Electronic Circuits

Chapter 3: Multistage Amplifier and

Differential Amplifier

1
 Content
Introduction

Cascade Configuration

Cascode Configuration

Darlington Configuration

Differential Amplifier

2
 Introduction
In most applications, a single
transistor amplifier will not be
able to meet the combined
specifications of a given
amplification factor, input
resistance, and output resistance. A generalized three-stage amplifier
BJT
Name Comments
1st stage 2nd stage
Voltage Amp CE CE High Voltage Gain
Cascode CE CB High bandwidth
Op-Amp CE CC High Zin low Zout
Current buffer CB CC Higher Zout than CB/CG
Current buffer CB CE
Not common CB CB
Not common CC CE
Differential Amp CC CB High voltage gain and BW.
Darlington CC CC High current gain
3
Cascade Configuration

A two-stage common-emitter amplifier in a cascade

configuration with npn and pnp transistors

4
Cascade Configuration
v Two stage common-emitter
amplifier in a cascade
configuration: small signal
equivalent circuit.

v Input resistance: 𝑹𝒊𝒏 = 𝑹𝟏 ∥ 𝑹𝟐 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟏

𝑹𝟏 ∥ 𝑹𝟐 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟏
v Small signal voltage gain: 𝑮𝒗 = 𝒈𝒎𝟐 𝑹𝑪𝟐 ∥ 𝑹𝑳 𝒈𝒎𝟏 𝑹𝑪𝟏 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟐
𝑹𝟏 ∥ 𝑹𝟐 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟏 + 𝑹𝒔
5
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:

b 1 = 173

b2 = 157

6
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:

5V 5V

𝐼$%

𝐼#" 𝐼!%
𝐼!" 𝐼#%

𝐼$"

5V -5V -5V -5V

7
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:

b 1 = 173
5V 5V
b2 = 157 𝐼#" - 𝐼!%
5V 5V

𝐼$%

𝐼!" 𝐼#"
𝐼!%
𝐼#%
𝑉!" = 0.7𝑉
𝐼$"

-1,67V -5V -5V

5V -5V -5V -5V

𝑅%
𝑉!! = 10× − 5𝑉
𝑅" + 𝑅%
8
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:
𝑉)) = 𝐼)* ×𝑅) + 𝑉)+ + 𝛽* + 1 𝑅+* − 5
b 1 = 173
−1,67 = 𝐼)* ×33.3 + 0.7 + 𝛽* + 1 2 − 5
5V 5V
b2 = 157 𝐼#" - 𝐼!%
⇒ 𝐼)* = 6.9𝜇𝐴; 𝐼,* = 1.19𝑚𝐴
𝐼,*
𝐼$% 𝑔.* = = 46𝑚𝐴/𝑉
𝑉/
𝐼!" 𝐼#"
𝐼!% 5 = 𝐼+- ×𝑅+- + 𝑉+) − 𝑅,* 𝐼,* − 𝐼)- + 5
𝐼#%
𝑉!" = 0.7𝑉
𝐼$"
0 = 𝛽- + 1 𝐼)- ×2 + 0.7 − 5 1.19 − 𝐼)-
0 = 321×𝐼)- − 5.25
-1,67V -5V -5V ⇒ 𝐼)- = 16.35𝜇𝐴; 𝐼,* = 2.58𝑚𝐴
𝐼,-
𝑅% 𝑔.- = = 99𝑚𝐴/𝑉
𝑉!! = 10× − 5𝑉 𝑉/
𝑅" + 𝑅%
9
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:

b 1 = 173 𝑹𝟏 ∥ 𝑹𝟐 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟏
𝑮𝒗 = 𝒈𝒎𝟐 𝑹𝑪𝟐 ∥ 𝑹𝑳 𝒈𝒎𝟏 𝑹𝑪𝟏 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟐 = 𝟓𝟒𝟗𝟐
𝑹𝟏 ∥ 𝑹𝟐 ∥ 𝒓𝝅𝟏 + 𝑹𝒔
b2 = 157

𝐼,*
𝑔.* = = 46𝑚𝐴/𝑉
𝑉/
𝛽*
𝑟0* = = 3.76𝑘Ω
𝑔.*
𝐼,-
𝑔.- = = 99𝑚𝐴/𝑉
𝑉/
𝛽-
𝑟0- = = 1.58𝑘Ω
𝑔.-
10
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:

12
 Cascade Configuration
Example 1: Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the following multi-transistor
circuit:

13
 Cascade Configuration
Example 2: Consider the circuit shown in the following figure. The transistor parameters
are 𝑘1* = 0.5mA/𝑉 - , 𝑘1- = 0.2mA/𝑉 - and 𝑉/2* = 𝑉/2- = 1.2𝑉. The Q point is: 𝐼3* =
0.2𝑚𝐴, 𝐼3- = 0.5𝑚𝐴.
Determine the small-signal voltage gain of a multistage cascade circuit.

𝐼3 = 𝑘1 𝑉;7 − 𝑉61 -

1 𝑊
𝑘1 = 𝜇1 𝐶4<
2 𝐿

1
𝑅456 = 𝑅7- ∥
𝑔.-
𝑅81 = 𝑅* ∥ 𝑅-

𝑅7- ∥ 𝑅: 𝑅81
𝐺9 = − 𝑔.* 𝑅3* = −6.14 (𝑉/𝑉)
1 𝑅81 + 𝑅78
𝑅7- ∥ 𝑅: + 𝑔
.-
14
 Cascade Configuration
Exercise 1: Consider the circuit shown in the following figure. The transistor parameters
are b = 125, 𝑉)+ (𝑜𝑛) = 0.7𝑉
a. Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the multistage cascade circuit.
b. Determine the input resistance and output resistance.

𝑅81 = 𝑅* ∥ 𝑅- ∥ 𝑟0* + 𝑅+* 𝛽* + 1 = 4.76𝑘Ω

𝑅456 = 𝑅+- ∥ 𝑟=- ≃ 𝑟=- = 43.7Ω

𝑅+- ∥ 𝑅:
𝐺9 = − ×⋯
𝑅+- ∥ 𝑅: + 𝑟=-
𝑅,* ∥ 𝑟0- + 𝑅+- ∥ 𝑅: 𝛽- + 1
…
𝑅+* + 𝑟=*
= −17.7 (𝑉/𝑉)

15
 Cascode Configuration
v In cascode configuration, a Common-
Emitter (or Common-Source) amplifier
drives a Common-Base (or Common-
Gate) amplifier.

v The input capacitance of CE amplifier is

small because the voltage gain of Q1 is
small (near unity) which means the
Miller capacitance is minimized.

v The CE stage increases the input

impedance of the CB stage.
Cascode Amplifier
v The voltage gain is achieve in the
Common-Base stage.

16
 Cascode Configuration

The ac equivalent circuit

Cascode Amplifier

The small-signal equivalent circuit

17
Cascode Configuration

Example 2: Consider the circuit shown in the

following figure. The transistor parameters are 𝑘1* =
0.8mA/𝑉 - , 𝑘1- = 0.8mA/𝑉 - and 𝑉/2* = 𝑉/2- =
1.2𝑉. The Q point is: 𝐼3* = 0.4𝑚𝐴, 𝐼3- = 0.4𝑚𝐴.
Determine the small-signal voltage gain of the
cascode circuit.

18
 Cascode Configuration
PSPICE Simulation: Use PSPICE to run simulation for the following CE-CB (cascode) amplifier.
The Beta DC of Q1,Q2 are 162 and 161 respectively. The mid-band gain of the amplifier from
PSPICE is 120. Validate the DC and AC analysis of the amplifier using circuit analysis? Note that
Beta AC gain of Q1, Q2 are 177 and 176 respectively.

19
 Cascode Configuration
PSPICE Simulation: It is clear that the high-frequency (HF) 3dB cut-off frequency of the
Cascode amplifier is much higher than that of the circuit in Example 1 (CE-CE Amplifier).

20
 Darlington Pair
v In some applications, it would be desirable to have a bipolar
transistor with a much larger current gain than can normally be
obtained.
v A Darlington configuration provides increased current gain.

v The effective 𝛽 of the Darlington pair is:

𝜷𝑫𝑷 = 𝜷𝟏 𝜷𝟐 + 𝜷𝟏 + 𝜷𝟐

v Darlington pairs are often fabricated on a

single chip to achieve matched Q1 and Q2
characteristics. Then:

𝜷𝑫𝑷 = 𝜷𝟐 + 𝟐𝜷
A Darlington pair configuration

21
 Darlington Pair
v The effective small-signal input resistance
of the Darlington pair is:
𝑟()(+,) = 𝛽. 𝑟/. + 𝑟() 012/ 3 ≃ 𝛽. 𝑟/. + 𝛽3 𝑟/3

where:
25𝑚𝑉 25𝑚𝑉
𝑟/. = 𝑟/3 =
𝐼4. 𝐼43

Small-signal equivalent circuit

v Note that: 𝐼53 ≃ 𝛽3 𝐼5. . Then: 𝑟/. ≃ 𝛽3 𝑟/3

v And: 𝑟()(+,) ≃ 𝛽. 𝑟/. + 𝛽3 𝑟/3 = 2𝛽. 𝛽3 𝑟/3

22
 Darlington Pair
𝑣4
𝐶" 𝐶%
𝛽" 𝑖&"

𝑖>* 𝐵" 𝛽% 𝑖&% 𝑅,

𝑖=*
𝑣8 𝑟=*
𝐸" 𝑖>-
𝑣8 = 𝑖=* 𝑟=* + 𝑖=- 𝑟=- 𝐵% 𝑖=-
𝑖=- = 𝛽- + 1 𝑖>- = 𝛽- + 1 𝑖=* 𝑟=-
𝐸
⟹ 𝑣8 = 𝑖=* 𝑟=* + 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=- = 𝑖>* 𝛽* + 1 𝑟=* + 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=- %

𝑣8
⟹ 𝑟8 = = 𝛽* + 1 𝑟=* + 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=- ≅ 𝜷𝟏 𝒓𝒆𝟏 + 𝜷𝟐 𝒓𝒆𝟐
𝑖>*
𝑉/ 𝑉/
𝑟=* = 𝑟=- = 𝐼+- = 𝛽- + 1 𝐼+* ⟹ 𝑟=* = 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=- ≅ 𝛽- 𝑟=-
𝐼+* 𝐼+-
⟹ 𝑟8 ≅ 𝜷𝟏 𝒓𝒆𝟏 + 𝜷𝟐 𝒓𝒆𝟐 ≅ 𝟐𝜷𝟏 𝜷𝟐 𝒓𝒆𝟐
⟹ 𝑟4 = 𝑅,
23
 Darlington Pair
𝑣4
𝐶" 𝐶%
𝛽" 𝑖&"

𝑖>* 𝐵" 𝛽% 𝑖&% 𝑅,

𝑖=*
𝑣8 𝑟=*
𝐸" 𝑖>-
𝑣8 = 𝑖=* 𝑟=* + 𝑖=- 𝑟=- 𝐵% 𝑖=-
𝑖=- = 𝛽- + 1 𝑖>- = 𝛽- + 1 𝑖=* 𝑟=-
𝐸%
⟹ 𝑣8 = 𝑖=* 𝑟=* + 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=- = 𝑖>* 𝛽* + 1 𝑟=* + 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=-
⟹ 𝑣4 = −𝑅, 𝛽* 𝑖>* + 𝛽- 𝑖>- = −𝑅, 𝛽* 𝑖>* + 𝛽- 𝛽* + 1 𝑖>* = −𝑅, 𝑖>* 𝛽* + 𝛽- 𝛽* + 1

𝑣4 𝛽* + 𝛽- 𝛽* + 1
𝐴@ = = −𝑅,
𝑣8 𝛽* + 1 𝑟=* + 𝛽- + 1 𝑟=-

24
Darlington Pair

Example: Consider the circuit shown in the

following figure. Q1 and Q2 are npn BJT with 𝛽 =
100. Find:
a) The Q point (IC1, IC2, VCE1, VCE2).
b) AV, Ri, Ro

25
 Darlington Pair
𝑅81 = 𝑅* ∥ 𝑅- ∥ 𝑟0* 𝑟=- 𝑅,
𝑅456 = 𝑅+- ∥ 𝑟=A + + ≈ 𝑟=A
𝛽A + 1 𝛽- + 1 𝛽A + 1

𝑣B 𝑣B 𝑣>- 𝑣>* 𝑣>* 𝑅81 𝑣B 𝑅+- ∥ 𝑅:

𝐺@ = = = =
𝑣C8D 𝑣>- 𝑣>* 𝑣C8D 𝑣C8D 𝑅81 + 𝑅C 𝑣>- 𝑅+- ∥ 𝑅: + 𝑟=A + 𝑟=-
𝛽A + 1
𝑣>- 𝑣E* 𝑅, ∥ 𝑟0- + 𝑟0A 𝛽- + 1 + 𝑅+- ∥ 𝑅: 𝛽A + 1 𝛽- + 1
= =−
𝑣>* 𝑣>* 𝑟=*
29
 Differential Amplifier
v The input stage of every op amp is a differential amplifier.
v Less sensitive to noise and interference.
v Enable to bias amplifier and connect to other stage without the use of
coupling capacitors.

30
Differential Amplifier – DC Analysis
v Assume Q1 and Q2 are matched.

𝐼F
𝐼+* = 𝐼+- =
2
𝐼FG
𝑉,* = 𝑉,- = 𝑉 − 𝑅,
2

31
Diffrential Amp – Small Signal Operation
v If 𝑣8H ≠ 0:

𝐼,F
𝑣,* = 𝑉 G − + Δ𝐼 𝑅,
2

G
𝐼,F
𝑣,- = 𝑉 − − Δ𝐼 𝑅,
2

𝑣,* − 𝑣,- = 2Δ𝐼𝑅,

32
 Diffrential Amp – Small Signal Operation
𝑉E* = −𝑔. 𝑉0* 𝑅,
v If 𝑣8H ≠ 0:
𝑉E- = −𝑔. 𝑉0- 𝑅,
v Since the two transistors are biased at the
same quiescent current:

𝒓𝝅𝟏 = 𝒓𝝅𝟐 = 𝒓𝝅 𝒈𝒎𝟏 = 𝒈𝒎𝟐 = 𝒈𝒎

B1 C1 C2 B
2
v At node Ve:

𝑽𝝅𝟏 𝑽𝝅𝟐 𝑽𝒆
+ 𝒈𝒎 𝑽𝝅𝟏 + 𝒈𝒎 𝑽𝝅𝟐 + =
E1= E2 𝒓𝝅 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝒐
𝟏+𝜷 𝟏+𝜷 𝑽𝒆
or: 𝑽𝝅𝟏 + 𝑽𝝅𝟐 =
𝒓𝝅 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝒐

v From the circuit we see that:

𝑽𝝅𝟏 𝑽𝒃𝟏 − 𝑽𝒆 𝑽𝝅𝟐 𝑽𝒃𝟐 − 𝑽𝒆
= and =
𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝑩 + 𝒓𝝅 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝑩 + 𝒓𝝅
33
Diffrential Amp – Small Signal Operation
v If 𝑣8H ≠ 0: 𝑽𝝅𝟏 𝑽𝒃𝟏 − 𝑽𝒆 𝑽𝝅𝟐 𝑽𝒃𝟐 − 𝑽𝒆
= =
𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝑩 + 𝒓𝝅 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝑩 + 𝒓𝝅

𝟏+𝜷 𝟏+𝜷 𝑽𝒆
𝑽𝝅𝟏 + 𝑽𝝅𝟐 =
𝒓𝝅 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝒐

B1 C1 C2 B 𝑽𝝅𝟏 𝑽𝝅𝟐 𝑽𝒆
2 𝟏+𝜷 + =
𝒓𝝅 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝒐

𝑽𝒃𝟏 − 𝑽𝒆 𝑽𝒃𝟐 − 𝑽𝒆 𝑽𝒆
𝟏+𝜷 + =
E1= E2 𝑹𝑩 + 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝑩 + 𝒓𝝅 𝑹𝒐

𝟏+𝜷 𝑽𝒆
v Finally we have: 𝑽𝒃𝟏 + 𝑽𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝑽𝒆 =
𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩 𝑹𝒐
𝑽𝒃𝟏 + 𝑽𝒃𝟐
or: 𝑽𝒆 =
𝒓 + 𝑹𝑩
𝟐+ 𝝅
𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑹𝒐
34
 Diffrential Amp – Small Signal Operation
v If 𝑣8H ≠ 0: 𝑽𝒃𝟏 + 𝑽𝒃𝟐
𝑽𝒆 =
𝒓 + 𝑹𝑩
𝟐+ 𝝅
𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑹𝒐
v One-sided output:
B1 C1 C2 B
2
𝒗𝒅 𝒗𝒅
𝑽𝒃𝟏 = 𝒗𝒄𝒎 + 𝑽𝒃𝟐 = 𝒗𝒄𝒎 −
𝟐 𝟐

𝑟0
E1= E2 𝑉E- = −𝑔. 𝑉0- 𝑅, = −𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉 − 𝑉=
𝑅) + 𝑟0 >-
𝑟0
𝑉E* = −𝑔. 𝑉0* 𝑅, = −𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉 − 𝑉= = 𝑨𝒅 𝑣H + 𝑨𝒄𝒎 𝑣E.
𝑅) + 𝑟0 >*
𝛽𝑅, 𝒗𝒅 𝑽𝒃𝟏 + 𝑽𝒃𝟐 𝜷𝑹𝑪
=− 𝒗𝒄𝒎 + − 𝑨𝒅 = −
𝑟0 + 𝑅) 𝟐 𝟐 + 𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩 𝟐 𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩
𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑹𝒐
−𝜷𝑹𝑪
𝜷𝑹𝑪 −𝜷𝑹𝑪 𝑨𝒄𝒎 =
=− 𝑣 + 𝑣 𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩 + 𝟐 𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑹𝒐
𝟐 𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩 H 𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩 + 𝟐 𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑹𝒐 E.

35
 Diffrential Amp – Small Signal Operation
v If 𝑣8H ≠ 0: v Two-sided output:
𝒗𝒅 𝒗𝒅
𝑽𝒃𝟏 = 𝒗𝒄𝒎 + 𝑽𝒃𝟐 = 𝒗𝒄𝒎 −
𝟐 𝟐
B1 C1 C2 B
2 𝑟0
𝑉E* = −𝑔. 𝑉0* 𝑅, = −𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉 − 𝑉=
𝑅) + 𝑟0 >*
𝑟0
𝑉E- = −𝑔. 𝑉0- 𝑅, = −𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉 − 𝑉=
𝑅) + 𝑟0 >-
E1= E2

𝑟0 𝑟0
𝑉4 = 𝑉E- − 𝑉E* = −𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉>- − 𝑉= + 𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉 − 𝑉=
𝑅) + 𝑟0 𝑅) + 𝑟0 >*
𝑟0 𝜷𝑹𝑪
= 𝑔. 𝑅, 𝑉 − 𝑉>- = 𝒗 = 𝑨𝒅 𝒗𝒅
𝑅) + 𝑟0 >* 𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩 𝒅

𝜷𝑹𝑪
𝑨𝒅 = 𝑨𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎
𝒓𝝅 + 𝑹𝑩

36
 Diffrential Amp – Small Signal Operation
v Two-sided output: Effect of RC mismatch

𝑉4 = 𝑉E- − 𝑉E*

= −𝑔. 𝑉0- 𝑅,- + 𝑔. 𝑉0* 𝑅,*

𝑨𝒅 = 𝒈𝒎 𝑹𝑪

𝟏 𝚫𝑹𝑪
𝑨𝒄𝒎 = 𝒈𝒎 𝟐𝚫𝑹𝑪 ≈
𝟐 𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑹𝒐 𝑹𝒐
𝟏+
𝒓𝝅
v The Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) is:

𝑨𝒅 𝒈𝒎 𝑹𝒐
𝑪𝑴𝑹𝑹 = =
𝑨𝒄𝒎 𝚫𝑹𝑪 ⁄𝑹𝑪

37
 Operational Amplifiers
v Practical transistor amplifiers consist of a number of stages connected in cascade.
v In addition to providing gain, the first (or input) stage is usually required to:
§ Provide a high input resistance.
§ In a differential amplifier the input stage must also provide large CMRR.
§ The middle stages of an amplifier cascade is to provide the bulk of the voltage gain.
§ The middle stages convert the signal from differential mode to single-ended mode.
§ The middle stages also shift the DC level of the signal in order to allow the output
signal to swing both positive and negative .
§ The last (or output) stage of an amplifier is to provide a low output resistance.
v In order to illustrate the circuit structure an method of analysis, two examples: a CMOS
Op-Amp and a bipolar Op-Amp will be investigated.

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Diffrential Amp

Example: Consider the circuit shown in the

following figure. Q1 and Q2 are npn BJT with 𝛽 =
100 . 𝑉 G = 10𝑉, 𝑉 N = −10𝑉, 𝐼F = 0.8𝑚𝐴, 𝑅, =
50𝑘Ω, 𝑉/ = 26𝑚𝑉, 𝑅B = 66𝑘Ω, 𝑅) = 0Ω.
Find: 𝐴H , 𝐴E. , 𝐶𝑀𝑅𝑅 𝑎𝑡 𝑣E-

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A Bipolar OpAmp

Current Source

Differential Amplifier

Conversion from
differential to single-
ended

Shifting DC level

Emitter Follower (CC)

Amplifier: Voltage
Buffer

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A Bipolar OpAmp – DC Analysis
Example 2:
a. Perform DC Analysis of
the bipolar Op-Amp.
b. Determine the small-
signal voltage gain, input
resistance and output
resistance of the circuit.

Rid = 20.2kW

Ro = 152W

GV = 8513

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 Exercise

Consider the circuit shown in the following figure.

Q1 and Q2 are npn BJT with 𝛽 = 100 . 𝑉 G =
10𝑉, 𝑉 N = −10𝑉, 𝑅, = 50𝑘Ω, 𝑉/ = 26𝑚𝑉, 𝑅B =
66𝑘Ω, 𝑅) = 0.5𝑘Ω. Find:
𝑅! 𝑅! a) The Q point (IC , VCE).
b) 𝐴H , 𝐴E. , 𝐶𝑀𝑅𝑅 𝑎𝑡 𝑣E-

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Q&A

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