DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER,

DIFF-AMP
An amplifier that produces an output
signal proportional to the difference of the
two input signals. It has a very large gain
when opposite signals are applied to the
inputs as compared to the negligible gain
resulting from common inputs. Commonly
used for the input stages of an operational
amplifier.

BASIC CIRCUIT
The circuit has two separate inputs, two outputs,
and both emitter terminals are connected
together.

MODES OF SIGNAL OPERATION:

SINGLE-ENDED INPUT
Case 1: Vi1 0 and Vi2 = 0

Input signal is applied to B1 ( Vi1 0 ).

B2 is grounded ( Vi2 = 0).
Inverted amplified output signal, Vo1, appears at terminal
C1.
A signal voltage Ve appears in phase at the emitter of Q1
and Q2 which becomes an input to Q2.
Q2 functions as a common-base amplifier.
Noninverted amplified output signal, Vo2, appears at
terminal C2.
Voltage gain Av1 = - Rc / re.
Voltage gain Av2 = +Rc / re.

CONFIGURATION

Case 2: Vi2 0 and Vi1 = 0

Input signal is applied to B2 ( Vi2 0 ).

B1 is grounded ( Vi1 = 0).
Inverted amplified output signal, Vo2, appears at terminal
C2.
A signal voltage Ve appears in phase at the emitter of Q1
and Q2 which becomes an input to Q1.
Q1 functions as a common-base amplifier.
Noninverted amplified output signal, Vo1, appears at
terminal C1.
Voltage gain Av2 = - Rc / re.
Voltage gain Av1 = +Rc / re.

CONFIGURATION

DIFFERENTIAL INPUT
Two

opposite-polarity input signals are

applied to the inputs ( double-ended
operation).
Vi1 and Vo2 are in phase.
Vi2 and Vo1 are in phase.
There is a 180 out-of-phase relationship
between Vo1 and Vo2.
/ Vo1/ = / Vo2/

COMMON-MODE INPUT
The

same input is applied to both input

terminals.
The output signals for both transistors are
equal to zero

COMMON-MODE REJECTION
RATIO, CMRR

The ratio between differential voltage gain and

common-mode gain.
The measure of an amplifiers ability to reject
common-mode signals.
CMRR = (ideal).
CMRR = Avd / Acm
Where: Avd = differential voltage gain
Acm = common-mode gain
Expressed in decibels
CMRR = 20 log ( Avd / Acm)

OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER
An op-amp is a high gain differential amplifier with
high input impedance (Zi) and low output
impedance (Zo). An op-amp contains several
stages of differential amplifier to achieve a very
high voltage gain.

Typical op-amp unit

The concept of negative feedback is used

in several op-amp applications. Negative
feedback is the process whereby a portion
of the output voltage of an amplifier is
returned to the input with a phase angle
that opposes the input signal.

OUTPUT VOLTAGE
Op-amp provides an output component that is due to
the amplification of the difference of the signals (Vd)
applied to the two inputs and a component due to the
signals common to both inputs(Vc).

Vo = AdVd + AcVc

Where : Vd = difference voltage

Vd = Vi1 Vi2
Vc = common voltage
( unwanted)
Vi1 + Vi2
Vc = -------------2
Ad = differential gain
Ac = common mode gain
Ad >> Ac

COMMON MODE REJECTION

RATIO, CMRR
The measure of an amplifiers ability
to reject unwanted signals. The main
purpose of differential connection is
to amplify the difference signal while
rejecting the common signal (noise)
at the inputs.

CMRR = Ad
Ac
CMRRdB= 20 log Ad
Ac
CMRR = infinite (ideal)
the larger the value, the better the circuit operation
Vo = AdVd + AcVc
Vo = AdVd

Vo =

1 + AcVc
AdVd
AdVd

Vc
1 + ------------CMRR Vd

DC OFFSSET PARAMETER
(output error voltage)
Unwanted voltage and current
generated by the internal
circuitry and not by the applied
input signal.

INPUT OFFSET VOLTAGE; VIO

(1mV ~ 6mV)
When Vi = 0, the circuit acts like an
noninverting amplifier.

Vo(offset) =

VIO [ 1 + Rf / R1 ]

INPUT OFFSET CURRENT;IIO

(20nA ~ 200 nA)
An offset current due to the difference in currents
at the two inputs.

Vo(offset) = IIO Rf
TOTAL OUTPUT OFFSET VOLTAGE
Vo(offset) = VIO [ 1 + Rf / R1 ] + IIO Rf

INPUT BIAS CURRENT , I IB

I+IB + I-IB
IIB = --------------2
I+IB = IIB + IIO
2
I-IB = IIB - IIO
2
IIO = I+IB - I-IB

FREQUENCY PARAMETERS
CUTOFF FREQUENCY, fc
fc = f1 / AVD
Where B1 = unity- gain BW
f1 = unity- gain freq
AVD = voltage differential gain
= open loop voltage gain
= 200V/mV typical
= 20V/mV (min)

SLEW RATE, SR
Slew rate is the maximum permissible rate at which op-amp
output can change in volts per microsecond. If the rate of
output voltage change is greater than SR, the output signal
will be distorted.

SR = Vo / t
Vo = ACL Vi
Vo / t = ACL [ Vi / t ]
SR = ACL [ Vi / t ]

MAXIMUM SIGNAL
FREQUENCY
The input frequency of an op-amp is dependent on both the
bandwidth and slew rate parameters

ws < SR/ K
K =output gain factor
K = ACL Vi

SAMPLE APPLICATIONS

INVERTING AMPLIFIER
Vo = - (Rf / R1) Vi
Zi = R1 + Rf / AOL R1
Zo = [ AOL / ( 1 + AOL)] Rf // Zout
Zo Zout

Where Zout = open-loop output impedance

Zin = open-loop input impedance
AOL = open-loop gain
Zi = input impedance of the
inverting amplifier
Zo = output impedance of the
inverting amplifier
B = feedback fraction
AOL(mid) = midrange open-loop gain
fi = signal frequency
fc = critical frequency
BWCL = closed-loop BW

NONINVERTING AMPLIFIER

Vo = [ 1 + Rf / R1 ] Vi
Zi = [ 1 + AOLB ] Zin
Zo = Zout / ( 1 + AOLB)

UNITY FOLLOWER
A voltage buffer configuration provides a means of
isolating an input signal from a load.

Vo = Vi
B=1
ACL = 1
Zi = ( 1 + AOL) Zin
Zo = Zout / ( 1+ AOL)

SUMMING AMPLIFIER

Rf
Rf
Rf
Vo = - ------ V1 + -------- V2 + ---------V3
R1
R2
R3

INTEGRATOR

DIFFERENTIATOR

VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE

INSTRUMENTATION
AMPLIFIER

Vo = [1 + 2Rf / RG ] ( V1 V2 )
Let R1 = R3 = R2 = R4 = R
Rf1 = Rf2 = Rf

PHASE-SHIFT OSCILLATOR
Oscillator is a circuit that produces periodic (repeating)
waveforms on its output with only the dc supply as a
required input.

fo =

1_____
26 RC

B = 1 / 29

ACTIVE FILTERS

First-order LPF

Fourth-order LPF

Values for Butterworth

Response
Order

Roll off rate

dB/Decade

First stage
Poles

First stage
DF

Second stage
Poles

Second stage
DF

20

Optional

40

1.414

60

80

5
6

Third stage
Poles

Third stage
DF

1.0

1.0

1.848

0.765

100

1.0

1.618

0.618

120

1.932

1.414

0.518

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Vz1

Vz2
R4

R3

X1

C11

C12

X10k 2

11

R2

X10

V-

X1k

C14
1

2 X1

C1

2 X10

C2

2 X100

C3

C4

11

V+

2
3

C5

R11
1

OUT

V-

OUT
-

X10k

X1k

R10
1

C10

R7

X100

C9

X10

C8

C7

R8

X1

C6

X10k

R6

R5

3
R9

11

X1k
1

C15

V-

X100

C13

OUT

V+

R1

V+

Vout