Analog Electronics Circuits

DC Analysis of Differential Amplifiers

 Differential Amplifier
Differential Amplifier is the basic building block of
operational amplifiers

Fig. 1.1 shows two identical biased circuits in which

transistor Q1 shares the
same characteristics as that of Q2. RE1 = RE2, RC1 = RC2 ,
|+VCC| = |-VEE| (The supply voltages +VCC and -VEE are
measured with respect to the ground).

Fig. 1.1
 Dual-input, balanced-output
differential amplifier
1. As the voltages are of the same polarity and amplitude,
+VCC supply of the two circuits are to be reconnected. -VEE
are to be reconnected in a similar manner.

2. Emitter E1 of transistor Q1 are to be reconnected with the

Emitter E2 of transistor Q2. (The reconnection places RE1 ||
RE2)

3. Input Signal vin1 applied to base B1 of transistor Q1 and vin2

applied to the base B2 of transistor Q2 are to be shown.

4. The voltage between the collectors C1 and C2 are to be

labelled as vo. (The vo is the output voltage.) Fig. 1.2
 Differential Amplifier Circuit
Configurations
The four differential amplifier configurations:

• Dual input, balanced-output differential amplifier

• Dual input, unbalanced-output differential amplifier
• Single input, balanced-output differential amplifier
• Single input, unbalanced-output differential amplifier
 DC Analysis
1. For determination of ICQ and VCEQ,
a dc equivalent circuit is obtained.
2. The input signals, vin1 and vin2 are
reduced to zero.
3. The internal resistances of the
input signal are denoted by Rin, as
Rin1= Rin2 .

Fig. 1.3
Determination of IE:
On applying KVL to the base-emitter loop of the transistor Q1,
-RinIB - VBE - RE (2IE ) + VEE = 0 …(1)
But,
IB = IE / βdc since IC ≈ IE
The emitter-current through transistor Q1 is obtained as,

IE = (VEE - VBE ) / (2RE + Rin / βdc ) …(2)

(VBE for Silicon transistors = 0.6 V

VBE for Germanium transistors = 0.2 V)

Generally, Rin/βdc << 2RE , eq.(1) is modified as,

IE = (VEE - VBE) / 2RE …(3)

Determination of VCE:
The voltage at the emitter of transistor Q1 is approximately equal to
VBE, assuming the voltage drop across Rin is negligible. Taking IE ≈
IC , VC is obtained as,
VC = VCC - ICRC …(4)

Thus, VCE = VC - VE
= (VCC - ICRC ) - (- VBE)

VCE = VCC+ VBE - ICRC …(5)

In this way, the values of ICQ and VCEQ are determined. At the
operating point, IE = ICQ and VCE = VCEQ.
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