Module 7

Unit 7
Differential and Operational Amplifiers

Review Question:-
1. How is basic structure of a differential amplifier different from, for example, a
conventional RC coupled common emitter amplifier?
2. In what different configurations can a differential amplifier be used?
3. How are the two inputs of an differential amplifier different? Explain inverting and
non-inverting nature of inputs.
4. Symmetry in construction of two halves of differential amplifier is emphasized. Give
reasons.
5. What is tail current? Efforts are made and several circuits suggested for the
constancy of tail current. Discuss.
6. The input impedance of differential amplifier is much higher (~ M ) than a
conventional common emitter amplifiers. Explain.
7. Define an ideal operational amplifier.
8. Draw the approximate block diagram of an op amp giving various stages of the
amplifier.
9. An op amp is rarely used in open loop (i.e. without feedback) for linear amplifying
applications. Why?
10. Inverting input is a virtual ground in op amp. What does it mean and what is its
significance?
11. What reasons would you assign for very wide use of op amps in analog and digital
circuits?
12. Define common mode rejection ratio(CMRR). Give its significance in device
performance.
13. Define slew rate. When does it start showing its effect on amplifier performance.
14. How does input off-set voltage in an op amp arise? And how can it be corrected?
 Problems:
7.1 Estimate dc emitter current in each transistor of differential amplifier shown in fig. How
much is dc voltage from each collector to ground? How much is Vout?

+12V

RC 16k RC 16k

vi1 Vout
+ +
VCE1 VCE2
- - vi2

IT

RE 24k

-12V
Solution:-
The tail current through 24k resistor is,

VEE VBE VEE

The emitter current, IE, in each transistor is,

1 0.5 mA
IE IT 0.25 mA
2 2
IE 0.25 mA

Since IC = IE, voltage summation in the output circuit gives,

VCC = ICRC + VCE1

VCE1 = VCC ICRC = 12 0.25X10-3 X 16X103

Or, VCE1 = 8.0 V = VCE2 (due to symmetry)

Then,

Vout = VCE1 VCE2 = 8 - 8 = 0V

Solution:-
R1 RF
vi

+VCC

-
vo
+

-VEE

Figure shows the circuit for an inverting amplifier.

Since for an inverting amplifier, the input impedance Zi is,

Zi = R1 = 5k (desired)

Therefore, R1 = 5k

Further, the gain AV of inverting amplifier is,

RF
AV
R1

And, AV desired is 120, R1 = 5k

Therefore,

RF = AV.R1 = 120 X 5k

or, RF = 600 k
7.3 Find out the voltage gain of the non-inverting amplifier shown in fig.

+VC
C

+ vo
vi -

a ~ -
1 VEE
99
k k
R R
1 2

Solution:-
The voltage gain of a non-inverting amplifier is,

RF
AV 1
R1
99 k
1
1k
or AV 100
7.4 In the amplifier circuit shown in fig., if open loop gain and open loop band width of the
op amp respectively are 105 and 10 HZ, Calculate the bandwidth of feedback amplifier (in
fig.).
+VCC

+ vo
vi -

a ~ -VEE

1k 99k

R1 R2

Solution:-
If open loop band width is f2, the band width with feedback, f2(FB) is given by

f2(FB) = f2(1 + AB) f2.AB because AB>>1

Now, A = 105 (given)

And the gain of feedback network, B in the circuit shown in fig. is

R1 1k 1 2
B 10
R1 RF 1k 99k 100

Then,

f2(FB) = 10 X 105 X 10-2 HZ

or, f2(FB) = 10kHZ

V0 = - (3V1 + V2 + 0.2V3)

What is the approximate value of the compensating resistor R?

v1 R1 RF(=30k)
a

R2
v2
a +VCC
R3
v3
- vo
a
+

-VEE
R
Solution:-
The output voltage, V0, for the summing amplifier is,

RF RF RF
V0 V1 V2 V3
R1 R2 R3

Thus for the desired output,

RF 30k
3 , or 3
R1 R1
or , R1 10 k

Similarly,

RF
1 , or R2 RF 30 k
R2
or , R2 30 k

And,

RF RF 30 k
0.2 or , R3
R3 0.2 0.2
or R3 150 k

And,

R = R1 R2 R3 = 10k 30k 150k

or, R = 7.0k
7.6 Determine the output voltage in the circuit shown in fig. If V a= 5V, Vb= -2V and Vc = 3b

1k RF 2k

R1

+VCC
- vo
va 1k
+
a
R1 -VEE
vb 1k
a
R2
vc 1k
a
R3
Solution:-
In the amplifier circuit shown in fig. Since the resistors R1, R2, and R3 are all equal to 1k,
the voltage V1, at non-inverting input terminal will be average of the three voltages, V a, Vb,
and Vc.

Thus,

Va Vb Vc 5V 2V 3V
V1 2V
3 3

And the gain for non-inverting amplifier, AV, is

V0 RF
AV 1
V1 R
RF 2k
or , V0 1 V1 1 2V
R 1k
or , V0 6V
7.7 Differential gain Ad, of an op amp measures 100. In the measurement of common-
mode gain experiment when 1.0V is applied common to both the inputs, output voltage
measured is 0.01V. How much is common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR)?

Solution:-
By definition, common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) is

Ad
CMRR (in dB) 20log10
Acm

Where Ad is gain in differential mode which is given as 100.

And, the gain in common mode, ACM is,

V0 0.01V 2
ACM 10
Vi ( c m ) 1.0V

Therefore,

100
CMRR 20log10
10 2
20log10 (104 )

or, CMRR = 20 X 4 = 80 dB

CMRR = 80 dB
 7.8 Figure shows a low-pass filter. Calculate the value of feedback resistor RF so that
band-pass gain is 100. Also calculate the value of resistor R to get cut-off frequency of
2kHZ.

1k RF

+VCC
- vo
R
+
vi
-VEE
a
~
0.2 F
Solution:-
The gain in band-pass region is that of non-inverting amplifier and it is,

RF
AV 1
R1
AV 100, R1 1k , then
RF
100 1
1k
or , RF 99k

The cut-off frequency, f, for low-pass fitter is given by

1
f
2 RC
1 1
or , R
2 fC 2 3.14 2 103 0.2 10 6

or , R 398
(Pr actically R 400 )