Aksum University

Aksum Institute of Technology

Faculty of Electrical & Computer

•
Engineering
•
Applied Applied Electronics II
Electronics
II Chapter-II
(ECEG3072
Differential Amplifiers
)
By
Yonatan G.
Department of Electronic Communication
Engineering

November 28, 2024 1

 Differential Amplifiers
Introduction:
 Differential Amplifier is a special type of amplifier, which amplifies
the difference of input signals or produces outputs that are a
function of the difference between two input voltages. Hence, it
is called differential amplifier.
 The differential amplifier has two inputs: inverting input (input–1)
(negative) and non-inverting input (input–2)(positive)
 Its output signal is OUT OF PHASE with inverting input signal and
IN PHASE with non-inverting input signal.

For example, when –ve voltage is connected to inverting terminal we get

+ve voltage at output(and vice versa). Similarly, when –ve voltage is
connected to non-inverting terminal, we get –ve voltage at output(and
vice versa).
 It works in two different modes, differential mode (in which the two inputs
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are different) and the common mode (in which the two inputs are the same).
 Contd…
 The differential amplifier amplifies the difference b/n two input
voltage signals. Hence it is also called difference amplifier

Fig : Ideal /Differential amplifier

 and are the two input signals while is the single ended output.
 Each signal is measured with respect to the ground.

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 Contd…
 In an ideal differential amplifier, the output voltage is
proportional to the difference b/n the two input signals. Hence
we can write,

Differential Gain ()
From equation we can write

 Where is the constant of proportionality .

 The is the gain with which differential amplifier amplifies the
difference b/n two input signals. Hence it is called differential
gain of the differential amplifier
 The difference b/n the two inputs is generally called
difference voltage and denote as

 Hence the differential gain can be expressed as,

=

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 Contd…
Common Mode Gain ()
 If we apply two input voltages which are equal in all the respects to the
differential amplifier i.e.then ideally the output voltage , must be zero.
 But the output voltage of the practical differential amplifier not only depends
on the difference voltage but also depends on the average common level
of the two inputs.
 Such an average level of the two input signals is called common mode
signal denoted as

 Practically , the differential amplifier produces the output voltage

proportional to such common mode signal, also.

 The gain with which it amplifies the common mode signal to produce the
output is called common mode gain of the differential amplifier denoted.
(7)
 Thus there exists some finite output for due to such common mode gain , in
case of practical differential amplifiers.
So the total output of any differential amplifier can be expressed as,
(8)

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 Contd…
Common Mode Rejection Ratio ()
 When the same voltage is applied to both the inputs, the
differential amplifier is said to be operated in a common mode
configuration. Many disturbance signals, noise signals appear
as common input signal to both the input terminals of the
differential amplifier. Such a common signal should be rejected
by the differential amplifier.
 The ability of a differential amplifier to reject a common mode
signal is expressed by a ratio called CMRR.
 It is defined as the ratio of the differential voltage gain to
common mode voltage gain

 Ideally the common mode voltage gain is zero, hence the ideal
value of is infinite (When or )
 For a practical differential amplifier is large and is small hence
the value of is also very large

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 Contd…
The O/P voltage can be expressed in terms of CMRR as:

(10)
 Features of differential amplifier:
 High differential voltage gain
 Low common mode gain
 High CMRR
 Two input terminals
 High input impedance
 Large bandwidth
 Low offset voltage and offset current
 Low output impedance

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 Contd…
What is the CMRR?

100V + 100V +
80600V 60700V
 
20V 40V
Solution:

Vd 1 100  20 80V Vd 2 100  40 60V

100  20 100  40
Vc1  60V Vc 2  70V
2 2
From (1) Vo 80 Ad  60 Ac 80600V
From (2) Vo 60 Ad  70 Ac 60700V
Ad 1000 and Ac 10  CMRR 20 log(1000 / 10) 40dB

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 Contd…
Transistorized differential amplifier
 It uses emitter biased identical circuits with identical
characteristics.

Fig : Emitter biased circuits

 The two transistors have exactly matched characteristics.
 =
 =,
November 28, 2024  = 9
 Contd…
 The differential amplifier can be obtained by using such two
emitter biased circuits. This is achieved by connecting emitter
of of to the emitter of . Due to this, appears in parallel
with and the combination can be replaced by a single
resistance denoted as . The base of is connected to the
input which is while the base of is connected to the
input which is The supply voltages are measured with respect
to ground. The balanced O/p is taken b/n the collector of and
the collector of .
 Such an amplifier is called emitter coupled differential
amplifier.
as the output is taken b/n
two output terminals, none of them
is grounded, it is called balanced
O/P
differential amplifier

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 Contd…
 Let us study the circuit operations in two modes namely:
 Differential Mode of Operation
 Common Mode Operation
A) Differential mode:
 The two input signals are different from each other.
 Assume the two input signals have same magnitude but out of
phase by .
 use center tapped transformer as shown in the below figure.

Fig : Differential mode operation

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 Contd…

 A positive going signal is applied on the base of and a negative going

signal is applied on base of .
 Thus, is going  is a going and amplified version of ,
 As increases, current thr’ also increases  going signal is developed
across .
 And is going  a is going and amplified version of .
 A – ve going signal develops across ,as decreases.
 Signal voltages across due to the effect of and are equal and out-of-
phase due to matched transistors  they sum up to zero  no signal across
the emitter resister.
 Hence there is no AC current following through the emitter resistance.
Hence in this case doesn’t introduce negative feedback
 is taken across the two collector terminals
 these signal are equal in magnitude and opposite in phase.
  but = –, which is twice the signal measured from either of the collector
terminals to ground. This is differential mode.

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 Contd…
(b) Common mode of operation
 In this mode, the signals applied to the base of and are derived from the same source.
So the two signals are equal in magnitude as well as in phase.
 The circuit diagram is shown in fig below

Fig : Common mode operation

 In phase signal voltages at the bases causes in phase signal voltages to appear across , which add
together.
 Hence carries a signal current and provides a negative feedback. This feedback reduces the
common mode gain of differential amplifier.
 While the two signals causes in phase signal voltages of equal magnitude to appear across the
two collectors of and . Now the out put voltage is the difference b/n the two collector voltages,
which are equal and also same in phase.
 Thus the difference O/p is almost zero, negligibly small. Ideally it should be zero.
= –

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 Contd…

Types of differential amplifiers

 It can be used in four different configurations.
I. Dual input , balanced output differential amplifier.
II. Dual input, unbalanced output differential amplifier.
III. Single input, balanced output differential amplifier.
IV. Single input, unbalanced output differential amplifier.
 The differential amplifier uses two transistors in common emitter
configuration.
 Balanced (double ended) output: if the output is taken between
the two collector terminals.
 Unbalanced output (Single ended output) : if the output is taken
b/n one collector with respect to ground
 Dual input (double ended) :If the signal is given to both the input
terminals
 Single input ( Single ended input): If the signal is given to only
one input terminal and other terminal is grounded
N.B.
 Out of these four configurations, the dual input, balanced output is
the basic differential amplifier configuration.
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 Contd…
Single-Ended Input:
 Results when the input signal is connected to one input with the
other input connected to ground

(a) (b)
Fig :Single-ended operation.
 In Figure(a) the input is applied to the plus input (with minus
input at ground), which results in an output having the same
polarity as the applied input signal.
 Figure (b) shows an input signal applied to the minus input, the
output then being opposite in phase to the applied signal.
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 Contd…
Double-Ended (Differential) Input: If the signal is given to both the
input terminals

(a) (b)
Fig : Double-ended (differential) operation
In addition to using only one input, it is possible to apply signals at
each input—this being a double-ended operation.
Figure (a) shows an input, , applied between the two input terminals
(recall that neither input is at ground), with the resulting amplified
output in phase with that applied between the plus and minus inputs.
Figure (b) shows the same action resulting when two separate signals
are applied to the inputs, the difference signal being
November 28, 2024 16
 Contd…
Double-Ended output:
 If the output is taken between the two collector terminals.

Fig (a): Double ended input

double-ended output

 From fig (a) An input applied to either input will result in outputs from
both output terminals, these outputs always being opposite in polarity

Fig (b): Single -ended input

with double ended output

 In Single-ended input with a double-ended output, the signal applied to

the plus input results in two amplified outputs of opposite polarity
November 28, 2024 17
 Contd…

Fig(c): Differential Output Fig(d): Differential input-

differential Output
 Fig (c) shows the same operation with a single output measured between
output terminals (not with respect to ground).
 This difference output signal is .
 The difference output is also referred to as a floating signal since neither
output terminal is the ground (reference) terminal.
 Notice that the difference output is twice as large as either since they are
of opposite polarity and subtracting them results in twice their amplitude.
 Figure (d) shows a differential input, differential output operation. The input
is applied between the two input terminals and the output taken from
between the two output terminals. This is fully differential operation.

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 Contd…
DC analysis of differential amplifier
 DC analysis means to obtain the operating point values, andfor
the transistors used.
 The supply voltages are while the input signals are ., so
equivalent circuit can be obtained by reducing the input . signals
to
 This is done by making the . input signal and connecting each
input terminal to ground.
Assumptions:
denoted by
The transistors and are matched transistors.
 So for a matched transistor we have:
both transistors have the same characteristics
hence
denoted by
 and both are measured ground.

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 Contd…
 Since the two transistors are
exactly matched, it is enough to
find the operating point values
( and) for any one of
the two transistors.
 Applying KVL to the base-emitter
loop of , we have:
– – –2 RE + = 0 (1)
= β , and
Fig: DC equivalent circuit = …….(2)
Where is unit of current flowing in the emitter(is amplification
factor)
Substituting (2), in eq (1)
 (3)

 (5)

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 Contd…
Where for silicon transistor and
for germanium transistor
In practice,
(6)
Thus from
 For the known value of , determines the value of of and for
known value of
 through and is independent of collector resistance,.
 Now, let us determine .
Since
The collector voltage of determine as
= – (7)
Neglecting the drop across ,, hence the collector emitter
voltage is
= –
= (8)
November 28, 2024 21
 Contd…
 Hence , , and for a given values of and
N.B. In the above equation, the sign of is already considered to be
negative while driving the formula. So to solve any problem using
this equation, use the magnitude of only.
 Thus for both the transistors, we can determine the operating
point values as follows.

=
Example: for the circuit shown below, calculate the operating point
values.( assume )
==
=4.653 V
The Q point is

November 28, 2024 22

 Contd…

AC analysis of differential amplifiers using h-parameters

 Here, we will calculate the differential gain (), the common mode gain
(), input resistance (), and output resistance ().
(A) Differential Gain ():
 For the differential calculation, the two input signals must be d/t from
each other.
 Let the two ac input signals be equal in magnitude & out of phase by .
 The two emitter currents & are equal and out of phase  they cancel
each other. Thus, for the ac purpose, the emitter terminal can be
grounded.
 The ac small signal differential amplifier circuit with grounded
emitter is shown below.
 The magnitude of each input voltages and be , i.e.
= =
 We will analyze the circuit using only one transistor  half circuit
concept
of analysis.

Fig: Ac equivalent for differential amplifier

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 Contd…
 The approximate hybrid model for the above circuit is shown
below.

Fig 2.0 approximate hybrid model

Applying KVL to the input loop;
=0 =
(1)
 Applying KVL to the output loop;
(2)
Substituting equation (1) in (2), we get:


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 Contd…
 The sign indicates the phase difference between the input and
the out put terminals.
 Now the two input signals are equal in magnitude but out of
phase.
 Thus, =  = =
 Hence, the magnitude of the differential gain, is:

Where, is differential input.

N.B. This is for circuit where the output is measured ground. i.e . .
 Thus the gain for the balanced output is twice of the gain for
unbalanced output assuming that the two transistors are
perfectly matched.
(Magnitude)
 This is the differential gain for balanced output dual input
differential amplifier circuit

November 28, 2024 25

 Contd…
Common mode gain:
 Both input signals () are equal in magnitude and are in-phase.
 Thus, = 0, = average value of the two.

Fig: Ac equivalent for common mode operation

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 Contd…
While the output can be expressed as

 Both the emitter currents flows through in the same direction

 Thus total current flowing through is 2

Fig: Approximate hybrid model

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 Contd…
As the currents through is 2, for simplicity of derivation the current
can be assumed to be and effective emitter resistance as . Hence
the emitter resistance is shown in the above figure
 Current through load current
 Effective emitter resistance
 Current through emitter resistance
 Current through
Applying KVL to the input side;
=0

While

Negative sign due to the assumed direction of current.

Applying KVL to the output loop

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 Contd…
Applying KVL to the output loop

(3)
Substituting value of into the equ

Finding Least common multiple (LCM) and adjusting the terms , we

get
Where
 In arithmetic and number theory, the least common multiple,
lowest common multiple, or smallest common multiple of two
integers and , usually denoted by is the smallest positive integer
that is divisible by both and .

November 28, 2024 29

 Contd…

(4)
Neglecting the terms of as practically

Substituting the value of , in the equation (2)

Hence the common mode gain can be written as(absorbing negative sign)

In practice is generally neglected . Hence the expression for can be

modified as

N.B. The common mode gain, , remains the same whether the output is
balanced or unbalanced.

November 28, 2024 30

 Contd…

CMRR:
 The expression for can be obtained from .

=
This CMRR is for dual input balanced output amplifier circuit.
Differential input impedance ():
 It is the equivalent resistance b/n one of the input and the
ground when the other input terminal is grounded.
 Hence, .
Where 
 For one transistor and input pair, = + .,But for two input circuit,
the total input resistance is twice .
 This input resistance is not dependent on whether
output is balanced or unbalanced
Output impedance (): :
 It is defined as the equivalent resistance between one of the
output terminals with respect to ground. thus,
=
November 28, 2024 31
 Contd…
Conclusion: summary for differential amplifier circuit
configurations
 Dual input , balanced output
 Dual input, unbalanced output
 Single input, balanced output
 Single input, unbalanced output

 Dual input , balanced output (magnitude)

 Single input, balanced output

 Dual input, unbalanced output

 Single input, unbalanced output

November 28, 2024 32

 Contd…
Methods of Improving CMRR
 The higher the value of , the better is the performance of the
differential amplifier.
 Effect of :
• To improve the , the common mode gain, , must be reduced.
• The common mode gain approaches zero as tends to infinity.
• This is because introduces negative feedback in the common
mode operation which reduces the common mode gain, .
• Thus, the higher the value of , the lower is the value of and the
higher is the value of .
• The differential gain, , is independent of .
 but practically can not be selected very high due to certain
limitations such as;
• Large requires high biasing voltage to set the operating point of
the transistor.
• This increases the overall chip area.

November 28, 2024 33

 Contd…
o Hence, practically instead of increasing , various other methods
are used which provide the effect of increased without any
limitations. Such two methods are given below.
I. Constant current bias method
II. Use of current mirror circuit.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++
Assignment: please try to examine the above two methods of
increasing in detail.
Submission date: After Mid exam

November 28, 2024 34