Differential Amplifier

VCC

Different input mode:

Single Ended input, vi1 exists, vi2
grounded.

RC

RC
VO1

Q2

Q1

VO2

Vi2

Vi1
RE
-VEE

Double ended, both inputs exist.

Common mode, same input
signal is applied at both the input
terminals.

DC bias of Differential Amplifier

VCC

I
IC E
2

IC

RC

RC

VC1

Q1

Q2
VB =0

IE
2

VE 0 VBE 0.7

VC2

VB =0
IE
2

IE

RE
-VEE

IE
2

VC1 VC 2 VCC I C RC

VE (VEE ) VEE 0.7 I I I E

C1
C2
IE

2
RE
RE

VCC

AC analysis of
Differential Amplifier

RC

RC
VO1

VO2

Vi1

Vi2
RE
Ib1

-VEE

Vo1
C

ri1

Vi1

1Ib1
RC1

Ic1

Vo2

Ic2

Ib2

2Ib2
RC2

(1+1)Ib1

RE

(1+2)Ib2

ri2

Vi2

VCC

Considering RE very large,Single Ended ac voltage gain

Vi1 - IbriR Ibri = 0.RC
C
Assuming Identical transistors,
Vi1
VO2
ri1 = ri2 = ri and Ib1 = Ib2 = Ib
VO1
Ib
2ri
Vi2=0
V
V
R

Vi1 Vo I c R c Vi1 R c
Ic I b
2ri
RE 2r
i

i1

-VEE

Ib1

Vo1

ri1

Vi1

1Ib1
RC1

Vo2

Av

Vi1
2ri
R c R c
Av
I
2 re 2re
2Ib2
b2

Ic1

Ic2

RC2

(1+1)Ib1

RE

(1+2)Ib2

ri2

Vi2=0

VCC

Considering RE very large,Double Ended ac voltage gain

Vi1 - Ibri Ibri R
CVi2= 0.RC
Assuming Identical transistors,
Vo= I R
VO2
Vd
c
VO1 Vi1 Vi2
r
=
r
=
r
and
I
=
I
A

i1
i2
i
b1
b2
b
Ib

d
Vd
2ri
2ri
2ri
Vi1
Vi2
Differential
Vd Vo I c R c Vd R c
Ic I b R
voltage gain
2ri
E

2ri

Ib1

-VEE

ri1

Vi1

Vo1

1Ib1
RC1

Ic1

Vo2

Ic2

RE

Ib2

2Ib2
RC2

ri2

Vi2

Common Mode operation of differential amplifier

Vo1

Ib

Ib

RC

ri

Vi

Ic

Common mode voltage gain

Ib

Ib
V
R c
o
I
A c RC
Vi ri 2(ri 1)R E
c

VCC

(1+)Ib
RC
2(1+)I
b

RERC(1+)Ib

Vi
Ib
ri 2( 1)R E

VO

Vi I b ri 2( 1)I b R E 0
Vi

Vi R c
Vo I c RREc I b R c
-V
ri 2( 1)R E
EE

Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)

of differential amplifier
Vo R c
Ad

Vd
2ri

VCC

VO A d Vd A c Vc

Differential voltage gain

Desired Signal

RC
RC Unwanted
Signal

VO

(Noise)

Common mode voltage gain

Vc

Vo
R c
Ac

Vi ri 2( 1)R E

RE

Ad
CMRR
Ac
Vs1

-VEE

Vs2

VCC

How to reduce CMRR

RC Ac
Large RE will
Rmake smaller

VB

VO

R1
R2

IE

RE
Vs1

VB

RE

Vs2
-VEE

Ro

-VEE

R1
R2

IE

RE

-VEE

Numerical example
The voltage gain of the amplifier is 200. Input signal 1 is 10mV and
input 2 is 5mV, in same phase with input 1. Find the output signals.

Vin1 : 5mV 00

Considering
input 1 only

VCC

RC
VO1

Vin1

RE
-VEE

Vin2 : 10mV 00
RC
VO2

Vout1 caused by Vin1 : 2.0V 1800

Vout2 caused by Vin1 : 2.0V 00

Considering input 2 only

VCC

RC
VO1

RE
-VEE

RC
VO2

Vin2

Vout1 caused by Vin2 : 1.0V 00

Vout2 caused by Vin2 : 1.0V 1800

Vout1 caused by Vin1 : 2.0V 1800

VCC

Vout2 caused by Vin1 : 2.0V 00

RC

RC

Vout1 caused by Vin2 : 1.0V 00

VO2

Vout2 caused by Vin2 : 1.0V 1800

Combining the outputs :

VO1

Vin1

Vout1 = 1 1800

RE

Vin2

Vout2 = 1.0V 00

-VEE

We see that both the outputs amplify the

difference between the two input signals.
Vin1 Vin2 = 5mV
Output = 200* 5mV = 1V.

Numerical example
A differential amplifier has a gain of 150 and a CMRR of 90dB. The
input signals are 50mV and 100mV, with a noise on each input.
Find (i) the output signal (ii) Noise at the output.

Vout = (100mV -50mV) * 150 = 7.5 V

Noise gain = 90dB = 20log10(150/Ac)
Ac= 4.710-3

Noise output = (1mV )* 4.710-3 = 4.7 V