DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER USING TRANSISTORS

What is Differential Amplifier

As the name indicates Differential Amplifier is a dc-coupled amplifier that amplifies

the difference between two input signals. It is the building block of analog integrated
circuits and operational amplifiers (op-amp). One of the important feature of
differential amplifier is that it tends to reject or nullify the part of input signals which
is common to both inputs. This provides very good noise immunity in a lot of
applications. Let’s see the block diagram of a differential amplifier.

Differential Amplifier

Vi1 and Vi2 are input terminals and Vo1 and Vo2 are output terminals with respect
to ground. We can feed two input signals at the same time or one at a time. In the
former case it is called dual input otherwise it is single input. Similarly there are two
ways to take output also. If the output is taken from one terminal with respect to
ground, it is unbalanced output or if the output is taken between two
output terminals, it is balanced output.

The differential amplifier can be considered as an analog circuit that consists of two
inputs and one output. The differential amplifier circuit can be represented as shown
in the figure below.

The electronic amplifier used for amplifying the difference between two input signals
can be called as a differential amplifier. In general, these differential amplifiers
consist of two terminals namely inverting terminal and non-inverting terminal. These
inverting and non-inverting terminals are represented with – and + respectively.

The output voltage of a differential amplifier is proportional to the difference

between the two input voltages. This can be represented in equation form as
follows:

Where A= gain of the amplifier.

DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER USING TRANSISTORS

The simplest form of differential amplifier can be constructed using Bipolar Junction
Transistors as shown in the below circuit diagram. It is constructed using two
matching transistors in common emitter configuration whose emitters are tied
together.
Differential Amplifier using Transistor – Circuit Diagram

The differential amplifier circuit using transistors can be designed as shown in the
figure below which consists of two transistors T 1 and T2. These transistors and
resistors are connected as shown in the circuit diagram.
There are two inputs I1 & I2 and two outputs V1out & V2out in the differential amplifier
circuit. The input I1 is applied to the transistor T1 base terminal, input I2 is applied to
the transistor T2 base terminal. The emitter terminals of transistor T 1 and transistor
T2 are connected to a common emitter resistor. Thus, the two input signals I 1 & I2 will
affect the outputs V1out & V2out. The differential amplifier circuit consists of two supply
voltages Vcc and VEE but there is no ground terminal. Even with single voltage supply
also circuit can be operated fine as it is intended (similarly while using two supply
voltages). Hence, the opposite points of positive voltage supply & negative voltage
supply are connected to the ground.

Configurations

Based on the methods of providing input and taking output, differential amplifiers
can have four different configurations as below.

1. Single Input Unbalanced Output

2. Single Input Balanced Output
3. Dual Input Unbalanced Output
4. Dual Input Balanced Output

Single Input Unbalanced Output

In this case, only one input signal is given and the output is taken from only one of
the two collectors with respect to ground as shown below.
Differential Amplifier using Transistor – Single Input Unbalanced Output

When input signal Vin1 is applied to the transistor Q1, it’s amplified and inverted
voltage gets generated at the collector of the transistor Q1. At the same time it’s
amplified and non-inverted voltage gets generated at the collector of the transistor
Q2 as shown in the above diagram. Unbalanced output will contain unnecessary dc
content as it is a dc coupled amplifier therefore this configuration should follow by a
level translator circuit.

How the transistor Q2 also producing output voltage even though the input is
provided only to transistor Q1 ?

The effect of input voltage Vin1 is coupled to the transistor Q2 via the common
emitter resistor RE. You can see the proof of this in the AC Analysis section.

Single Input Balanced Output

As above only one input signal is given even though the output is taken from both
collectors.
 Differential Amplifier using Transistor – Single Input Balanced Output

This will give us more amplified version of output as it is combining the effect of both
transistors. There won’t be any unnecessary dc content in balanced output as the dc
contents in both outputs gets canceled each other.

 Vo = Vo1 – Vo2

Dual Input Unbalanced Output

Both inputs are given in this case ie, differential input but the output is taken
from only one of the two collectors with respect to ground as shown below.
 Differential Amplifier using Transistor – Dual Input Unbalanced Output

Amplified version of difference in both signals will be available at the output. The
voltage gain is half the gain of the dual input, balanced output differential
amplifier. Unbalanced output will contain unnecessary dc content as it is a dc
coupled amplifier therefore this configuration should follow by a level translator
circuit.

Dual Input Balanced Output

Differential Amplifier using Transistor – Dual Input Balanced Output

Above circuit consists of two identical transistors Q1 and Q2 with its emitters
coupled together. Collectors are connected to main supply VCC through collector
resistor Rc. Magnitude of power supplies VCC and –VEE will be same.

 Vo = Ad(Vin1 – Vin2)

Where Ad = differential gain

Vin1, Vin2 = input voltages

When Vin1 = Vin2, obviously the output will be zero. ie, differential amplifier
suppresses common mode signals.

For effective operation, components on either sides should be match properly. Input
signals are applied at base of each transistor and output is taken from both collector
terminals. There won’t be any unnecessary dc content in balanced output as the dc
contents in both outputs gets canceled each other.

SMALL-SIGNAL AND LARGE-SIGNAL AMPLIFIERS

The input signal to a multistage amplifier is generally small (a few mV from a
cassette or CD or a few µV from an antenna). Therefore, the first few stages of a
multistage amplifier handle small signals and have the function of only voltage
amplification. However, the last stage handles a large signal and its job is to produce
a large amount of power in order to operate the output device (e.g. speaker).

(i) Small-signal amplifiers

Those amplifiers which handle small input a.c. signals (a few µV or a few mV) are
called small-signal amplifiers. Voltage amplifiers generally fall in this class. The
small-signal amplifiers are designed to operate over the linear portion of the output
characteristics. Therefore, the transistor parameters such as current gain, input
impedance, output impedance etc. do not change as the amplitude of the signal
changes. Such amplifiers amplify the signal with little or no distortion.

(ii) Large-signal amplifiers

Those amplifiers which handle large input a.c. signals (a few volts) are called large
signal amplifiers. Power amplifiers fall in this class. The large-signal amplifiers are
designed to provide a large amount of a.c. power output so that they can operate
the output device e.g. a speaker. The main features of a large-signal amplifier or
power amplifier are the circuit’s power efficiency, the maximum amount of power
that the circuit is capable of handling and the impedance matching to the output
device. It may be noted that all large-signal amplifiers are not necessarily power
amplifiers but it is safe to say that most are. In general, where amount of power
involved is 1W or more, the amplifier is termed as power amplifier.

Difference between Voltage and Power Amplifiers

A voltage amplifier is designed to achieve maximum voltage amplification. It is,
however, not important to raise the power level. On the other hand, a power
amplifier is designed to obtain maximum output power.

1. Voltage amplifier
The voltage gain of an amplifier is given by:
In order to achieve high voltage amplification, the following features are
incorporated in such amplifiers:
(i) The transistor with high β (>100) is used in the circuit. In other words, those
transistors are employed which have thin base.
(ii) The input resistance Rin of the transistor should be quite low as compared to the
collector load RC.
(iii) A relatively high load RC is used in the collector. To permit this condition,
voltage amplifiers are always operated at low collector currents (approx. 1 mA). If
the collector current is small, we can use large RC in the collector circuit.

2. Power amplifier

A power amplifier is required to deliver a large amount of power and as such it has
to handle large current. In order to achieve high power amplification, the following
features are incorporated in such amplifiers:
(i) The size of power transistor is made considerably larger in order to dissipate the
heat produced in the transistor during operation.
(ii) The base is made thicker to handle large currents. In other words, transistors with
comparatively smaller β are used.
(iii) Transformer coupling is used for impedance matching.