Differential Amplifiers

ES 330 Electronics II

Chapter 8 Sedra & Smith

Section 9.2 on BJT Diff Amps
Single-Ended Signals versus Double-Ended (i.e., Differential) Signals

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 Differential Pairs – BJT and FET

Q1 Q2

The current source is called the tail current.

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Differential Pair Characteristic

4
Differential Pair Characteristic

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Differential Response of a Differential Amplifier (Case 1)

ON
OFF
I C1  I EE
IC2  0
V X  VCC  RC I EE
VY  VCC
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Differential Response of a Differential Amplifier

ON
OFF I C 2  I EE
I C1  0
VY  VCC  RC I EE
V X  VCC
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Common Mode Response of a Differential Amplifier

VBE1  VBE 2
I EE
I C1  I C 2 
2
I EE
V X  VY  VCC  RC
2

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Small-Signal Analysis of a Differential Amplifier

I EE
I C1   I
2
I EE
IC2   I
2

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 Virtual Ground in a Differential Amplifier

VP  0lim
x 

I C1  g m V
I C 2   g m V

For small changes at inputs, the gm’s are the same, and the
respective increase and decrease of IC1 and IC2 are the same,
node “P” must stay constant to accommodate these changes.
Thus, node “P” is an AC ground, but not a DC ground.

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 Small-Signal Differential Gain

Vout = VX – VY = -2gmΔVRC

Vin = 2ΔV
 2 g m VRC
Av    g m RC
2V

Since the output changes by -2gmVRC and input by 2V, the

small signal gain is –gmRC, similar to that of the CE stage.
However, for the same gain as in CE stage, DC power dissipation
is doubled.

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 Small Signals and Large Signals

Input Linear Signal

(a) (b)

Clipped Signal

Output

(c) (d)

Transfer
Curve

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Small-Signal Model for Differential Amplifier

r0 not included

vout1 vout2

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 From Symmetry We Need Only Analyze a Half Circuit

vout1 vout2

vout1  vout 2
  g m RC
vin1  vin 2
vout1 vout2

Since VP is grounded, we can treat the differential pair as two CE “half

circuits,” with its gain equal to one half circuit’s single-ended gain.

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Intrinsic Differential Gain of a Differential Amplifier
Note: Resistance associated with
these current sources is infinite.
Thus, we include output resistors r0.

vout1  vout 2
  g m rO
vin1  vin 2

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Questions?

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 An Operational Amplifier Example Using Differential Pair at Input

Differential
Inputs

Output

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