Mansoor Shaukat 1

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Mansoor Shaukat

MOS Differential Amplifier

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Differential Amplifiers
Move to more complex analogue circuits and systems.
Differential Amplifiers
Mansoor Shaukat
Most widely used building block
Input stage of nearly every op-amp
These are well-suited for IC fabrication because:
Performance depends on matching the two sides of the pair
These utilize more components than single-ended circuits and are
economical in IC fabrication
Why differential amplifiers?
Less sensitive to noise and interference
If there is interference on the two input wires, the difference
only is sensed (interference cancels out)
Direct coupling is possible thus large capacitances can be avoided
So ideally suited for IC fabrication because large capacitors are
difficult to fabricate economically in IC process

contd!

 Difference / Differential Amplifiers 4

What is a difference amplifier?

A difference amplifier is one that responds to the difference between the two
signals applied at its inputs.
Mansoor Shaukat
It ideally rejects signals that are common to both inputs.

Consider the input signals as v1 and v2 :

The difference / differential input signal is:
vid = v2 v1
The common-mode input signal is the average of the two input signals:
vicm = (v2 + v1 )/2
By adding and subtracting to get v1 and v2 :
v1 = vicm - (vid)/2 and
v2 = vicm + (vid)/2

Example : Determine the differential and common-mode input signals when

the two inputs are v1 = 1.002 V and v2 = 0.998 V.
Solution: vicm = 1 V and vid = - 4 mV

Output of a Difference/Differential Amplifier!

 Output of a Difference Amplifier 5

Ideally the difference amplifier will amplify only the

differential input signal vid.
Mansoor Shaukat
It will completely reject common-mode input signal vicm.
However, non ideal or practical circuits will have an output
voltage :
vo = Advid + Acmvicm
where Ad denotes amplifier differential gain and Acm denotes
common-mode gain

A parameter that determines efficacy of a differential

amplifier is defined as Common-Mode Rejection Ratio:
CMRR = 20 log {Ad / Acm}

Ideally CMRR is infinite because Acm = 0

Where does the common-mode signal come from?

The MOS Differential Pair!

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The MOS Differential Pair
The circuit for basic MOS differential pair is :

Two matched MOS transistors Q1 and

Mansoor Shaukat
Q2 with sources joined together by a
VDD
constant current source I.
Operation is such that MOSFET does
RD RD
not enter in triode region of
operation. VD1 iD1 iD2 VD2
Generally active loads are employed
instead of RD.
Q1 Q2
Various modes of operation are iD1 iD2
vG1 + +
possible: - - vG2
Operation with a common-mode I
input voltage
- VSS
Operation with a differential input
voltage
Large signal operation
Small-signal operation

Operation with a common-mode input voltage!

 Operation with a Common-Mode Input Voltage 7

The circuit:
The two gates are joined together and
connected to a voltage VCM called the common- VDD
mode voltage
Mansoor Shaukat
So VG1 = VG2 = VCM RD RD
And VS = VCM - VGS
VD1 VD2
Since Q1 & Q2 are matched iD1 = iD2 = I/2
VGS is gate to source voltage corresponding to
a drain current of I/2 Q1 Q2
I/2 VS I/2
Neglecting channel length modulation, the v +
CM - VGS VGS
drain current is:
I D1 I D 2
I 1
kn
W

VGS Vt 2

2 2 L
Or: I
I 1 W
2 2 L

kn VGS Vt
2

1 W
kn Vov
2 L
2
- VSS
And: I
Vov
W
k n
L

Operation with a common-mode input voltagecontd!

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Operation with a Common-Mode Input Voltagecontd

The voltage at each drain: VDD

Mansoor Shaukat
VD1 = VD2 = VDD I/2RD
The difference in voltage of two drains RD RD

is zero. VD1 VD2

The differential pair does not respond
to (it rejects) common-mode i/p signals. Q1 Q2
Varying the value of vcm, current I +
I/2 VS I/2
vCM VGS VGS
-
continues to divide equally between Q1
and Q2 as long as the transistors
remain in saturation. I

The voltages at the drain will not - VSS

change.

Input Common mode Range!

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Input Common-Mode Range

The highest value of VCM is limited by the requirement that

Mansoor Shaukat
both transistors remain in saturation ie
VDS > (VGS Vt)
or VGS < (VDS + Vt)
so VG < (VD + Vt)
hence VCM,max = VG = VD + Vt
or VCM,max = Vt + VDD - I/2RD
The lowest value is determined by the need to allow for
sufficient voltage (say VCS) across the current source for it
to operate properly
so VCM,min = VGS + VCS VSS

Example!

 Operation with a Differential Input Voltage 10

The circuit:
We apply a difference or differential
VDD
input voltage: Vid = VGS1 VGS2
Mansoor Shaukat
If Vid is positive, VGS1 will be greater RD RD
than VGS2 and hence iD1 > iD2
VD1 VD2
The difference output voltage VD2 VD1
will be positive and vice versa when Vid
Q1 Q2
is negative.
iD1 VS iD2
+
So the differential pair responds to vid
- VGS1 VGS2

difference-mode or differential input

signals.
I
At some value of vid, the entire bias
- VSS
current will flow in one of the two
transistors.
For example; when vGS1 reaches the
value that corresponds to: 1
iD1 I
W

kn VGS1 Vt
2 L
2

contd!

 Operation with a Differential Input Voltagecontd 11

VDD

iD1 I
1 W

kn VGS1 Vt
2 L

2

RD RD

Mansoor Shaukat
So:
2I
VGS1 Vt VD1 VD2
W
k n
Or: L
Q1 Q2
VGS1 Vt 2 Vov iD1 VS iD2
+
vid VGS1 VGS2
where vov is the overdrive voltage -

corresponding to a drain current of I/2.

I
The value of vid at which the entire bias current is
steered into Q1 is vidmax = vGS1 + vS = vt + /2 vov + vS - VSS

Now vs = -vt for cutting off Q2.

Hence vidmax = /2 vov
And in the negative direction vidmax =- /2 vov
Therefore the range is?

Differential Amplifier as a linear amplifier!

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Operation as a Linear Amplifier

Use of differential amplifier as a linear amplifier?

Mansoor Shaukat
Keep input signal small.
This small signal increases current in one
transistor and decreases proportional current in
the other transistor by an amount I.
So current becomes I/2 + I and I/2 - I
A voltage signal I RD and + I RD develops at
the other transistor.
The output voltage taken between the two drains
will be 2 I RD which is proportional to differential
input signal vid.

Large signal operation!

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Mansoor Shaukat

Reminder!

He who asks a question

is a fool for five minutes; he
who does not ask a question
remains a fool forever.
(Chinese proverb)