Bipolar Differential Amplifiers: Qualitative Analysis

Common Mode

Differential Mode

Different modes of operation of the BJT differential pair: (a) The differential pair with a common-mode input signal vCM. (b) The differential pair with a large differential input signal. (c) The differential pair with a large differential input signal of polarity opposite to that in (b). (d) The differential pair with a small differential input signal vi. Note that we have assumed the bias current source I to be ideal (i.e., it has an infinite output resistance) and thus I remains constant with the change in vCM.

Bipolar Differential Amplifiers: Large Signal Analysis

The exponential relationship applied to each of the two transistors may be written as: I I iE1 = S e( vB1 vE ) / VT and iE 2 = S e( vB 2 vE ) / VT

These two equations can be combined to obtain iE1 = e( vB1 vB 2 ) / VT iE 2 which can be manipulated to yield iE1 iE 2 1 1 and = = ( vB 2 vB 1 ) / VT ( vB1 vB 2 ) / VT iE1 + iE 2 1 + e iE1 + iE 2 1 + e From the circuit we have iE1 + iE 2 = I Which may be used to obtain the following expressions for iE1 and iE 2 iE1 = iC1 I
( vB 2 vB1 ) / VT

1+ e 1+ e and iC 2 may be obtained by multiplying

and iE 2 =

I
( vB 1 vB 2 ) / VT

iE1 and iE 2 by which is almost unity and plotted as shown in the figure

Bipolar Differential Amplifiers: Linearization For Your Information

What is the role of the degeneration resistance (Re)?

The transfer characteristics of the BJT differential pair (a) can be linearized (b) (i.e., the linear range of operation can be extended) by including resistances in the emitters.

Bipolar Differential Amplifiers: DC Analysis (Example 1)

Problem: Find the Q-points of transistors in the shown differential amplifier. Given data: VCC=VEE=15 V, REE=RC=75k, =100 Analysis:
V BE = 15 0.7 V = 95 .3A EE I = E 2R 2(75 10 3 ) EE 100 I = I = I = 94.4 A E 101 E C

94.4 A I = = = 0.944 A B 100 IC

V = 15 I R = 7.92V C C C = V V = 7.92V -(-0.7V) = 8.62V V CE C E

Due to symmetry, both transistors are biased at Q-point (94.4 A, 8.62V)

Bipolar Common-mode Input Voltage Range

Problem: Find the max. VIC before saturation in the shown differential amplifier. Given data: VCC=VEE=15 V, REE=RC=75k, =100 Analysis: We want to find max. VIC while the C-B junction is reverse biased.

V =V I R V 0 CB CC C C IC V V +V I = IC BE EE C 2 REE
RC VEE VBE 1 2REE VCC V V IC CC RC 1+ 2REE

For symmetrical power supplies (VEE=VCC) , VEE >> VBE, and RC = REE,

V CC V =5 V IC 3

Bipolar Differential Amplifiers: DC Analysis (Example 2)

Problem: Find vE ,vc1 , and vc2 in the shown differential amplifier. Given data: VCC=VEE= 5 V, REE=RC=1k, , |VBE|=0.7 V Analysis: We can assume Q1 to be off and Q2 on

vE vC1

= +0.7 V = 5 + R

* I C1

= 5 + 0 = 5 V = 5 + 4.3 = 0.7 V

I E 2 = I E = (5 0.7) /1 = 4.3 mA I C 2 = I E 2 = 4.3 mA vC 2 = 5 + RC * I C 2

Differential-mode Gain and Input Resistance

v id v id v v = e v4 = e 3 2 2 ( g +1/ r )(v + v ) =1/ R ve 3 4 m EE ve (1/ R + 2/ r + 2 g ) = 0 ve = 0 EE m
Emitter node in differential amplifier represents virtual ground for differential-mode input signals.

v = id 3 2 v

v = id 4 2 v

Output signal voltages are:

v = + gm R id = gm R id c2 C 2 c1 C 2 v = gm R v C id od

Differential-mode Gain and Input Resistance (contd.)

Differential-mode gain for balanced output, v od = v c1 v c2 is: v A = od = gm R C dd v id v = 0 ic If either vc1 or vc2 is used alone as output, output is said to be single-ended.

A gm R C = dd c1 A = = dd1 v 2 2 id v = 0 ic v
(v / 2) i = id b1 r
If vid =0, R

Differential-mode input resistance is small-signal resistance presented to differential-mode input voltage between the two transistor bases.

A gm R C = dd c2 A = = dd 2 v 2 2 id v = 0 ic v

R = v / i = 2r id id b1
. For single-ended outputs, R

od

= 2( R ro ) 2R C C

od

R C

Common-mode Gain and Input Resistance

Both arms of differential amplifier are symmetrical. So terminal currents and collector voltages are equal. Characteristics of differential pair with common-mode input are similar to those of a C-E amplifier with large emitter resistor.

Output voltages are:

v ic i = b r + 2( +1)R EE

RC v = v = i R = v c1 c2 b C r + 2( +1)R ic EE ve = 2( +1)i R b EE 2( +1) REE = v v r + 2( +1)REE ic ic

Common-mode Gain and Input Resistance (contd.)

Common-mode gain is given by:
RC = A = cc v 2REE r + 2( +1)REE ic v =0 id voc

RC

For RC=REE, common-mode gain =0.5. Thus, common-mode output voltage and Acc is 0 if REE is infinite. This result is obtained since output resistances of transistors are neglected. A more accurate expression is:
1 1 Acc R C r 2R o EE

od

=v

c1

c2

= 0 Therefore, common-mode conversion gain is found to be 0.

v ic = r + 2( +1)REE = r + ( +1)R R = EE ic 2i 2 2 b

Common-Mode Rejection ratio (CMRR)

Represents ability of amplifier to amplify desired differential-mode input signal and reject undesired common-mode input signal. For differential output, common-mode gain of balanced amplifier is zero, CMRR is infinite. For single-ended output,
A A /2 dm = dd = CMRR = A cm A cc 2 1

1 1 2g m R EE ro g m

gm R EE

Analysis of Differential Amplifiers Using Half-Circuits

Half-circuits are constructed by first drawing the differential amplifier in a fully symmetrical form- power supplies are split into two equal halves in parallel, emitter resistor is separated into two equal resistors in parallel. None of the currents or voltages in the circuit are changed. For differential mode signals, points on the line of symmetry are virtual grounds connected to ground for ac analysis For common-mode signals, points on line of symmetry are replaced by open circuits.

Bipolar Differential-mode Half-circuits

Direct analysis of the half-circuits yield:

= gm R id c1 C 2

= + gm R id c2 C 2

v = v v = g R v m C id od c1 c2
A = od = gm R C dd v id v = 0 ic v

Applying rules for drawing halfcircuits, the two power supply lines and emitter become ac grounds. The half-circuit represents a C-E amplifier stage.

A gm R C = dd c1 A = = dd1 v 2 2 id v = 0 ic v R = v / i = 2r id id b1 R = 2( R ro ) C od

Bipolar Common-mode Half-circuits

Direct analysis of the half-circuits yield:

RC v = v = i R = v c1 c2 b C r + 2( +1)R ic EE
RC = A = cc v 2REE r + 2( +1)REE ic v =0 id voc

RC

v = v v =0 od c1 c2
Applying rules for drawing halfcircuits, the points at the line of symmetry are open circuited. The half-circuit represents a C-E amplifier stage with an emitter resistance.

v ic = r + 2( +1)REE = r + ( +1) R R = EE ic 2i 2 2 b

A A /2 dm = dd g R CMRR = m EE Acm Acc

Biasing with Electronic Current Sources

Differential amplifiers are biased using electronic current sources to stabilize the operating point and increase effective value of REE to improve CMRR Electronic current source has a Q-point current of ISS and an output resistance of RSS as shown. DC model of the electronic current source is a dc current source, ISS while ac model is a resistance RSS.

V I =I 0 DC SS R SS