DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of Staff : G.RANGARAO
Designation : SL/ECE
Branch : Electronics & Communication Engg.
Institution : V.K.R & V.N.B Polytechnic, GUDIVADA.
year/ Sem. : III Semester
Subject : ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS-I
Subject Code : EC-302
Topic : Small Signal Amplifiers(13 0F 15)
Duration : 50 mts
Sub Topic : Principle of operation of Differential amplifier
Teaching Aids : Diagrams, Animations.
EC302.59 1
 Objectives

On completion of the period, you would be able to

understand :

• Principle of operation of differential amplifier.

EC302.59 2
 Recap
• Name some small signal amplifiers?

• What are advantages and disadvantages of T/F

coupled amplifier?
• What are advantages of direct coupled
amplifier?
• very useful for amplifying low frequency signals,
direct from “O”Hz on wards
• Mention its drawbacks?
• The major draw back of direct coupled amplifier
is level shifting

EC302.59 3
Introduction to differential amplifier

• It a direct coupled amplifier.

• Used to amplify the difference between two signals .

• Abbreviated as Difference or differential amplifier.

• Need arises in many physical measurements in medical

electronics.

• It is also basic stage of an integrated operational amplifier

EC302.59 4
with differntial input.
Schematic representation of differential amplifier

V1
o
Linear
o
Active
V0
o Network
V2

Fig 4.2

EC302.59 5
• In an ideal differential amplifier the output voltage is
• Vo = (v1-v2)Ad----------------(1)
= Ad.Vd
• Where Ad is the gain of the differential amplifier
& Difference signal Vd =(V1-V2)-------------------(2)

• The output Vo depends not only on the difference

signal Vd and also Vc .

• Where Vc is common mode signal.

v1  v2
Vc 
2

EC302.59 6
Common mode rejection
ratio
• To express how successful an amplifier is in providing gain
for the differential signal and reflecting the common mode
signal,
• A factor called the common – mode rejection ratio is
defined:
Ad DifferentialGain
CMRR  
AC Common mod eGain
• Alternatively, the CMRR may be expressed in decibels as
CMRR in dB = 20log CMRR = 20log Ad-20logAc

EC302.59 7
 In above figure output is expressed as a linear combination
of two input voltages as follows
• V0=A1V1+A2V2 ----------(4)

Where A1=voltage gain for input V1 with V2 grounded.

A2=Voltage gain for input V2 with V1 grounded.

• But from equations (1) &(3)

V1=Vc+1/2 Vd---------(5)
V2=Vc-1/2 Vd---------(6) EC302.59 8
• Substituting the values of V1 and V2 in equation (4)

We get

V0=A1(Vc+1/2 Vd)+A2(Vc-1/2 Vd)

V0=1/2(A1-A2)Ad+(A1+A2)Vc

V0=AdVd+AcVc ------(7)

EC302.59 9
• Where
Ad=voltage gain for the difference signal,
Ad=1/2(A1-A2),
Ac=Voltage gain for common mode signal.
Ac=(A1+A2),

• The ratio of the output to the common mode input (when the

two inputs are equal) is called the common mode gain AC.
• For an ideal differential amplifier AC = 0.
EC302.59 10
• The figure of merit of differential amplifier is given by the

“common mode rejection ratio” (CMRR).

• CMRR= ρ = |Ad|/|Ac| = Differential gain

Common mode gain

• CMRR should be as large as possible for differential

amplifier.

EC302.59 11
 Since, we would like to have Ad large, where as ideally
Ac should equal to zero.

The output of ideal differential amplifier given by


1 Vc 
V0  AdVd  1   (9)

 p Vd 

EC302.59 12
Emitter – coupled differential amplifier

Fig 4.3
EC302.59 13
• Refering to Fig 4.3 transistors Q1 and Q2 have their
emitters coupled to a common resistor Re.

• Let us consider

V02 = V0= - I c2 Rl2

Output voltage with respect to ground.

• If the amplifier is followed by additional stages of gain,

both V01 and V02 would be used to drive the succeeding
stages.
EC302.59 14
• Common – mode voltage gain, AC
• Let V1 = V2 = Vs
V0
• Then Ac =
Vs
• Differential – mode voltage gain, Ad

Let – V1= V2 = Vs/2

That is, the ouput voltage between

B and A,

VBA = V2 – V1 = Vs/2 – (-Vs/2) = Vs

EC302.59 15
 V0 V0
ThenAd  
V2  V1 Vs

Ad
CMRR 
Ac
EC302.59 16
Advantages of differential amplifier

1) Can compare any two signals and detect the

difference.

3) Extensively used in linear ICs because it does not

have frequency dependent coupling or by pass
capacitors.

5) Gives higher gain than two cascaded stages of

ordinary direct coupling.

EC302.59 17
• Provides very uniform amplification of signal from d.c.

up to very high frequencies.

• Provides isolation between input and ouput circuits.

• It is almost a universal choice for amplifying d.c. signals

EC302.59 18
Applications
• Amplification of difference signals.

• Temperature compensation

• Ground – nose rejection

• Bridge circuit o/p measurements

• Voltage comparator

• In wein bridge oscillator directly o/p of bridge can be

given to DIFF AMP

EC302.59 19
• In wein bridge oscillator directly o/p of bridge can be

given to DIFF AMP

• Voltage regulator circuits .

• In Biomedical instruments since signals of low

frequencies etc.

EC302.59 20
 summary
We discussed in this period that :

•In an ideal differential amplifier the output volt is given by

Vo = (v1-v2)Ad

• Where Ad is the gain of the differential amplifier.

Output Vo depends on the difference signal Vd & Vc .

• Vc is common mode signal.

EC302.59 21
 Vd  V1  V2
v1  v2
Vc 
2

• COMMON MODE REJECTION RATIO = Ad / Ac

• Advantages, applications of differential amplifier

EC302.59 22
QUIZ

(1) CMRR is defined as

• Ad

• Ac

• Ad / Ac

• none

EC302.59 23
(2) CMRR must be

(c) Very small

(e) very large

(g) Medium

(i) none

EC302.59 24
Frequently asked questions

(1) Define differential gain and CMRR of differential

amplifier?

(2) Explain the principle of operation of differential

amplifier?
3) Mention the advantages,applications of differential
amplifier?

EC302.59 25