HOWARD COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, DURBAN
Analogue Electronics – 2 (ENEL3AE-H2)
Year - 3 / Semester- 2 / 2024, Class Test - 2
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS REGION Student number:
Date: 16th October 2024 (Wednesday) Time: 60 min
TOTAL MARKS: 36 marks (Marked out of 35 marks)
Instructions:
1. This is a closed-book test. You can use a Calculator.
2. You are not allowed to use any notes or textbooks to assist you to answer the questions.
3. Write your answers in the space provided on the question paper.
4. Show all calculations on the question paper clear pages.
5. Untidy work will not be marked.
QUESTION 1 [18 marks]
Fig. 1, “Signal Flow Diagram of Amplifier with Closed Loop Negative Feedback”
a) Given that the closed loop negative feedback gain 𝐴𝑓 of an audio power amplifier with open loop gain
𝐴
𝐴, as shown in Fig. 1, is governed by 𝐴𝑓 = . Explain, using calculus, how negative feedback
1+𝛽𝐴
applied to an audio power amplifier can provide the benefit of gain stability since the audio amplifier
open loop gain can vary widely with change in temperature? [4 marks]
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2
Fig.2, “3-stage Audio Power Amplifier circuit”
b) Hence, given that the 3-stage audio power amplifier in Fig. 2 has a negative feedback factor of 𝛽 set
by resistors 𝑅9 and 𝑅10 which stabilize the audio power amplifier voltage gain 𝐴𝑣 . It is also known
that at a temperature of 25℃ the audio power amplifier open loop voltage gain is 100𝑉/𝑉 and when
the temperature increases to 40℃ the open loop voltage gain drops to 60𝑉/𝑉. Based on this
information, calculate the percentage change in the open loop voltage gain and closed loop voltage
gain of the audio power amplifier shown in Fig.2. [5 marks]
[Please note that the percentage change can be positive or negative]
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c)
4 U1
2
To Analogue Input Card
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3
100PT105 Rs 7 1 5 741
Io=4 to 20mA
Fig.3, “Pressure Transmitter Loop Circuit to Analogue Input Card”
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A pressure transmitter at Assmang in Catoridge has an instrument tag of 100PT105 as shown in Fig.
3. The pressure transmitter is a typical conventional analogue 4-20mA DC instrument that measures
pressure of the Tundish cooling water circuit that cools the furnace hearth (shell). This pressure
transmitter is very critical for the safe operation of the furnace and if the pressure measured by this
instrument is very low the furnace must be shutdown. When the pressure transmitter measures a
pressure of 0kPa the transmitter outputs a current of 4mA corresponding to the lowest pressure. When
the pressure is at the maximum pressure measurable by the instrument, i.e 100kPa, the output current
is 20mA. The output resistance of this pressure transmitter, which acts as a Norton current source, is
𝑅𝑠 = 1𝑀Ω when the instrument functions properly. The differential input resistance between the
inverting and non-inverting terminals of the OP-AMP is 𝑅𝑖𝑑 = 10𝑘Ω.
i) A technician performs routine maintenance on the pressure transmitter and its output resistance
changes to 𝑅𝑠 = 10𝑘Ω. When the Tundish pressure is 50kPa, the pressure transmitter outputs
a current of 𝐼𝑜 = 12𝑚𝐴. Comment on the difference in the current that flows through 𝑅𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑠 𝑅𝑠
when 𝑅𝑠 changes from 1𝑀Ω to 10𝑘Ω. [3 marks]
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ii) Explain and illustrate a technique you would use to increase the instrument reading accuracy
in the circuit shown in Fig. 3 when 𝑅𝑠 = 10𝑘Ω? [Note for higher instrument reading
accuracy, most of the 12mA current must flow through resistor 𝑹𝒊𝒅 relative to 𝑹𝒔 ].
[3 marks]
d) An audio amplifier in a music recording studio amplifies signal frequencies from an audio mic
between a frequency range of 0Hz to 1kHz with a midband voltage gain of 40. However, the audio
signals from a singer’s voice cord range from 100Hz to 4kHz. Explain how the audio amplifier can be
modified to cater for the singer’s voice frequency range with an allowance of dropping the audio
amplifier midband voltage gain to a minimum of 10? [3 marks]
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QUESTION 2 [18 marks]
a) Using the above information, show that the closed loop gain with positive feedback is governed
𝐴
by 𝐴𝑓 = . [3 marks]
1−𝛽𝐴
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b) Using the closed loop gain expression from 2 (a), explain how the Barkhausen criterion,
𝛽(𝑠)𝐴(𝑠)=1, for oscillation is derived from the closed loop gain expression? [2 marks]
c) Explain, using a mathematical technique, why it is necessary for the loop gain 𝛽(𝑠)𝐴(𝑠)>1 for
oscillations to start and why eventually setting the loop gain 𝛽(𝑠)𝐴(𝑠)=1 is necessary to sustain
oscillations? [Note: Assume thermal noise acts as an input signal according to 𝑋𝑠 (𝑡) = 𝑛𝛿(𝑡) =
𝑛, 𝑡 = 0
{ where 𝛿(𝑡) is the Dirac-delta function and 𝑛 is a noise constant.] [5 marks]
0, 𝑡 > 0
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Fig. 6, “Hartley Oscillator using an NPN BJT common-emitter amplifier”
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Fig. 6, exhibits a Hartley oscillator with a BJT representing the common-emitter (inverting) amplifier circuit
with resistor 𝑅. The DC biasing circuits are missing from Fig. 6 since it is a simplified version of the oscillator.
d) By drawing an appropriate simplified small signal model of Fig. 6, show using nodal analysis
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that the Hartley oscillator output signal frequency 𝑓𝑜 = . [8 marks]
2𝜋√𝐶(𝐿1 +𝐿2 )
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END OF QUESTIONS
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Miller’s Theorem:
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𝑌𝑖𝑛 = 𝑌(1 − 𝐴𝑣 ) & 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑌 (1 − )
𝐴𝑣
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