DIFFERENTIAL – PAIR AMPLIFIER

 Most widely used building block in analog IC design.

 The input stage of every op-amp is a differential amplifier.
 Its performance depends upon the matching between the
two sides of circuit.
(As IC fabrication is capable of providing the matched devices whose
parameters track over a wide ranges of changes in environmental
conditions)
MAIN ADVANTAGES
 The differential circuits are much less sensitive to noise and
interference than single ended circuits.
 The differential configuration enables us to bias amplifier
and couple amplifier stages together without the need for
bypass and coupling capacitors.
(As large capacitors are difficult to fabricate on IC)
DIFFERENTIAL – PAIR AMPLIFIER
OPERATION WITH COMMON MODE INPUT VOLTAGE
As the name shows common mode, we will apply same
(common) voltage VCM , called common mode voltage.
So, VG2 = VG1 = VCM ,
from symmetry, Current I will divide into two currents equally
iD1 = iD2 = I / 2
Voltage at source, Vs = VCM – VGS
So, I / 2 = ½ k’n W/L (VGS – Vt )2 ----------------(i)
As , Vov = VGS – Vt ,
The overdrive voltage is the voltage between transistor gate
and source (VGS) in excess of the threshold voltage (Vt). It is
also known as excess gate voltage or effective voltage.
From Vov , equation (i) becomes,
I / 2 = ½ k’n W/L ( Vov ) 2
Differential pair amplifier with common mode input voltage
where Vt is the minimum voltage required between gate and
source to turn the transistor on.
2
2
=>

Drain voltages =
So, the difference between the voltages between the two drains
is zero.
As long as Q1 and Q2 both are in saturation mode, VD1 = VD2
and I will divide between Q1 and Q2 equally.
Thus, the differential-pair amplifier does not respond to
common-mode input signals.
 COMMON MODE INPUT VOLTAGE RANGE
The range of common mode input voltage for
differential pair amplifier is the range of input voltage
VCM over which the differential pair operates
properly.
Only for such range of voltages, both transistors, Q1
and Q2 remain in saturation mode.
OPERATION WITH DIFFERENTIAL
INPUT VOLTAGE
 OPERATION WITH DIFFERENTIAL
INPUT VOLTAGE
Here Vid =VGS1 - VGS2
If Vid is +ve, then VGS1 > VGS2 , i.e iD1 > iD2 .
So difference or differential output voltage VD2 – VD1 will be +ve.
If Vid is -ve, then VGS2 > VGS1 , i.e iD2 > iD1 .
So difference or differential output voltage VD2 – VD1 will be
–ve.
Hence, Differential pair amplifier responds to differential input
signal or difference mode by providing corresponding differential
output signal between the two drains.
If VGS flows a current iD = I and VGS2 = vt , at then Vs = -Vt, such
value of VGS1 ,
OPERATION WITH DIFFERENTIAL INPUT VOLTAGE
I = ½ k’n W/L (VGS – Vt )2

(VGS – Vt )2 =

VGS – Vt =

VGS = + Vt

VGS = Vt + VOV
Thus the value of Vid at which entire bias current I steered
into Q1 is,
DIFFERENTIAL MODE INPUT VOLTAGE RANGE

VidMAX = VGS1 + Vs
As the entire current I is steered into Q1 ,
so, Vs = - Vt ,
and VGS = Vt + VOV , now VidMAX becomes,
VidMAX = Vt + Vov ─ Vt = Vov
Hence from the symetry of the operation the current I can be
steered from one transistor to the other by varying Vid in the
range
─ Vov ≤ Vid ≤ Vov
 Example: 7.1
For the MOS differential pair with a common mode voltage
VCM applied, as shown in figure. Let VDD = Vss = 1.5V,
k´n(W/L) = 4mA/V2 , Vt =0.5V, I = 0.4mA, and RD = 2.5kΩ
a) Find Vov and VGS for each transistor.
b) For VCM =0, find Vs , iD1 , iD2 and VD2 .
c) Repeat b) for VCM = 1V. d) repeat for VCM = -0.2V.
e) What is the highest value for VCM for which Q1 and Q2
remain in saturation?
f) If current source I requires a minimum voltage of 0.4V to
operate properly, what is the lowest value allowed for Vs and
hence for VCM ?
(a) (b)
 Example: 7.1
Answers:
a) 0.316V, 0.82V
b) Figure. a)
c) Figure b)
d) Figure c)
e) 1.5V
f) -1.1V, -0.28V