The following circuit is part of a larger circuit and processes analog audio. The input comes from the top-right and the output is the rightmost terminal of the pot, which then feeds into a straightforward audio amp chip (LM386N to be precise) before finally going to a headphone jack.
My basic read is that the signal comes in and
- gets high-pass filtered by C10/R10
- something ampey involving R11, Q1 and its base components, and C12
- gets low-pass filtered by R13/C13
- goes through the pot
What I really don't understand is what is going on with #2 (though a friend suggested the entire thing may be a single amplifier and the 4 parts can't functionally be separated).
- Is this a single circuit or is my breakdown more or less accurate?
- In either case what is #2 doing?
- How does a transistor work when the signal is at the collector and not the base? In looking at amplifiers I've been unable to find a single example of this.
- What is the function of the diode in all this?
- What is the function of the pot? Is this related to volume, or is it related to the beta of the transistor as friend suggested?
Keywords that can readily be googled or links will suffice for answers if you don't want to type it out.
Best Answer
This is not an amplifier. Q1 will clamp the signal at power-on to keep DC from propagating. If the input has +DC on it, the DC will propagate until C10 charges. Q1 will clamp the DC until C11 charges. After C11 charges, there is no base current path and Q1 is effectively out of the circuit. D1 keeps Q1's base from going negative on power-off.