A Class C amplifier is an electronic device that amplifies electrical signals, but only for a portion of the input signal cycle, resulting in high efficiency but significant distortion.
Class C amplifiers are designed to conduct only when the input signal is above a certain threshold, which means they do not reproduce the entire input signal faithfully. This results in distortion, which can be controlled by using a tuned circuit to filter the output signal. The tuned circuit helps to remove unwanted harmonics from the output, which are produced due to the nonlinearity of the amplifier.
Features of Class C Amplifier
- Highly efficient
- Nonlinear operation
- High power
- Tuned circuit
- Limited frequency range
Working of Class C Amplifier
A Class C amplifier works by conducting current only during a small portion of the input signal cycle, resulting in high efficiency but significant distortion. The amplifier operates in a nonlinear mode, which means that it can only amplify a portion of the input signal, resulting in distortion.
When an input signal is applied to the amplifier, the transistor or vacuum tube conducts current only for a portion of the input signal cycle. This is because the bias point of the amplifier is set so that it is just below the threshold for conduction. This means that the amplifier conducts only when the input signal exceeds a certain level, resulting in a highly distorted output signal.
The distortion is caused by the fact that the amplifier conducts only during a portion of the input signal cycle. This produces harmonics of the input signal, which are integer multiples of the input signal frequency. These harmonics can cause interference with other signals and may need to be filtered out using a tuned circuit.
Applications
- RF power amplifiers
- High-frequency oscillators
- Audio amplifiers
- Signal amplifiers
- Power supplies and Inverters