A common collector circuit, also known as an emitter follower, is a type of transistor circuit where the emitter terminal is connected to the output and the collector is connected to the power supply. This configuration provides high current gain and low input impedance.
A common emitter circuit is a type of transistor circuit where the emitter terminal is connected to the ground and the collector is connected to the power supply. This configuration provides high voltage gain and medium input impedance.
The main differences between common collector and common emitter circuits are their input and output characteristics. A common collector circuit has a low input impedance and high output impedance, while a common emitter circuit has a medium input impedance and high output impedance. Additionally, the voltage and current gains are different for each circuit.
Common collector circuits are commonly used as voltage buffers, impedance matching circuits, and in audio amplifiers. Common emitter circuits are commonly used as voltage amplifiers, inverting amplifiers, and in switching applications.
The advantages of a common collector circuit include high current gain, low input impedance, and low distortion. The disadvantages include low voltage gain and high output impedance. The advantages of a common emitter circuit include high voltage gain, medium input impedance, and high output impedance. The disadvantages include low current gain and high distortion.