3/30/23, 12:38 AM What is Common-Mode Rejection Ratio in Op-amps?

| CircuitBread

The Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) indicates the ability of a differential amplifier to suppress
signals common to the two inputs. Desired signals should appear on only one input or with opposite polarities
on both inputs. These desired signals are amplified and appear on the outputs. Unwanted signals (noise)
appearing with the same polarity on both input lines are ideally cancelled by the differential amplifier as these
amplifiers are used as a means of suppressing common-mode signals. Such noise signals can arise from the
following sources: (1) radiated signals coupled equally to both lines, (2) offset from signal common created in
the driver circuit, or (3) ground differential between the transmitting and receiving locations.

The measure of an amplifier’s ability to reject noise is the CMRR. The ideal differential amplifier provides a
very high gain for desired signals (single-ended or differential) and zero gain for common-mode signals.

Figure 1: Single-ended and differential

amplifier outputs.

Real differential amplifiers used in practice exhibit a very small common-mode gain (<<1), while providing a
high differential voltage gain (usually several thousands). The higher the differential gain compared to the
common-mode gain, the better the performance of the differential amplifier in terms of rejecting common-
mode signals. A good measure of the diff-amp’s performance in rejecting undesirable common-mode signals
is the ratio of the differential voltage gain (Av(d)) to the common-mode gain (Acm). This ratio is the CMRR.

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A very high value of CMRR means that the differential gain Av(d) is high and the common-mode gain Acm is

low. Thus the higher the CMRR, the better. A well-designed differential amplifier typically has a high
differential gain and low common mode gain, resulting in a high CMRR. The CMRR is often expressed in
decibels (dB) as

A CMRR of 10,000 (80dB) means that if the amplitudes of the differential input signal and the common-mode
noise are equal, the desired signal will appear on the output 10,000 times greater in amplitude than the
noise. With very high CMRR, noise or interference will be essentially eliminated.

Measuring CMRR
Several methods are used to measure the common-mode rejection ratio. The one shown in figure 2 makes
use of four precision resistors to configure the operational amplifier as a differential amplifier. A signal is
applied to both inputs, and the output is measured. To have no change in the output, the amplifier would
need to have an infinite CMRR.

Figure 2: Common-mode rejection ratio

test circuit with precision resistors.

The key disadvantage in this circuit is that the resistors must match within 1ppm to measure higher CMRRs
(greater than 100dB). For example, a mismatch of 0.1% between resistor pairs will result in a CMRR of only
66 dB, regardless of the actual performance of the amplifier. Other methods of measuring the CMRR do not
require accurately matched resistors but involve more complex circuits. In this circuit in Figure 3, switching
the power supply voltages changes the common-mode voltage.

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3/30/23, 12:38 AM What is Common-Mode Rejection Ratio in Op-amps? | CircuitBread

Figure 3: CMRR test circuit without

precision resistors.

Supply and common-mode ranges can be accommodated by changing voltages as required. In the circuit
above, the power supply values shown in the circuit are for a ±15V DUT op amp, with a common-mode
voltage range of ±10V.

Why should it be high?

The CMRR is one of the most vital specifications of an operational amplifier. Nowadays, electronic designs
are moving toward higher bandwidths in which design issues related to noise and electromagnetic
interference (EMI) are far more critical. A differential mode of operation at the input side enables the op-amp
to reject various frequency components constituting common-mode input (CMI) and, thus, suppress
unwanted noise and EMI. That shows why a high CMRR is critical in empowering an op-amp to attenuate
any CMI elements. Ideally, an op-amp should have an infinite CMRR. However, in practice, it is not
achievable. This is why op-amps should be designed to have CMRR as high as possible. The higher the
CMRR, the better the op-amp’s ability to reject unwanted noise and EMI.

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