1
Where, BWT = Total (effective) Bandwidth.
Bw1 = Single tuned amplifier bandwidth.
n = number of stages.
BWT = 10*103
BWT = 43.5 KHz.
28. The bandwidth of a bouble-tuned amplifier is 10 KHz. Calculate the number of such stages
to be connected to obtain the bandwidth of 5.098 KHz.
BWT = BW1 (21/n - 1)1/4
21/n = 1.0676.
Taking log on both sides,
1/n log (2) = log (1.0676)
n = 10.
29. Calculate the resonant frequency of a class c tuned amplifier whose capacitor c=10pf and
inductor L=1mH.
The resonant frequency of class-c tuned amplifier is fr = 1 / 2 π = 1/ 2*3.14
fr = 1.59 MHz.

30. What do you mean by tuned amplifiers?

The amplifiers which amplify only selected range of frequencies (narrow
band of frequencies) with the help of tuned circuits (parallel LC circuit) are called tuned amplifiers.

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31. What are the various types of tuned amplifiers?
(1) Small signal tuned amplifiers
a. Single tuned amplifiers
(i) Capacitive coupled
(ii) Inductively coupled (or) Transformer coupled
b. Double tuned amplifiers
c. Stagger tuned amplifiers
(2) Large signal tuned amplifiers.

32. Give the expressions for the resonance frequency and impedance of the tuned circuit.
f=1&
LZR=
2π LC CR.

33. What is the response of tuned amplifiers?

The response of tuned amplifier is maximum at resonant frequency and it
falls sharply for frequencies below and above the resonant frequency.

34. When tuned circuit is like resistive, capacitive and inductive?

(1) At resonance, circuit is like resistive.
(2) For frequencies above resonance, circuit is like capacitive. (3) For frequencies below
resonance, circuit is like inductive.

35. What are the various components of coil losses?

(1) Copper loss
(2) Eddy current loss
(3) Hysteresis loss

36. Define Q factor of resonant circuit.

(1) It is the ratio of reactance to resistance.
(2) It also can be defined as the measure of efficiency with which inductor can store the
energy.
Q=2п *(Maximum Energy Stored per cycle / Energy dissipated per cycle).

37. What is dissipation factor?

(1) It is defined as 1/Q.
(2) It can be referred to as the total loss within a component.

38. Define unloaded and loaded Q of tuned circuit.

(1) The unloaded Q or QU is the ratio of stored energy to dissipated energy in a reactor or
resonator.
(2) The loaded Q or QL of a resonator is determined by how tightly the resonator is coupled
to its terminations.
39. Why quality factor is kept as high as possible in tuned circuits?
1. When Q is high, bandwidth is low and we get better selectivity. Hence Q is
kept as high as possible in tuned circuits.
2. When Q is high inductor losses are less.

40. List various types of cascaded Small signal tuned amplifiers.

1. Single tuned amplifiers.
2. Double tuned amplifiers.
3. Stagger tuned amplifiers.

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41. How single tuned amplifiers are classified?
1. Capacitance coupled single tuned amplifier.
2. Transformer coupled or inductively coupled single tuned amplifier.

42. What are single tuned amplifiers?

Single tuned amplifiers use one parallel resonant circuit as the load
impedance in each stage and all the tuned circuits are tuned to the same frequency.

43. What are double tuned amplifiers?

Double tuned amplifiers use two inductively coupled tuned circuits per
stage, both the tuned circuits being tuned to the same frequency.

44. What are stagger tuned amplifiers?

Stagger tuned amplifiers use a number of single tuned stages in cascade,
the successive tuned circuits being tuned to slightly different frequencies. (OR)
It is a circuit in which two single tuned cascaded amplifiers having certain bandwidth are taken and
their resonant frequencies are adjusted that they are separated by an amount equal to the bandwidth of
each stage. Since resonant frequencies are displaced it is called stagger tuned amplifier.

45. What is the effect of cascading single tuned amplifiers on bandwidth?

Bandwidth reduces due to cascading single tuned amplifiers.

46. List the advantages and disadvantages of tuned amplifiers.

Advantages:
1. They amplify defined frequencies.
2. Signal to Noise ratio at output is good.
3. They are well suited for radio transmitters and receivers.
4. The band of frequencies over which amplification is required can be varied.
Disadvantages:
1. Since they use inductors and capacitors as tuning elements, the circuit is bulky
and costly.
2. If the band of frequency is increased, design becomes complex.
3. They are not suitable to amplify audio frequencies.

47. What are the advantages of double tuned amplifier over single tuned amplifier?
1. It provides larger 3 dB bandwidth than the single tuned amplifier and hence
provides the larger gain-bandwidth product.
2. It provides gain versus frequency curve having steeper sides and flatter top.

48. What the advantages are of stagger tuned amplifier?

The advantage of stagger tuned amplifier is to have better flat, wideband
characteristics.

49. Mention the applications of class C tuned amplifier.

1. Class C amplifiers are used primarily in high-power, high-frequency
applications such as Radio-frequency transmitters.
2. In these applications, the high frequency pulses handled by the amplifier are not themselves
the signal, but constitute what is called the Carrier for the signal.
3. Amplitude modulation is one such example.
4. The principal advantage of class-C amplifier is that it has a higher efficiency than the other
amplifiers.

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50. What is Neutralization?
The technique used for the elimination of potential oscillations is called
neutralization. (OR) The effect of collector to base capacitance of the transistor is neutralized by
introducing a signal that cancels the signal coupled through collector base capacitance. This process is
called neutralization.

51. What is the use of Neutralization?

1. BJT and FET are potentially unstable over some frequency range due to the
feedback parameter present in them.
2. If the feedback can be cancelled by an additional feedback signal that is equal in amplitude
and opposite in sign, the transistor becomes unilateral from input to output the oscillations completely
stop.
3. This is achieved by Neutralization.

52. What are the different types of neutralization?

1. Hazeltine neutralization
2. Rice neutralization
3. Neutrodyne neutralization.

53. What is rice neutralization?

It uses center tapped coil in the base circuit. The signal voltages at the end of tuned base coil
are equal and out of phase.

Part – B (16 marks)

1. Classification of tuned amplifiers. (Apr / May 10)

Small signal tuned amplifier:

A common emitter amplifier can be converted into a single tuned amplifier by
including a parallel tuned circuit.

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 Single tuned FET amplifier:

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 Single tuned capacitive coupled amplifier:

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 This quality factor is also called unloaded Q. but in practice, transistor output
resistance and input resistance of next stage act as a load for the tuned circuit. The quality
factor including load is called as loaded Q and it can be given as follows:
The Q of the coil is usually large so that ωL >> R in the frequency range of operation.

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 Double tuned amplifier:
The below figure shows double tuned RF amplifier in CE configuration. Here,
voltage developed across tuned circuit is coupled inductively to another tuned circuit. Both
tuned circuits are tuned to the same frequency.

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 The double tuned circuit can provide a bandwidth of several percent of the resonant
frequency and gives steep sides to the response curve.
Analysis of double tuned circuits:

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 2. Describe the principles involved in stagger tuned amplifier(Nov/Dec-05)
The double tuned amplifier gives greater 3dB bandwidth having steeper sides and
flat top. But alignment of double tuned amplifier is difficult. To overcome this problem
two single tuned cascaded amplifiers having certain bandwidth are taken and their
resonant frequencies are so adjusted that they are separated by an amount equal to the
bandwidth of each stage. Since resonant frequencies are displaced or staggered, they are
known as stagger tuned amplifiers. The advantage of stagger tuned amplifier is to have a
better flat, wideband characteristics in contrast with a very sharp, rejective, narrow band
characteristics of synchronously tuned circuits (tuned to same resonant frequencies). Fig.
3.23 shows the relationship of amplification characteristics of individual stages in a
staggered pair to the overall amplification of the two stages.

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Analysis of stagger tuned amplifier:

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3. Large signal tuned amplifiers:
The output efficiency of an amplifier increases as the operation shifts from class A to
class C through class AB and class B. as the output power of a radio transmitter is high and
efficiency is prime concern, class B and class C amplifiers are used at the output stages in
transmitter.
The operation of class B an class C amplifiers are non-linear since the amplifying
elements remain cut-off during a part of the input signal cycle. The non-linearity generates
harmonics of the single frequency at the output of the amplifier. In the push-pull arrangement
where the bandwidth requirement is no limited, these harmonics can be eliminated or
reduced. When an narrow bandwidth is desired, a resonant circuit is employed in class B and
class C tuned RF power amplifiers to eliminate the harmonics.

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 Class B tuned amplifier:

It works with a single transistor by sending half sinusoidal current pulses to the load. The
transistor is biased at the edge of the conduction. Eventhough the input is half half sinusoidal,
the load voltage is sinusoidal because a high Q RLC tank shunts harmonics to ground. The
negative half is delivered by the RLC tank. The Q factor of the tank needs to be large enough
to do this. This is analogous to pushing someone on a swing. We only need to push in one
direction, and the reactive energy stored will swing the person back in the reverse direction.

Class C tuned amplifier:

The amplifier is said to be class C amplifier, if the Q point and the input signal are
selected such that the output signal is obtained for less than a half cycle, for a full input cycle.
Due to such a selection of the Q point, transistor remains active, for less than a half cycle.
Hence only that much part is reproduced at the output. For remaining cycle of the input cycle,
the transistor remains cut-off and no signal is produced at the output.

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 From the figure, it is apparent that the total angle during which current flows is less than
180o. this angle is called the conduction angle, θc.

The above shows the class C tuned amplifier. Here a parallel resonant circuit acts as a load
impedance. As collector current flows for less than half a cycle, the collector current consists of a
series of pulses with the harmonics of the input signal. A parallel tuned circuit acting as a load
impedance is tuned to the input frequency. Therefore, it filters the harmonic frequencies and produce
a sine wave output voltage consisting of fundamental component of the input signal.

4. Frequency response of tuned amplifier:

To amplify the selective range of frequencies, the resistive load, Rc is replaced by a
tuned circuit. The tuned circuit is capable of amplifying a signal over a narrow band of frequencies
centered at fr. the amplifiers with such. a tuned circuit as a load are known as tined amplifier.

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 The above figure shows the tuned parallel LC circuit which resonates at a particular
frequency. The resonant frequency and the impedance of tuned circuit is given as,

The response of tuned amplifiers is maximum at resonant frequency and it falls sharply for
frequencies below and above the resonant frequency.

In the figure 3 dB bandwidth is denoted as B nad 30 dB bandwidth is denoted as S.

the ratio of 30 dB bandwidth (S) to the 3 dB bandwidth (B) is known as skirt selectivity.
At resonance, inductive and capacitive effects of tuned circuit cancel each other. As a
result, circuit is like resistive and cos φ = 1 i.e. voltage and current are in phase. For
frequencies above resonance circuit is like capacitive and for frequencies below resonance it
is like inductive. Since tuned circuit is purely resistive at resonance it can be used as a load
for amplifier.

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 5. Coil losses in tuned amplifiers:
The tuned circuit consists of a coil. Practically, coil is not purely inductive. It consists
of few losses and they are represented in the form of leakage resistance in series with the
inductor. The total loss of the coil is comprised of copper loss, eddy current loss and
hysteresis loss. The copper loss at low frequencies is equivalent to the d.c. resistance of the
coil. Copper loss is inversely proportional to the frequency. Therefore, as frequency increase,
the copper loss decreases. Eddy current loss in iron and copper coil are due to currents
flowing within the copper or core cased by induction. The result of eddy currents is a loss
due to heating within the inductors copper or core. Eddy current losses are directly
proportional to the frequency. Hysteresis loss is proportional to the area enclosed by the
hysteresis loop and to the rate at which this loop is transversed. It is function of signal level
and increases with frequency. Hysteresis loss is however independent of frequency.

The total losses in the coil or inductor is represented by inductance in series with
leakage resistance of the coil.

6. Define Quality factor. Obtain the quality factor for a parallel resonant circuit. Derive
the loaded and unloaded Q.
Quality factor:

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 Loaded and unloaded Q:

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 Thus in tuned amplifier Q is kept as high as possible to get the better selectivity. Such
tuned amplifiers are used in communication or broadcast receivers where it is necessary to
amplify only selected band of frequencies.

7. Requirements of tuned amplifiers:

The basic requirements of tuned amplifiers are;
 The amplifier should provide selectivity of resonant frequency over a very narrow
band.
 The signal should be amplified equally well at all frequencies in the selected
narrow band.
 The tuned circuit should be so mounted that it can be easily tuned. If there are more
than one circuit to be tuned, there should be an arrangement to tune all circuit
simultaneously.
 The amplifier must provide the simplicity in tuning of the amplifier components to
the desired frequency over a considerable range or band of frequencies.

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 8. Effect of cascading single tuned amplifier on bandwidth:

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 9. Effect of cascading single tuned amplifier on bandwidth:

When a number of identical double tuned amplifier stages are cascaded in cascade,
the overall bandwidth of the system is thereby narrowed and the steepness of the sides of the
response is increased, just as when single tuned stages are cascaded. The quantitative relation
between the 3 dB bandwidth of n identical double tuned critically coupled stages compared
with the bandwidth Δ2 of such a system can be shown to be 3 dB bandwidth for

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