Electronics

Differential Amplifier

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This presentation will cover...

What is inside of an Op Amp?

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This is a long presentation...

Do some breaks between parts...

If you need an Op Amp brief review...

If you are familiar with Op Amps...

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Before continuing...

Brief Op Amp Description...

It is a 5 terminal element.

Positive Input

Negative Input

Output

(Vcc or V+)

\( V_P \)

\(V_N\)

Positive Power Supply

Negative Power Supply

(Vee or V-)

Note: click on the arrows

The power supply can sometimes be excluded from the symbol...

Explicit Power Supply

Implicit Power Supply

(3 terminal element)

(5 terminal element)

Op Amps can be connected...

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Open Loop

Op Amp behaves as a comparator...

(Circuit Link)

V_{out}=\left( V_P-V_N \right)\cdot A

Open Loop Gain (very high)

Output Saturates all the time either to Vcc or Vee

Note: click on the arrows

With Feedback

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Positive Feedback...

(Circuit Link)

Behaves similar to the Op Amp in comparator but it introduces two points of comparison rather than one.

Negative Feedback...

Inverter

Goal: control the output gain and perform math operations.

Non-Inverter

Summing

Difference

Buffer

Part 1

(Building a Comparator)

Our First Goal...

Build a comparator...

...with BJTs

If you need a BJT configurations review...

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BJT Modes...

Amplifiers

Saturation or Cut Off

Active

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On/Off Configurations...

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

On/Off Configurations...

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

  • Digital Logic

  • H-Bridge

  • Oscillators

  • Switches

(Circuit Link)

(RTL NAND)

On/Off Configurations...

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

  • Digital Logic

  • H-Bridge

  • Oscillators

  • Switches

(Circuit Link)

(Colpitts)

On/Off Configurations...

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

  • Digital Logic

  • H-Bridge

  • Oscillators

  • Switches

(Under Development)

(Circuit Link)

On/Off Configurations...

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

  • Digital Logic

  • H-Bridge

  • Oscillators

  • Switches

(Circuit Link)

Common Configurations...

b

c

e

Individual transistor

Multistage Configurations...

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

Two or more transistors

Multistage Configurations...

  • Darlington

  • Differential

  • Push-Pull

  • Current Mirror

(Circuit Link)

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

Two or more transistors

Multistage Configurations...

  • Darlington

  • Differential

  • Push-Pull

  • Current Mirror

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

Two or more transistors

(Circuit Link)

Multistage Configurations...

  • Darlington

  • Differential

  • Push-Pull

  • Current Mirror

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

Two or more transistors

(Circuit Link)

Multistage Configurations...

  • Darlington

  • Differential

  • Push-Pull

  • Current Mirror

Note: click on each name to see a circuit example.

Two or more transistors

(Circuit Link)

From the Comparator Equation...

We want to perform a subtraction and amplify that result.

V_{out}= \color{lime} \left( V_P-V_N \right) \color{cyan} \cdot A

Open Loop Gain (very high)

Let's start by using a single transistor first (common configuration)

(click me)

From the 3 Common Configurations...

CE and CB are suitable for amplification...

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CE Simulation

Signal in

Signal out

(Circuit Link)

\color{red} V_{out}
\color{lime} V_{in}
\color{red} V_{out} = \color{lime} - V_{in}

Improved Version with Amplification

CB Simulation

Signal out

Signal in

\color{red} V_{out}
\color{lime} V_{in}
\color{red} V_{out} = \color{lime} V_{in}

(Circuit Link)

CC Simulation

Signal out

Signal in

(Circuit Link)

The Comparator

Has 2 inputs and 1 output...

But CE and CB have only 1 input and 1 output...

Signal out

Signal in

Signal in

Signal out

\color{red} V_{out}
\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}

The Comparator

What if we combine CE with CB...

Signal out

Signal in

Signal in

Signal out

\color{red} V_{out} = \color{lime} - V_{in}
\color{red} V_{out} = \color{lime} V_{in}
\color{red} V_{out}
\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}

(click me)

Signal is on the Current too...

Notice on how the \(V_{BE}\) of the transistor performs the subtraction between the inputs...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
V_{BE} = V_B - V_E = V_n - V_p
I_{B} = I_s \cdot e^{\frac{V_{BE}}{V_T}}

And that \(V_{BE}\) is reflected on the transistor current...

I_{C} = \beta \cdot I_{B}

Let's Simulate...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

(click me)

Expected Result

(click me)

Saturating: Bias Issue

(Circuit Link)

(More detailed explanation here)

Expected Result

V_{out} = sin(2\pi 50t) - sin(2\pi 40t)

More Detail...

(Circuit Link)

Good signal at \(V_{BE}\)

V_{out} = V_{CC} - I_C \cdot R

Signal too close to \(V_{CC}\)

Output Saturated

Iteration 1...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

(Circuit Link)

(click me)

DC Coupling issue

Bias circuit added

Iteration 2...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

(Circuit Link)

AC Coupled

Impedance issue

(click me)

Iteration 3...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

Fix Impedance

Iteration 3...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

Impedance Fixed

(Circuit Link)

(click me)

Bias issue again

Iteration 3...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

Bias fixed

(Circuit Link)

(click me)

Interesting Fact...

Interesting Fact...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

(Circuit Link)

If we instead DC couple the now symmetric inputs the biasing becomes unnecessary...

Iteration 4...

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out}

Good enough

DC Coupled

(Circuit Link)

Expected Result

Bias Resistors Removed

Differential Amplifier (Single End)

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}
\color{red} V_{out} \color{white} = \color{lime} V_n - V_p

(Circuit Link)

Test with Different Inputs...

\color{lime} V_{p} = sin(2\pi 40t) + sin(2\pi 200t)
\color{lime} V_{n} = sin(2\pi 40t)
\color{red} V_{out} = -sin(2\pi 200t)

(Circuit Link)

V_{out} = V_n - V_p

Long-Tailed Pair

\color{lime} V_{p}
\color{lime} V_{n}

(Circuit Link)

\color{red} V_{out1} \color{white} = \color{lime} V_n - V_p
\color{red} V_{out2} \color{white} = \color{lime} V_p - V_n

(Two Outputs)

Part 2

(Building Op Amp Stages)

Do a break if needed...

Steps...

1. Improve the Single End Configuration

2. Build the First Stage

3. Build the Second Stage

4. Build the Third Stage

5. Some Adjustments

Challenges

Resistors Noise

Load Impedance

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Resistors Noise

Can we minimize the resistors noise?

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Resistors Noise

Johnson-Nyquist noise or thermal noise, is the electronic noise generated by the thermal agitation of the charge carriers inside an electrical conductor at equilibrium.

Thermal noise is present in all electrical circuits.

(click me)

Resistors Noise Model

We can include a model of the Johnson-Nyquist noise into any circuit simulation...

Electronics_Differential_Amplifier

By Goncalo Martins

Electronics_Differential_Amplifier

Differential Amplifier Explanation

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