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The Differential Pair

Input Offset Voltage
Recall that in chapter 2 we studied
about a phenomenon known as the
Input Offset Voltage.
For an op-amp (a differential
amplifier!) we found that when the
differential input was zero (i.e.,
AD v1 v2 0 ), the output voltage was
typically not zero (i.e., vO 0 )!.
We found that the differential
amplifier (op-amp) behaved as if it
had a small DC Input Offset Voltage
VOS, such that a better mathematical
description of the op-amp output was:

vO AD v1 v2 VOS
Note then if the differential input is zero (i.e., v1 v2 0 ), the
output will be a DC value:

VO AD VOS

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The Input Offset Voltage is therefore:

VOS

VO
AD

when

v1 v 2 0

Q: Is there a similar phenomenon present for the BJT

differential pair?
A: Yup! The BJT differential pair is of course a differential
amplifier, a thus will likewise exhibit an Input Offset Voltage
VOS.
V
CC

VOS

VO
Ad

RC 2

RC 1
VO 0

VB

Q1 IE 1 IE 2Q2

I
VEE
Q: What would cause this input offset voltage?
A: Either Collector Load Mismatch or Scale Current
Mismatch !

VB