Differential Amplifier

R4/R3 = R2/R1
VO = R2/R1 * (V2 V1)

3rd slide

Differential Mode and Common-Mode Components

The unique characteristic of the difference amplifier are better
appreciated if we introduce the difference-mode input
component, defines as
Vdm V V
2

and the common-mode input components, defined as

Vcm (V + V ) /2
2

Inverting these equation, we can express the actual input in terms

of the newly defined components:
V = Vcm Vdm/2
1

and
V = Vcm + Vdm/2
2

3rd slide

We can now concisely define a true difference

amplifier as a circuit which responds only to the
differential mode components Vdm, completely
ignoring the common mode component Vcm.
In particulary, if Vdm happens to be zero, the circuit will
ideally yield Vo = 0 V regardless of the magnitude
and polarity of Vcm.
3rd slide

For instance, if the inputs are tied together so that

Vdm = 0 and are varied between say, -10 V to
+10V, the ideally the circuit will yield Vo = 0 in
spite of the large common mode variation at the
input.
Conversely, this can serve as a test for
determining how close an actual difference
amplifier is to ideal.
The smaller the output variation due to variations
of Vcm, the closer the amplifier is to ideal.
3rd slide

Effect of Resistance Mismatches

The insensitivity of the difference amplifier to

Vcm applies only if the op amp is ideal and
the resistors satisfy the balanced bridge
condition.

3rd slide

Example
Let the circuit of difference amplifier have R1 = R3 = 10k,
and R2=R4 = 100k.
(a) assuming perfectly matched resisotrs and ideal op-amp,
comput Vo for each of the following input pairs:
(V1, V2) = (-0.1V, +0.1V), (4.9V, 5.1V), (9.9V, 10.1V)
(b). Repeat, but for the case where the resistors are
mismatched as follows: R1=10k, R2=98k ,
3rd slide
R3=9.9k , R4=103k . Comment.

a.

Vo = (100/10) (V2-V1) = 10 (V2-V1)

Since V2-V1 in each of the three cases, the circuit will yield
Vo=10 x 0.2 = 2V regardless of the common mode component,

which is, respectively V = 0V, 5V, 10V

b. By superposition principle, Vocm= V1 + V2,
where = -R2/R1 = -98/10 = -9.8, and
= (1+R2/R1) R4 / (R3+R4) = (1+98/10)103/(9.9+103) = 9.853.
Thus for (V1,V2) = (-0.1V,+0.1V) Vo=-9.8 (-0.1) + 9.853 . 0.1 = 1.965V.
Likewise for (V1,V2) = (4.9V, 5.1V) Vo = 2.230V
and for (V1,V2) = (9.9V, 10.1V) Vo = 2,495V
As a consequence of mismatched resistor, not only do we have Vo2V, but
Vo also changes with the common mode component. Clearly, the circuit
is no longer a true difference amplifier.
3rd slide

The effect of bridge imbalance can be

investigated more systematically bo letting
one of the resistance ratios be (1-) times as
large as the other, where represents the
fractional difference between the two ratios.

3rd slide

VO

R2 (1 )
Vdm R1 R2 (1 ) R2
Vdm
V

cm

cm

R1
2
R1
R1 R2
2

Vo Adm Vdm Acm Vcm

dengan
Adm

R2
R 2 R2
1 1

R1
R1 R2 2
R2
Acm

3rd
slide
R1 R2

Ratio Adm / Acm represents a figure of merit in the circuit and is

called the common-mode rejection ration (CMRR).
Its value is usually expressed in dB:

Adm
CMRR 20 log10
Acm
A true difference amplifier ideally has CMRR = since Acm
= 0.
For a sufficeiently small bridge imbalance, the CMRR is as
follow
1 R2 / R1
CMRR 20 log10

3rd slide

10

3rd slide

11

3rd slide

12

Exercise
Design an IA whose gain can be varied
continously over range 1 A 1000 by
means of a 100 k potentiometer.
We shall implement RG as the series of a 100 k pot and a suitable
resistance RGA. Since AI > 1 we must impose AII <1 in order to allow
A to go down all the way to unity.
If we arbitratily impose AII=1/2, then R2/R1 = . Use R1=100k and
R249.9k, both 1 percent.

3rd slide

13