Module-III- Introduction to Differential

Amplifier and Operational Amplifier

 Contents-
• E-MOSFET Differential Amplifier, Differential and common mode gain,
CMRR, differential and common mode input impedance.

• Block diagram of Op-Amp , Ideal and Practical characteristics of

Op-Amp. Open loop and Closed loop configuration of Op- Amp

• Inverting and Non-inverting Amplifier using Op-Amp, Summing

Amplifier, Difference Amplifier.
E-MOSFET Differential Amplifier
•An E-MOSFET (Enhancement-mode MOSFET) can be used
as a differential amplifier by utilizing two identical
E-MOSFETs in a balanced configuration.
•This setup amplifies the difference between two input signals
while suppressing common-mode signals, making it a
valuable building block in analog circuit design.
•A differential amplifier amplifies the difference between two
input signals, effectively canceling out any signals that are
common to both inputs.
E-MOSFET Differential Amplifier
•Two E-MOSFETs (Q1 and Q2) are
arranged in a symmetrical manner.
•The inputs are connected to the
gates of the MOSFETs, and the
outputs are taken from the drains.
•A current source is used to provide
a bias current, ensuring proper
operation.
Working Principle:
•When the input signals are different, one MOSFET will conduct more
current than the other, creating a voltage difference at the output.
•If the input signals are the same (common-mode), both MOSFETs will
conduct equally, and the output voltage difference will ideally be zero.
•The current source ensures that the total current flowing through both
MOSFETs remains constant, which helps in achieving good
common-mode rejection.
Advantages of using E-MOSFETs:
• High Input Impedance:
• E-MOSFETs, particularly in the common-source configuration, offer high input
impedance, which is beneficial for reducing loading effects on the preceding
stage.
• High Common-Mode Rejection:
• The balanced configuration and current source bias help in achieving good
common-mode rejection, minimizing the impact of noise and interference.
• Suitability for IC Design:
• E-MOSFETs are well-suited for integration into integrated circuits (ICs) due to
their small size and ease of fabrication.
•A differential amplifier's performance is characterized by its
differential gain, common mode gain, CMRR, and input
impedances.
•Differential gain amplifies the difference between two input
signals, while common mode gain amplifies signals that are
identical on both inputs.
•CMRR, the common mode rejection ratio, indicates how well
the amplifier rejects common mode signals.
•Differential and common mode input impedances represent the
resistance seen by these respective signal types at the input
terminals.
Applications:
•Differential amplifiers using E-MOSFETs are widely used in
op-amps, high-speed comparators, and other analog circuits.
•They are a fundamental building block in many electronic
systems due to their ability to amplify differential signals and
reject common-mode noise.
1. Differential Gain (Ad):
•This is the gain with which the amplifier amplifies the
difference between the two input signals.
•It's the ratio of the output voltage to the differential input
voltage (the difference between the two input voltages).
•An ideal differential amplifier would have a high differential
gain.
2. Common Mode Gain (Acm):
•This is the gain with which the amplifier amplifies signals that
are identical on both input terminals.
•Ideally, a differential amplifier should have a common mode
gain as close to zero as possible.
•Common mode signals can arise from noise or interference
present on both input lines.
3. Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR):
•CMRR is a crucial specification for differential amplifiers,
quantifying their ability to reject common mode signals.
•It is defined as the ratio of the differential gain (Ad) to the
common mode gain (Acm):
CMRR = Ad / Acm.
•CMRR is often expressed in decibels (dB) using the formula:
CMRR (dB) = 20 * log10(CMRR).
•A higher CMRR indicates better common mode signal
rejection.
4. Differential Input Impedance (Rid):
•This is the resistance seen by the differential input signal at
the amplifier's input terminals.
•It represents how much the amplifier resists the flow of
differential mode current.
•A high differential input impedance is generally desirable to
minimize loading effects on the source of the differential
signal.
5. Common Mode Input Impedance (Ric):
•This is the resistance seen by the common mode input signal
at the amplifier's input terminals.
•It represents how much the amplifier resists the flow of
common mode current.
•A high common mode input impedance is generally desirable
to minimize the impact of common mode noise on the
amplifier's performance.
Operational Amplifier
Op-Amp
Pin Configuration IC 741
•The numerical designation "741" indicates the
presence of seven active pins, with four pins
(2, 3, 4, 7) capable of receiving input and one
pin (6) serving as the output.

•The triangular configuration within the IC

symbolizes its nature as an operational
amplifier integrated circuit.
•A typical 741 operational amplifier comprises a circuit incorporating
20 transistors and 11 resistors seamlessly integrated into a monolithic
chip. The diagram below elucidates the internal interconnections
among these components.
Internal Schematic of IC 741 Op-Amp
•An Operational Amplifier, or Op-amp in short form , is
fundamentally a voltage amplifying device designed to be used
with external feedback components such as resistors and
capacitors between its output and input terminals.
Block Diagram
• An operational amplifier (op-amp) block diagram typically consists of a
differential amplifier input stage, an intermediate gain stage, a level shifter, and
an output stage. These stages work together to amplify the difference between
two input signals and provide a usable output.
Block Diagram explanation-
1. Differential Amplifier Input Stage:
This stage takes two input signals, typically denoted as inverting (-) and
non-inverting (+) inputs.
It amplifies the difference between these two input signals, providing
high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR).
This stage is crucial for rejecting noise and signals that are common to both inputs.
The output of this stage is a differential signal, meaning it represents the difference
between the two inputs.
2. Intermediate Gain Stage:
This stage further amplifies the output of the differential amplifier.
It can be a single-ended (one input, one output) or a differential amplifier, depending
on the specific op-amp design.
This stage contributes significantly to the overall voltage gain of the op-amp.
3. Level Shifter:
•The output of the intermediate stage may have a DC offset voltage (not centered
around zero volts).
•The level shifter shifts this DC voltage to a desired level, typically close to zero, to
ensure proper operation of the subsequent output stage.
•An emitter follower with a constant current source is often used for this purpose.
4. Output Stage:
•This stage provides the final amplification and drives the load connected to the
op-amp.
•It is often a push-pull amplifier configuration, which can source and sink current to
the load.
•The output stage also helps to minimize the output impedance of the op-amp,
allowing it to drive a wider range of loads.
•An Operational Amplifier is basically a three-terminal device which
consists of two high impedance inputs. One of the inputs is called
the Inverting Input, marked with a negative or “minus” sign, ( – ). The
other input is called the Non-inverting Input, marked with a positive
or “plus” sign ( + ).
Ideal and Practical characteristics of Op-Amp
Working Principle of Operational Amplifier
•Open Loop Operation
•In the open loop operation, there is no feedback provided in the
amplifier circuit. Therefore, two signals one at inverting terminal and
the other at the non-inverting terminal applied then, the Op-Amp
amplifies the difference of the two applied signals. This difference of
the two input signals is called as differential input voltage.
•The output of Op-Amp is given by

Vout=Aopen-loop(V1−V2)
where,
Vout=output voltage
Aopen-loop=Open Loop gain of Op−Amp
V1=Voltage at the non inverting terminal
V2=Voltage at the inverting terminal
(V1−V2)=Differential input voltage

The output of the Op-Amp is non-zero only when the differential input voltage is
non-zero i.e. V1 and V2 are not equal. The open loop gain (A) of Op-Amp is very
high. Thus, an open loop Op-Amp can amplify a small differential input signal to a
high value. The Op-Amp can amplify the input signal to a very high value but
cannot exceed the supply voltage of operational amplifier.
•Close Loop Operation
•When the Op-Amp provided with a feedback signal is known as closed
loop operational amplifier. The feedback path feeds the output signal to
the input.

The output equation for the closed loop operation is given by

Vout=Acloseloop(V1−V2)
•When the feedback is connected to non-inverting terminal then
feedback is called as the positive feedback. The positive
feedback is used in oscillator applications.
•When the feedback is connected to inverting terminal then it is
called as negative feedback. The negative feedback is used the
amplification applications.
Inverting Operational Amplifier
•In the inverting operational amplifier circuit, the signal is applied at the
inverting input and the non-inverting input is connected to the ground.
In this type of amplifier, the output is 180 out of phase to the input, i.e.
when positive signal is applied to circuit, the output of the circuit will
be negative.
•By assuming the Op-Amp is ideal, then the concept of virtual short can
be applied at the input terminals of the Op-Amp. So that voltage at the
inverting terminal is equal to the voltage at non-inverting terminal.
In this Inverting Amplifier circuit, the operational amplifier is connected with feedback to
produce a closed loop operation. When dealing with operational amplifiers there are two very
important rules to remember about inverting amplifiers, these are: “No current flows into the
input terminal” and that “V1 always equals V2”. However, in real world op-amp circuits
both of these rules are slightly broken.
This is because the junction of the input and
feedback signal ( X ) is at the same potential as the
positive ( + ) input which is at zero volts or ground
then, the junction is a “Virtual Earth”. Because of
this virtual earth node, the input resistance of the
amplifier is equal to the value of the input
resistor, Rin and the closed loop gain of the inverting
amplifier can be set by the ratio of the two external
resistors.
Numerical
1) Find the closed loop gain of the following inverting amplifier circuit.
Non-Inverting Operational Amplifier
•When the signal is applied at the non-inverting input, the
resulting circuit is known as Non-Inverting Op-Amp.
•In this amplifier the output is exactly in phase with the input
i.e. when a positive voltage is applied to the circuit, the output
will also be positive.
•By assuming the Op-Amp is ideal, then concept of virtual short
can be applied i.e. the voltage at the inverting and
non-inverting terminal is equal.
Feedback control of the non-inverting operational amplifier is achieved
by applying a small part of the output voltage signal back to the
inverting ( – ) input terminal via a Rƒ – R2 voltage divider network,
again producing negative feedback.
Thus, closed loop voltage gain of a Non-inverting Operational Amplifier will be
given as-
•Thus from the equation above, that the overall closed-loop gain of a
non-inverting amplifier will always be greater but never less than one
(unity), it is positive in nature and is determined by the ratio of the
values of Rƒ and R2.
•If the value of the feedback resistor Rƒ is zero, the gain of the amplifier
will be exactly equal to one (unity). If resistor R2 is zero the gain will
approach infinity, but in practice it will be limited to the operational
amplifiers open-loop differential gain, ( AO ).
Difference between inverting and non inverting op-amp
Op-Amp as Summing Amplifier
•Op-Amp can be used as a summing amplifier by applying
multiple inputs either to the inverting or to the non-inverting
op-amp terminals.
Inverting Summing Amplifier
Non-Inverting Summing Amplifier
 Differential Amplifier or Difference Amplifier
• The differential amplifier is a voltage subtractor circuit
which produces an output voltage proportional to the
voltage difference of two input signals applied to the
inputs of the inverting and non-inverting terminals of
an operational amplifier.
• The transfer function for a Differential Amplifier circuit is given as:
Important Questions
1. Draw the circuit diagram of an E-MOSFET differential amplifier and
explain its operation along with performance parameters.
2. Draw and explain the block diagram of an Op-Amp.
3. Compare Ideal and Practical characteristics of Op-Amp
4. Draw the circuit diagram of a non-inverting amplifier using Op-Amp and
derive the expression for voltage gain of a non-inverting amplifier.
5. Draw the circuit diagram of an inverting amplifier using Op-Amp and
derive the expression for voltage gain of an inverting amplifier.
6. Draw and explain the circuit of a summing amplifier using Op-Amp.
7. Draw and explain the difference amplifier circuit using Op-Amp.