Exercises for

Differential Amplifiers

ECE 102, Winter 2011, F. Najmabadi

Exercise 1: Compute bias values: VD , VS , VDS and VGS . RD = 500 and

identical transistors with kn (W/L )= 8 mA/V2, Vt = 0.5 V, = 0.
A) VG = 0 and B) VG = 0.5 V

If the circuit is symmetric, we can use halfcircuit configuration for the commonmode also for bias calculations.
This exercise also shows that precise
biasing of Q1 and A2 are not necessary as
VS adjusts itself automatically.

Assume Saturation
k W 2
2
1x10 3 = I D = n VOV
= 4 x10 3VOV
2 L
VOV = 0.5 V
VGS = VOV + Vt = 1 V
VD = 2 RD I D = 2 0.5 = 1.5 V

A) VG = 0
VS = VG VGS = 0 1 = 1 V
VDS = VD VS = 1.5 (1) = 2.5 V

VDS > VOV Saturation

A) VG = 1
VS = VG VGS = 1 1 = 0 V
VDS = VD VS = 1.5 0 = 1.5 V

VDS > VOV Saturation

Exercise 2: What is the maximum allowable input common-mode level in the

circuit below. Q1 and Q2 are Identical and RD = 500. Use Vt = 0.5 V and
VG3 = 1 V.

Maximum allowable input common-mode

level is the range of DC values that can be
applied to the gate of Q1 and Q2 (bias +
signal) for which transistors remain in
saturation.
There are two limits: 1) for Q1 and Q2
remain in saturation, 2) for Q3 to remain in
saturation (and act as a current mirror)

Assume Q1 and Q2 in Saturation

k W 2
2
1x10 3 = I D = n VOV
= 4 x10 3VOV
2 L
VOV = 0.5 V
VGS = VOV + Vt = 1 V
VD = 2 RD I D = 2 0.5 = 1.5 V

For Q3 in saturation:
VDS 3 VGS 3 Vt
VS (2) VG 3 (2) Vt
VS VG 3 Vt = 1 0.5 = 1.5 V

For Q1 and Q2 in saturation:

Not in cut-off:

Not in triode:

VGS 1 Vt

VDS 1 VGS 1 Vt

VCM VS Vt

VD1 VS VCM VS Vt

VCM Vt + VS 0.5 + (1.5) = 1 V

VCM VD1 + Vt = 1.5 + 0.5 = 2 V

1 VCM 2 V

Exercise 3: Find CMRR. (Q1 and Q2 are identical and ignore ro)

In practice, it is impossible to make a difference

amplifier which is exactly symmetric. This problem
explores the impact of mismatch on CMRR. It also
explains why a differential amplifier is better than
two CS amplifiers.
If the mismatch is small, we can use half circuit
concept.

Differential Mode

vo1 = g m R D (0.5vd )
vo 2 = g m ( R D + R D ) (+0.5vd )
vod = vo 2 vo1 = g m ( R D +0.5R D )vd
Ad =

vod
= g m ( R D +0.5R D ) g m R D
vd

Common Mode

vo1 =

gm R D
vc
1 + 2 g m R SS

vo 2 =

g m ( R D + R D )
vc
1 + 2 g m R SS

voc = vo 2 vo1 =
Ac =

g m R D
vc
1 + 2 g m R SS

voc
g m R D
=
1 + 2 g m R SS
vc

|A |
1 + 2 g m R SS 1 + 2 g m R SS
CMRR = d = ( g m R D )
=
| Ac |
g m R D
R D / R D

Perfect Symmetry (RD = 0)

Differential Mode

Ad =

vod
= gm R D
vd

Differential gain does not

change much

Mismatch strongly affects

Common Mode gain
v
Ac = oc = 0
vc

CMRR =

| Ad |
=
| Ac |

CMRR is reduced considerably (need a large RSS to ensure a good CMRR)

Why is a differential amplifier better than two CS amplifiers?

Two CS amplifiers with

identical transistors

Perfect Symmetry (RD = 0)

Slight Mismatch (RD 0)

Differential Mode
vo1 = g m R D (0.5vd )

Differential Mode
vo1 = g m R D (0.5vd )

vo 2 = g m R D (+0.5vd )

vo 2 = g m ( R D + R D ) (+0.5vd )

v
Ad = od = g m R D
vd

Ad =

Common Mode
vo1 = g m R D vc

vod
= g m ( R D +0.5R D )
vd

Ad g m R D
Common Mode
vo1 = g m R D vc

vo 2 = g m R D vc

vo 2 = g m ( R D + R D )vc

voc = vo 2 vo1 = 0

voc = vo 2 vo1 = + g m R D vc

Ac =

voc
=0
vc

CMRR =

| Ad |
=
| Ac |

Ac =

voc
= + g m R D
vc

CMRR =

gm R D
1
=
g m R D R D / R D

Why is a differential amplifier better than two CS amplifiers?

Two CS Amplifiers

Difference Amplifier

Perfect Symmetry (RD = 0)

Slight Mismatch (RD 0)

Ad = g m R D

Ad = g m R D

Ac = 0

Ac = 0

CMRR =

CMRR =

Ad g m R D

Ad g m R D

Ac = + g m R D

Ac =

CMRR =

1
R D / R D

g m R D
1+ 2 g m R SS

CMRR =

1 + 2 g m R SS
R D / R D

Difference amplifier reduces Ac and increases CMRR substantially.

Also recall the biasing advantages.

Exercise 4: Assume transistors are identical. Compute the differential gain.

This is a practice problem in constructing

half-circuit.

Half-circuit for differential Gain

Zero voltage at symmetry line

Replace Q3 by
Elementary R forms

ro3

vo1 = g m1 (r o1|| ro 3 || RP ) (0.5vd )

vo 2 = vo1
vod = vo 2 vo1 = g m1 (r o1|| ro 3 || RP )vd
Ad =

vod
= g m1 (r o1|| ro 3 || RP )
vd

Exercise 5: Due to manufacturing error, resistance Rp has appeared in the

circuit (as is shown). Assume transistors are identical. Compute the
differential gain.

This is also a practice problem in constructing

half-circuit.
Also recall that resistors appearing across DS
can be absorbed into ro.

Half-circuit for differential Gain

Zero voltage at symmetry line

vo1 =

g m1 (1 / g m 3 || r o1)
(0.5vd ) and vo 2 = vo1
1 + 0.5 g m1 R SS

vod = vo 2 vo1 =
Ad =

Replace Q3 by
Elementary R forms

g m1 (1 / g m 3 || r o1)
vd
1 + 0.5 g m1 R SS

vod
g (1 / g m 3 || r o1)
g
1
= m1
m1
vd
1 + 0.5 g m1 R SS
g m 3 1 + 0.5 g m1 R SS

Exercise 6: Compute the differential gain.

This problem has it all, half circuit, constructing

resistances from elementary R form, and
Cascoade amplifier.

Half-circuit for differential Gain

Zero voltage at symmetry line

Replace Q7 by
Elementary R forms
Replace Q5 by
Elementary R forms
RD

RD = ro 5 [1 + g m (ro 7 || R p / 2)]

RD = ro 5 [1 + g m (ro 7 || R p / 2)]

RD

For a cascode amp:

vo1 = g m1 ( g m 3 ro3 ro1 || RD )(0.5vd )

vo 2 = vo1
Ad =

vo 2 vo1
= g m1 ( g m 3 ro3 ro1 || RD )
vd

Ad = g m1ro1 g m 3 ro 3

1 + g m (ro 7 || R p / 2)
1 + g m (ro 7 || R p / 2)] + g m 3 ro1ro 3 / ro 5