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DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER

Single Ended Signal


A signal measured with respect to a fixed potential (example: ground).
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
Differential Signal
A signal measured between two nodes. In this case the signal between V
out+
& V
out-
.
V
out+
has equal but opposite amplitude with V
out-
at any time instance.
Common Mode level (CM level) is the center potential between V
out+
& V
out-
.
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
Differential Signal Amplitude and Common Mode Level
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Ideal clean analog signal.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
When running close to a digital
signal line, capacitive coupling
distorts the analog signal.
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Signal Amplitude and Common Mode Level
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Signal Amplitude and Common Mode Level
An inverted analog signal
running at the same distance
as the analog signal from the
digital line will also be effected in
the same manner.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
Ideal Distorted
Comparing between the ideal & distorted signals.
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Signal Amplitude and Common Mode Level
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Ideal Distorted
Differential Signal Amplitude and Common Mode Level
Comparing between the ideal & distorted signals.
Red line represents the differential
analog signal coinciding with the rise &
fall time of the digital pulse train.

Red dots represents CM level.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Ideal Distorted
Differential Signal Amplitude and Common Mode Level
1. Signal amplitude are the same (red
lines are the same magnitude).



2. CM level changes (red dots shifts).
CM signal is a component of a
differential signal.
Differential signal maintains its
signal level.
It is observed that
Comparing between the ideal & distorted signals.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential amplifier - An amplifier that amplifies the difference between 2 signals
and rejects the common mode value (up to a certain degree) of the 2 signals.
Tail current: To allow minimal dependence of
differential pair transistor bias currents on the CM level.
D D D
R R R = =
2 1
&
For an ideally balanced circuit all input transistors
and load resistors must be identical.
2 1
M M =
This allows the controlled combination of I
D1
and
I
D2
to form I
SS
through the inputs of M
1
and M
2
.
These currents represent the input voltages. They
will induce an output voltage drop through the load
resistors to generate either single ended outputs or
a differential output.
2 1 D D SS
I I I + =
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Defining the Single Ended Output Level.
0
1
=
D
I
1. V
in
= - (V
in
+
is more negative than V
in
-
)
M
1
is OFF while M
2
is ON.
Differential Amp Analysis
DD out
V V =
+

SS D
I I =
2
&
&
Single ended output is defined as
+
out
V

out
V
& .
Differential input is defined as .
+
=
in in in
V V V

D SS DD out
R I V V =

SS D
I I =
1
2. V
in
= + (V
in
+
is more positive than V
in
-
)
M
1
is ON while M
2
is OFF.
DD out
V V =


0
2
=
D
I &
&

D SS DD out
R I V V =
+
2
2 1
SS
D D
I
I I = =
3. When V
in
+
= V
in
-
the tail current I
SS
splits
equally.
2
D SS
DD out out
R I
V V V = =
+


DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Defining the Single Ended Output Level.
0
1
=
D
I
1. V
in
= - (V
in
+
is more negative than V
in
-
)
M
1
is OFF while M
2
is ON.
Differential Amp Analysis
DD out
V V =
+

SS D
I I =
2
&
&

D SS DD out
R I V V =

SS D
I I =
1
2. V
in
= + (V
in
+
is more positive than V
in
-
)
M
1
is ON while M
2
is OFF.
DD out
V V =


0
2
=
D
I &
&

D SS DD out
R I V V =
+
2
2 1
SS
D D
I
I I = =
3. When V
in
+
= V
in
-
the tail current I
SS
splits
equally.
2
D SS
DD out out
R I
V V V = =
+


Single ended output transfer curve
Single ended output is defined as
+
out
V

out
V
& .
Differential input is defined as .
+
=
in in in
V V V
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Defining Differential Output Level.
Differential Amp Analysis
Differential output is defined as .
Differential input is defined as .
+
=
in in in
V V V
+
=
out out out
V V V
Differential output transfer curve
DIFFERENTIAL SIGNALLING
OFFERS INCREASED SIGNAL SWING.
Single ended output transfer curve
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
+
=
in in in
v v v
1. Define the small signal differential input as
2. Define the current going into the drain or source as
i
d
and i
s
, respectively.
Obtaining the Open Loop Voltage Gain Equation.
3. From node v
out
, define i
out
as .
4 2 d d out
i i i =
1 2 s d
i i = .
out in m out s out d d out out out
r v g r i r i i r i v
1 1 4 2
2 ) ( = = = =
4. Finally, gain, A
v
is calculated as
out m
in
out
VDM
r g
v
v
A
1
= =
2
1
1 4 2
in m
s d d
v g
i i i = = =
For a balanced circuit,
.
.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Hybrid t model
Diode resistance
T - model
Various small signal models are
used to obtain the formula for r
out
.
This value is used to ultimately predict
the gain, A
VDM
.
Obtaining the Output Resistance.
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Amp SSM
x
x
out
i
v
r =
1. The output resistance is defined as
2. The output current i
x
is given as
4 3 2 1 x x x x x
i i i i i + + + =
3. The current i
x1
is given as
4
1
ds
x
x
r
v
i =
Obtaining the Output Resistance.
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Amp SSM
4. The current i
x2
is written as
) || (
2 1 2
2
s s ds
x
x
r r r
v
i
+
=
2 1 2
||
s s ds
r r r >>
Since ,
2
2
ds
x
x
r
v
i =
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Amp Simplified SSM
5. Currents at node x is written as
2 1 2 s s x
i i i =
Note that the inputs are equal (both
grounded) and the input transistors
are identical. Current i
x2
splits evenly
through r
s1
and r
s2
.

2
2 1
2
ds
x
s s
r
v
i i = =
M
3
& M
4
form a current mirror

i
x3
cancels i
x4
.
3 2 1 5 4 x s s x x
i i i i i = = = =
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Differential Amp Simplified SSM
6. From the predefined r
out
equation
2 1 4 3 2 1 x x
x
x x x x
x
x
x
out
i i
v
i i i i
v
i
v
r
+
=
+ + +
= =
4 2
4 2
2 4
) (
ds ds
ds ds x
x
ds
x
ds
x
x
out
r r
r r v
v
r
v
r
v
v
r
+
=
+
=
4 2
4 2
4 2
||
ds ds
ds ds
ds ds
out
r r
r r
r r
r =
+
=
) || (
4 2 1 ds ds m VDM
r r g A =
7. Finally. The gain A
v
is obtained as
.
.
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
) || (
4 2 1 ds ds m VDM
r r g A =
.
From the gain equation, A
v
depends on transistors M
1
, M
2
and M
4
.
) (
tn GS ox n m
V V
L
W
C g =
D ox n m
I
L
W
C g 2 =
Dsat
o
I
r

1
=
2
) (
2
tn GS ox n D
V V
L
W
C I =
Some useful equations for designing the differential amp
Differential Mode Voltage Gain, A
VDM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Common Mode Voltage Gain, A
VCM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
Since all currents, input &
output are similar, the diff. amp
is simplified to a half circuit
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Common Mode Voltage Gain, A
VCM
Calculation Through Small Signal Model
From the half circuit,
3
1
,
2
1
2
1
m
SS
m
CM in
out
g
R
g
v
v
+
=
3
1
,
2
1
2
1
1
m
SS
m
CM in
out
VCM
g
R
g
v
v
A
+
= =
3
1
1
1
2 1
1
m
m
SS m
g
g
R g

+
=
3
1
1
2 1
1
m
m
SS m
VCM
g
g
R g
A
+
=
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)
VCM
VDM
A
A
CMRR=
CMRR is the ratio that a differential amplifier amplifies differential signals to
common mode signals.
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
1
3
1 4 2 1
2 1 ) || (
m
m
SS m ds ds m
g
g
R g r r g CMRR
( )
SS m ds ds m
R g r r g CMRR
1 4 2 3
2 1 ) || ( + =
1. CMRR is defined as .
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Common Mode Input to Differential Mode Output Gain, A
CM-DM
.
Variations in differential output due to input common mode signal is caused by transistor
M
5
which is non-ideal and exhibits a finite output resistance.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
) (
, 1 1 P CM in m D
V v g I =
SS D D SS SS P
R I I R I V ) (
2 1
+ = =
SS P CM in m P CM in m P
R V v g V v g V )) ( ) ( (
, 2 , 1
+ =
SS P CM in m m
R V v g g ) )( (
, 2 1
+ =
SS P m SS CM in m SS P m SS CM in m
R V g R v g R V g R v g
2 , 2 1 , 1
+ =
SS CM in m SS CM in m SS P m SS P m P
R v g R v g R V g R V g V
, 2 , 1 2 1
+ = + +
SS m m CM in SS m m P
R g g v R g g V ) ( ) ) ( 1 (
2 1 , 2 1
+ = + +
) ) ( 1 (
) (
2 1
2 1 ,
SS m m
SS m m CM in
P
R g g
R g g v
V
+ +
+
=
1. SSM yields &
2.
) (
, 2 2 P CM in m D
V v g I =
Common Mode Input to Differential Mode Output Gain, A
CM-DM
.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
3. Substitute V
P
D
SS m m
SS m m CM in SS m m CM in
m
R
R g g
R g g v R g g v
g
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+ + +
=
) ) ( 1 (
) ( ) ) ( 1 (
2 1
2 1 , 2 1 ,
2
D
SS m m
SS m m CM in SS m m CM in CM in
m
R
R g g
R g g v R g g v v
g
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+ + +
=
) ) ( 1 (
) ( ) ) (
2 1
2 1 , 2 1 , ,
2
D
SS m m
SS m m CM in SS m m CM in CM in
m
R
R g g
R g g v R g g v v
g
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+ + +
=
) ) ( 1 (
) ( ) ) (
2 1
2 1 , 2 1 , ,
2
) ) ( 1 (
2 1
, 2
SS m m
CM in D m
out
R g g
v R g
v
+ +

=
+
D P CM in m out
R V v g v ) (
, 2
=
+
D
SS m m
SS m m CM in
CM in m out
R
R g g
R g g v
v g v
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+
=
+
) ) ( 1 (
) (
2 1
2 1 ,
, 2
Common Mode Input to Differential Mode Output Gain, A
CM-DM
.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
4. Similarly, .
) ) ( 1 (
2 1
, 1
SS m m
CM in D m
out
R g g
v R g
v
+ +

5. Differential output signal is .


) ) ( 1 (
) (
2 1
, 2 1
SS m m
CM in D m m
out out
R g g
v R g g
v v
+ +

=
+
) ) ( 1 (
2 1 , SS m m
D m
CM in
out
DM CM
R g g
R g
v
v
A
+ +
A
= =

6. Common mode to differential mode conversion ratio.


This equations evaluates the conversion of input common mode variations to a
differential error.
Common Mode Input to Differential Mode Output Gain, A
CM-DM
.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
2 1 D D SS
I I I + =
1.
2
) (
tn GS ox n SS
V V
L
W
C I = 2.
3. Since I
D1
=I
D2
=0.5I
SS
tn
ox n
D
CM in
V
L
W
C
I
v +
|
.
|

\
|
=
1
1
,
2

The common mode input level is the voltage level applied to the input transistors that
assures they work in the saturation region.
Input Common Mode Range.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
tn GS DS
V V V >
5 5
The lower transistors M
1
and M
5
determine v
in,CM(min)

1. M
5
operates in saturation mode when
M
1
operates in saturation mode when
tn GS DS
V V V >
1 1
2. Analyzing M
1
s saturation mode condition,
tn GS DS
V V V >
1 1
tn GS tn DS CM in
V V V V v >
1 5 (min) ,
) (
1 5 (min) ,
) (
GS DS CM in
V V v >
1 5 (min) ,
) ( (
GS tn GS CM in
V V V v >
1 5 (min) ,
) (
GS tn GS CM in
V V V v + >
Input Common Mode Range, Lower Limit (v
in,CM (min)
)
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
The input transistor M
1
v
in,CM(max)

1. As v
in,CM
rises, v
out
falls and M
1
enters the linear

region when .
tn GS DS
V V V <
1 1
From the circuit, this condition is written as
tn CM in out
V v v <
+
(max) , tn out CM in
V v v + >
+
(max) ,
2. Since the drain-source resistance of M
5
& M
3
is
R
SS
& R
D
, respectively
tn D SS DD tn out
V R I V V v +
|
.
|

\
|
= +
+
2
1
tn D SS DD CM in
V R I V v +
|
.
|

\
|
>
2
1
(max)
,
Input Common Mode Range, Upper Limit (v
in,CM (max)
)
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Slew Rate
Slew Rate (SR) is defined as the maximum rate of change of the output voltage
for a step input.
t
v
SR
out
A
A
=
1 2
0 5
t t
SR

=
3 4
5 0
t t
SR

=
Positive SR Negative SR
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Slew Rate
L
D
C
I
SR
5
=
SR is dependant on input voltage level. It is best to
analyze SR using a step input that changes between
ground and V
DD
.
Measurement set-up Schematic view
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Input Offset Voltage
Input Offset Voltage, V
OS
The difference in input voltage that causes v
out
=0.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Frequency response
Open loop voltage gain, A
VO

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
in
out
V
v
v
A log 20
Closed loop voltage gain, A
VC

L out
dB
C r
1
3
= e
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
IZHAL ABDUL HALIN
Suggested Reading
1. Razavi, B., Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits, McGraw-Hill,
New York, 2000.
(Section 3.2.5, Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Example 4.3, Example 5.5, Section 5.3).`
2. Carusone, T.C., John, D.A. and Martin, K., Analog Integrated Circuit Design,
John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2001.
(Section 3.8).
3. Anything good on differential amplifiers

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