11/26/20

Differential Amplifier: Basic Idea

• Most widely used

building block in analog v2

Inputs
integrated circuit Difference vo
v1 amplifier
• Basis of very-high-speed
logic circuit family

• Ideally vo is proportional to (v2-v1) • If v1=v2, the input voltage is

called common-mode input
• vo=Av(v2-v1) voltage, denoted by vcm
• Here, AV=open-loop voltage gain
• If v1=v2, vcm= v1=v2 and

• (v2-v1)=vd 𝑣# + 𝑣$
𝑣!" =
2
• vd =differential input voltage

A BJT Differential Pair Circuit

• The difference of the two input
signals, vB1 and vB2 will be
amplified at the output

• For both transistors, the B-E

junctions are forward biased and
the C-E junctions are reversed
biased, i.e., the transistors operate
in active region.

• If the input signals become zero,

i.e., vB1 = vB2 =0, the transistors
will still remain in the active region
because of the current source.

• Both transistors must remain in

active region for differential
amplifier operation
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Differential Pair: Basic Operation (Case-A)

V𝐶𝐶
• Q1 and Q2 are identical
• Q1 and Q2 are in active region R𝐶 R𝐶
v𝑐1 v𝑐2
• The circuit has a floating ground
• Here, both transistors are ON
+
• The current source I is ideal
v𝑐𝑚
• iE1 = iE2 = I/2 -

• iC1 = iC2 = (𝛼I)/2

I
• vE1 = vE2 = (vcm - vBE)
or, vE1 = vE2 ≈ (vcm - 0.7) -V𝐸𝐸

%&
• vC1 = vC2 = 𝑣!! − 𝑅' Thus differential pairs REJECT
$
the common mode input
• vC1 - vC2 =0
signal.
vC1 - vC2 =0 remains valid for any
values of vCM as long as Q1 and Q2 3
remain in active region.

Differential Pair: Basic Operation (Case-B)

• Q1 and Q2 are identical

• The current source is ideal

• Transistor Q1 is ON v𝑐1 v𝑐2
• Transistor Q2 is OFF

• vE1 = vE2 ≈ 1 – 0.7 = 0.3 V

• IC1 = 𝛼I and IC2 = 0

• vC1 = vCC - 𝛼IRC and vC2 = vCC

Thus, VC2 – VC1 = 𝛼IRC ≈ IRC

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Differential Pair: Basic Operation (Case-C)

• Q1 and Q2 are identical

• The current source is ideal
• Transistor Q1 is OFF
• Transistor Q2 is ON v𝑐1 v𝑐2

• VBE2 ≈ 0.7 V
• vE1 = vE2 ≈ –0.7 V
• vBE1 = -1 -(-0.7) = -0.3 V

• IC2 = 𝛼I and IC1 = 0

• vC2 = vCC - 𝛼IRC and vC1 = vCC

Thus, VC2 – VC1 = −𝛼IRC ≈ -IRC

Determine the collector currents in each circuit

Effect of VA?
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Differential Pair as a Switch

• A change in input signal can

switch the transistors
• A single-pole double-throw v𝑖𝑛
(SPDT) switch
• A small signal can steer the
current

Transfer Characteristics

Consider a BJT differential pair

()* +(,*
𝑖!" = 𝐼# 𝑒 (-
… … … (1)
(). +(,.
𝑖!$ = 𝐼# 𝑒 (-
… … … (2)

Assumed that the two transistors are identical

and operating at the same temperature.
Dividing eq(1) by eq(2), we have,

()* +(). (01

%/*
%/.
=𝑒 (- =𝑒 (- … … … (3)
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Transfer Characteristics (Continued …)

One can manipulate equation (3)

to yield

%/* %/* "

%/* &%/.
= '
= (01 … … … (4)
+
"&( (-

%/. %/. "

%/* &%/.
= '
= (01 … … … (5)
"&( (-

Transfer Characteristics (Continued …)

• The amplifier responds only to vid.
Hence, a difference amplifier
• When vid =0, I divides equally
• vid ≈ 100 mV can switch the current
(Thus, fast switching)
• In the linear region the gain is
proportional to the slope

Linear region
Q2 is ON Q1 is ON

• In order to maintain a
linear amplifier, the
excursion of vid must
be kept small
• For linear operation, vid
is limited to VT/2 (≈
± 12.5 mV) Q1 is OFF Q2 is OFF
vid
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Improved Linear range

RE1
RE2
RE3

RE1 < RE2 < RE3

Vid/VT
• Emitter resistance increases the linear range
• This allows larger Vid

Gain a Deeper Understanding (GADU)

• What changes in the collector currents may occur if the
two emitter resistors are not identical 11

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Example: Differential Pair

Example: |VBE| of a conducting
transistor is 0.7V and 𝛼 ≈ 1.
Find a) vE, b) iC1 and iC2, c) vC1 and
vC2, and d) vCE1 and vCE2,

Solution:
Here, Q1 is ON and Q2 is OFF
a) vBE = vB1 – vE
or, vE = vB1 – vBE
or, vE = - 0.3 – (-0.7) = 0.4V c) vC1 = -5 + 4.6 x 1 = - 0.4
vC2 = - 5V
b) iE = (5 – 0.4)/1x103
d) vCE1 = - 0.4 – 0.4 = 0.8 V
iE = 4.6 mA
vCE2 = -5 – 0.4 = - 5.4 V
Thus, iC1 = 4.6 mA, iC2 = 0

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A BJT Differential Pair Circuit

𝑣b1

𝑣b2

g𝑚𝑣be1

g𝑚𝑣be2
+ +
𝑣b2
𝑣b1 r𝜋 v𝑏𝑒1 v𝑏𝑒2 r𝜋
- -

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Simplified Small-Signal Equivalent Circuit

g𝑚𝑣be1

g𝑚𝑣be2

+ +
𝑣b2
𝑣b1 r𝜋 v𝑏𝑒1 v𝑏𝑒2 r𝜋
- -

This is not ground

𝑣-(" 𝑣-($
+ 𝑔/ 𝑣-(" + 𝑔/ 𝑣-($ + =0
𝑟. 𝑟.

1 1
𝑣-(" + 𝑔/ = −𝑣-($ + 𝑔/
𝑟. 𝑟.
𝑣-(" = −𝑣-($ Differential input signal is split
equally but have opposite sign
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Differential Input and Common-Mode Input

𝑣id = vbe1 - vbe2

𝑣b1 𝑣b2

𝑣id 𝑣𝑐𝑚

𝑣%0 = 𝑣-(" − 𝑣-($ = 𝑣-(" − −𝑣-(" = 2𝑣-("

𝑣%0 𝑣%0
𝑣-(" = Similarly, 𝑣
-($ = −
2 2 15

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Single Ended Voltage Gain

1
𝑣!" = − 𝑔/ 𝑅! 𝑣-(" = − 𝑔 𝑅 𝑣
2 / ! %0
𝑣1" 1 Notice, the gain is negative, which
𝐴0" ≡ = − 𝑔/ 𝑅! is the same as CE amplifier
𝑣%0 2

1
𝑣!$ = − 𝑔/ 𝑅! 𝑣-($ = + 𝑔 𝑅 𝑣
2 / ! %0
𝑣1$ 1 Notice, the gain is positive
𝐴0$ ≡ = 𝑔/ 𝑅!
𝑣%0 2

Ad1 and Ad2 are single ended gain

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Differential Voltage Gain

Differential gain, 𝐴0 = 𝐴0" − 𝐴0$

1 1
𝐴0 = − 𝑔/ 𝑅! − 𝑔/ 𝑅!
2 2
𝐴0 = − 𝑔/ 𝑅!

𝐴0 = 𝐴0$ − 𝐴0"
If defined as,
1 1
𝐴0 = 𝑔/ 𝑅! − − 𝑔/ 𝑅!
2 2
𝐴0 = 𝑔/ 𝑅!

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Differential Input Resistance

g𝑚𝑣be1

g𝑚𝑣be2

+ +

𝑣b1 r𝜋 v𝑏𝑒1 v𝑏𝑒2 r𝜋 𝑣b2

- -

r𝜋 r𝜋
B1
r𝜋 r𝜋 Rid
Rid
B2

Differential resistance, Rid = 2r𝜋

or, Rid = 2(𝛽+1)re

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Differential Input Resistance

RC RC

Rid
Rid re re

Differential resistance, Rid =2 𝛽 + 1 𝑟3

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Differential Input Resistance With Emitter Resistor RE

Rid
re re
Rid
RE RE

Differential resistance, 𝑅45 = 2 𝛽 + 1 𝑟3 + 𝑅6

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Example: Differential Pair

Example: Given that vid = 0.1V, RE=100 Ω, RC

= 5k, I = 2 mA, 𝛼=1, and 𝛽=100. |VBE| of a
conducting transistor is 0.7V.
Find a) ie and vbe, b) total emitter current, c)
signal voltage at each collector, d) differential
voltage gain (vod = vC1 – vC2), and e) +
differential input resistance Rid. vid
-
Solution:

a) re = vT / IE = 25/1 = 25 Ω
Here, iE = vid / 2(re + RE)
or, iE = 0.1/2(25+100) = 0.4 mA
b) iE1 = I/2 + 0.4 mA = 1.4 mA
-3
vbe1 = re x ie = 25 x 0.4x10 and iE1 = I/2 - 0.4 mA = 0.6 mA
or, vbe1 = 10 mV Note that iE1 + iE2 = I
and, vbe2 = - vbe1
or, vbe2 = = - 10 mV 21

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Example: Differential Pair (Continued …)

Example: Given that vid = 0.1V, 100 Ω, RC = 5k,

I = 2 mA, 𝛼=1, and 𝛽=100. |VBE| of a
conducting transistor is 0.7V.
Find a) ie and vbe, b) total emitter current, c)
signal voltage at each collector, d) differential
voltage gain (vod = vC1 – vC2), and e) +
differential input resistance Rid. vid
-

Solution:

c) vc1 = - iC RC ≈ -iERC = -0.4mA x 5k

vC1 ≈ - 2V
Similarly, vC2 = + iC RC ≈ 2 V
e) 𝑅45 = 2 𝛽 + 1 𝑟3 + 𝑅6
Rid = 2(25 + 100) x 101
d) vod = (vc1 – vc2)/vid
Rid = 25 kΩ
or, vod = (-2 - 2)/0.1 = - 40

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Common-Mode Gain

Ideally, the common-mode

gain should be zero. +
v𝑐𝑚
Because vC1 - vC2 = 0 -

REE I

However, it has a nonzero value in

practice

∆8 (
𝐴!" ≈
$8 ))
Here, REE = internal resistance of
the current source
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CMRR and Common-Mode Input Resistance

CMMR (Common-Mode Rejection Ratio)

𝐴5
𝐶𝑀𝑀𝑅 = 20 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑑𝐵
𝐴!"

+
v𝑐𝑚
The common-mode input resistance
-
Ricm is given by

𝑟9 REE
𝑅4!" = 𝛽 + 1 𝑅66 || I
2

Here, REE = internal resistance of

the current source
and ro = ro1 = ro2 = output resistance
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Example: Differential Pair

Example: Given that vA = 100 V and

𝛽=100. Find a) input differential
resistance, Rid, b) overall differential,
|vo/vs|, c) the worst-case Acm if RC
has ±1% tolerance, and d) the input
v𝑠/2
common-mode resistance, Ricm.
v𝑠/2
Solution:
Rid
a) re1 = re2 = re = VT/IE = 25 mV/0.5 mA
or, re = 50 Ω
Rid = 2(𝛽 + 1) (re +RE) = 40 kΩ

8 *+
b) 𝑣45 = 𝑣:
;<=>;<=>8 *+ +
?@×#@. vs v𝑖𝑑 Rid
or, 𝑣45 = 𝑣: = 0.8 𝑣:
;<=>;<=>?@×#@. -
B*+
or, = 0.8 25
B/

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Example: Differential Pair (continued …)

Voltage gain from the bases to the

output (vod = vc1 – vc2) is

𝑣95 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

=
𝑣45 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
v𝑠/2

B1+ $8 ( $@×#@. v𝑠/2

or, = = = 50
B*+ $ C2 >8 ) $×$@@
Rid

Now,
𝑣95 𝑣9 𝑣45
= × = 50×0.8 = 40
𝑣: 𝑣45 𝑣:
Thus, the overall voltage gain is 40

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Example: Differential Pair (continued …)

c) With ±1% tolerance,

∆RC(max) = 2% of RC, which is 200Ω.
Thus, the worst case Acm is
∆8 ( $@@
Acm = = = 5×10D?
$8 )) $×$@@×#@.
v𝑠/2

d) We know, v𝑠/2
𝑟9 Rid
𝑅4!" = 𝛽 + 1 𝑅66 ||
2
Here, r0 = (VA)/(I/2) = 100/(0.5x10-3)
or, r0 = 200 kΩ **(r0 of Q4)

Thus, Ricm = 101(200k || 100k)

or, Ricm = 6.73 MΩ
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Example: Differential Pair

Example: Given that vA = 100 V and

𝛽=100. Find a) input differential
resistance, Rid, b) overall differential,
|vo/vs|, c) the worst-case Acm if RC
has ±1% tolerance, and d) the input
v𝑠/2
common-mode resistance, Ricm.
v𝑠/2
Solution: Rid 1 mA
Rid will remain the same

The overall gain will remain

the same

The common-mode gain will

have a different value

The common-mode input resistance

will have a different value
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