A Method of Graphically Analyzing Cathode-Degenerated Amplifier Stages

A graphical method of analyzing the performance of cathode-degenerated amplifiers and cathode-follower stages (triode, tetrode, or pentode) is outlined and illustrated. It is based on use of a curve relating grid-to-ground potential to the resulting plate currert, taking into account the effects of the voltage drops across cathode and plate resistors. This method yields complete performance data for the stage, unless reactive effects are encountered, and involves a minimum amount of plotting and computation.