Mansoor Shaukat 1

2
Mansoor Shaukat

The BJT Differential Pair

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 3
The BJT Differential Pair : Basic Operation

•
Mansoor Shaukat
The circuit: VCC

RC RC

• The two transistors are matched vC 1 vC 2

and the collector circuits are such
that they never enter saturation Q1 Q2

vB1 + +
_ _ vB 2

- VEE

• Case 1

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 The BJT Differential Pair… case 1 4

• Case 1: When two bases are joined together & connected to a common voltage
VB1 = VB2 = VCM (called the common-mode voltage)
Mansoor Shaukat
VCC
• Since the transistors are matched, so it
follows from symmetry that bias current I
will divide equally between the two devices RC αI/2 αI/2 RC

• Thus iE1 = iE2 = I/2 vC 1 vC 2

• And vE1 = vE2 = vCM - vBE = vCM - 0.7
Q1 Q2
• The voltage at each collector will be:
vC1 = vC2 = VCC – ½ α IRC vCM +
_
• Varying the value of vCM does not change
collector voltages
I
• Conclusion:
– Differential-pair rejects common-mode input
signals - VEE

• Case 2

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 The BJT Differential Pair… case 2 5

• Case 2: When a large signal is applied as shown.

• Let V1 = 1 V
VCC
Mansoor Shaukat

RC αI RC
VC1 VC2
v1 Q1 Q2

- VEE
• With vE1 at 0.3 V, EBJ of Q2 is reverse biased so Q1 is on but Q2 is off.
• Entire bias current I flows through Q1 hence iC1 = αI
• VC2 = VCC and VC1 = VCC – αIRC
• Case 3!

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 The BJT Differential Pair… case 3 6

• Case 3: Let V1 = - 1 V
VCC
Mansoor Shaukat
RC αI RC
VC1 VC2
v1 Q1 Q2

- VEE

• With vE2 at - 0.7 V, EBJ of Q2 is forward biased so Q2 is on but Q1 is off.

• Entire bias current I flows through Q2 hence iC2 = αI
• VC1 = VCC and VC2 = VCC – αIRC
• Case 4!

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 The BJT Differential Pair… case 4 7

• Case 4: Response of differential-pair to small signals (difference mode on

differential signals)
VCC
Mansoor Shaukat
RC αI/2 RC

vC 1 = (VCC – ½ α IRC) - α Δ IRC vC 2 = (VCC – ½ α IRC) + α Δ IRC

vi Q1 Q2

I/2 + ΔI I/2 - ΔI

• With relatively small difference voltages, the entire bias current is steered from
one side of the pair to the other

• ΔI is proportional to differential input signals vi

• Differential pair as a linear amplifier is used on application of small differential signal

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 The BJT Differential Pair : Example 8

• Find all node voltages? (Make suitable assumptions)

5V

•
Mansoor Shaukat
Solution:
– For Q1 to conduct vE1 = 0.5 + 0.7 = 1.2 V I
1 kΩ
– For Q2 to conduct vE2 = 0.0 + 0.7 = 0.7 V
– So when vE2 reaches 0.7 V, Q2 comes on
and holds the voltage at 0.7 V thus
preventing Q1 from being switched on. 0.5 V Q1 Q2

• With Q2 on vE1 = vE2 = vE = + 0.7 V vC 1 vC 2

• So I = 4.3 mA 1 kΩ 1 kΩ
• vC1 = - 5 V
• vC2 = - 0.7 V -5V

• QED

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 9
Mansoor Shaukat

I never make the mistake of arguing

with people for whose opinions I have
no respect.

(G D Langlands)