Lecture 26

Differential Amplifiers (I)

DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIERS

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Incremental analysis of differential
amplifier
3. Common-source differential amplifier

Reading Assignment:
Howe and Sodini, Chapter 11, Sections 11-1-11.3, 11.6

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 1

 Summary of Key Concepts

• In differential amplifiers, signals are represented by

difference between two voltages
• Differential amplifier amplifies the difference
between two voltages but rejects “common mode”
signals
– ⇒ Improved noise immunity
• Using “half-circuit” technique, small-signal
operation of differential amplifiers is analyzed by
breaking the problem into two simpler ones
– Differential mode problem
– Common mode problem
• Common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) is an
important figure of merit for differential amplifiers
• Differential amplifiers require good device matching

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 2

 1. Introduction
Two problems found in single-transistor amplifier stages
are:

• Bias and gain sensitivity to device parameters (µCox,

V T)
– Sensitivity can be mitigated but often at a price in
terms of performance or cost (gain, power, device
area, etc.)
• Vulnerability to ground and power supply noise
– In dense IC’s there is cross-talk, 60 Hz coupling,
substrate noise, etc.

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 3

 Introduction (contd.)
Solution : represent relevant signal by the difference
between two voltages

Differential Amplifier:

• Amplifies difference between two voltages

• Rejects components common to both voltages

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 4

 MOSFET Differential Amplifier
Basic Configuration

• vO responds to difference between vI’s

– If vI1 = vI2 ⇒ symmetry ⇒ vO1 = vO2 ⇒ vO = 0
– If vI1 > vI2 ⇒ M1 conducts more than M2 ⇒ i1 > i2
⇒ vO1 < vO2 ⇒ vO < 0
• vO insensitive to common mode signals:
– If both vO1 and vO2 move in sync, symmetry is
preserved ⇒ vO unchanged
– If ground VDD or VSS have noise, symmetry preserved
⇒ vO unchanged
– If VT or µCox change, symmetry preserved ⇒ vO
unchanged.
• Need precise device matching

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 5

 Differential-mode and Common-mode signals

Distinguish between common-mode and differential-mode:

v ID v ID
v I1 = v IC + , v I 2 = v IC −
2 2
Then:
v I1 + v I 2
v ID = v I1 − v I 2 , v IC =
2
Similarly at the output:
v OD v OD
v O1 = v OC + , v O 2 = v OC −
2 2
Then:
v O1 + v O 2
v OD = v O1 − v O 2 , v OC =
2
6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 6
2. Incremental analysis of differential amplifier
Consider generic differential amplifier:

Figures of Merit:

Differential-mode voltage gain (want it high):

v od
adm =
v id

Common-mode voltage gain (want it small):

v oc
acm =
v ic

Common-mode rejection ratio (want it very high):

a dm
CMRR =
a cm

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 7

 Incremental analysis of differential amplifier
(contd.)
Two steps to simplify the problem:

1. Use superposition and break the problem into two:

2. Exploit symmetry:

Circuit broken into two “half circuits”.

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 8

 Incremental analysis of differential amplifier
Differential-mode Analysis

No voltage relative to ground along axis of symmetry ⇒

circuit identical to:

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 9

 Incremental analysis of differential amplifier
Differential-mode Analysis (contd.)
Need to solve:

Differential-mode voltage gain:

v od v o 2 − v o1
a dm = =
v id v i 2 − v i1

In differential –mode:
v id
v i1 = − v i 2 = and v o1 = − v o 2
2
Then:
2 v o1 v o1
a dm = =
v id v id
2
6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 10
 Incremental analysis of differential amplifier
Common-mode Analysis

No current across wires connecting the two half-circuits

⇒ circuit is identical to:

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 11

 Incremental analysis of differential amplifier
Common-mode Analysis (contd.)

Common-mode voltage gain:

v o 2 + v o1
v oc 2
a cm = =
v ic v ic

In common–mode, vo1 = vo2, then:

v o1
a cm =
v ic

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 12

 3. Common-source differential
amplifier (source-coupled pair)

Biasing Issues: must keep MOSFET’s in saturation

• Upper limit to VI1 and VI2: MI and M2 driven into

linear regime:
I BIAS
VIC, max = VO1 + VT = VT + VDD − R D
2

• Lower limit to VI1 and VI2: set by circuit that

implements IBIAS.

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 13

 Common-source differential amplifier
(small-signal equivalent circuit model)

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 14

 Common-source differential amplifier
Differential-mode half circuit

v id
v o1 = −g m1R D
2

Then the differential mode gain is

v o1
a dm = = −g m1R D
v id
2

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 15

 Common-source differential amplifier
Common-mode half circuit

g m1R D
v o1 = − • v ic
1 + 2g m1rob
Then the common-mode gain is
v o1 g m1R D
a cm = =−
v ic 1+ 2g m1rob

Common-mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR):

adm − g m1R D
CMMR = = = 1 + 2g m1rob
a cm − g m1R D
1 + 2g m1rob

To get good CMRR, need good current source.

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 16

 Large-signal response of differential
amplifier

Examine large-signal transfer function:

• If vI1 = vI2 ⇒ vO1 = vO2 ⇒ vO = 0
• If vI1 > vI2 ⇒ M1 conducts more than M2 ⇒ i1 > i2
⇒ vO1 < vO2 ⇒ vO < 0
• If vI1 >> vI2 ⇒ M1 conducts strongly, M2 turns off
⇒ i1 ≈ IBIAS, i2 ≈ 0 ⇒
v O1 = v O1,min = VDD − I BAIS R D , v O 2 = v O1,max = VDD
v OD,min = −I BAIS R D

• Symmetric behavior for vI1 < vI2 and vI1 << vI2

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 17

 Large-signal response of differential amplifier
(contd.)
Saturating behavior for large differential input signals:

vID that leads to amplifier saturation (vI1 >> vI2 ):

v ID,sat = v GS1 − v GS 2
With:

I BAIS
v GS1 = VT +
W
µCox
2L
v GS 2 = VT
Then:

I BAIS
v ID,sat =
W
µCox
2L

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 18

 Large-signal response of differential amplifier
(contd.)

• For small vID, vO is linear in vI ⇒ differential

amplifier
• For large vID, vO saturates: once vID is large enough,
vO independent of vID ⇒ logic inverter

Can do logic with this:

• Logic 0 = -VID,sat, logic 1 = VID,sat
• Regenerative if VO (swing) >VID,sat

• Used in some MOSFET logic styles

• Used with Si BJTs: Emitter-Coupled Logic (ECL)
• And GaAs FETs: Source-Coupled FET Logic
(SCFL)

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 19

 What did we learn today?

Summary of Key Concepts

• In differential amplifiers, signals are represented by

difference between two voltages
• Differential amplifier amplifies the difference
between two voltages but rejects “common mode”
signals
– ⇒ Improved noise immunity
• Using “half-circuit” technique, small-signal
operation of differential amplifiers is analyzed by
breaking the problem into two simpler ones
– Differential mode problem
– Common mode problem
• Common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) is an
important figure of merit for differential amplifiers
• Differential amplifiers require good device matching

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 20

 Wrap-up of 6.012
6.012: Introductory subject to microelectronic devices
and circuits

• MICROELECTRONIC DEVICES
– Semiconductor physics: electrons / holes and drift /
diffusion
– Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors
(MOSFETs): drift of carriers in inversion layer
– Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs): minority carrier
diffusion
• MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
– Digital circuits (mainly CMOS): no static power
dissipation; power ↓, delay ↓ & density ↑ as W & L ↓
– Analog circuits (BJT and CMOS): fτ ↑ and gm ↑ as L ↓:
however, Avomax ↓ as L ↓

Follow-on Courses

• 6.152J — Microelectronics Processing Technology

• 6.720J — Integrated Microelectronic Devices
• 6.301 — Solid State Circuits
• 6.371 — Introduction to VLSI Systems
• 6.374 — Analysis and Design of Digital ICs
• 6.775 — Design of Analog MOS LSI

6.012 Electronic Devices and Circuits-Fall 2000 Lecture 26 21