Lab 03: Differential Amplifier
Total 30 points: 20 points for lab, 5 points for well-organized report, 5 points for immaculate circuit on breadboard
NOTES:
1)Please use the basic current mirror from Lab01 for the second part of the lab (Fig. 3).
2)You can use the same chip for the diff pair and the basic current mirror.
2) You must answer the boxed questions listed under L1…L7 to get full credit. Lab report must be well-organized. You will be graded on this aspect. Use the template from Labs page.
Objectives
The purpose of this lab is build and analyze Differential amplifier based on NPN transistors.
In this lab, we will build the differential amplifier and determine Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) for two types of configurations: one with passive load and the other with an active load. A major benefit of using a differential amplifier is to get rid of noise or interference signal present in the input signal. You can use either stand-alone NPN transistors PN2222 or the array of matched NPN transistors MPQ2222 (NPN array). Note that the array will provide better matching. Please refer to datasheets at the bottom of the Labs page. If the required parameters are not listed for this current, then try to approximate them for the smallest set of IC and IB at a given VCE. Note that β=hFE. You can also look up the parameters in the SPICE model of the transistor. Please see the models at the bottom of the Labs page.
Fig. 1: Differential amplifier with passive load (iC≈ iE)
1.0 Differential Amplifier with Passive Load
Fig. 1 shows the differential amplifier which has two resistors as the passive load.
Here VCC=VEE=15 V, Ic=1mA (IE≈1mA). Q1and Q2 should be a matched pair of NPN transistors (MPQ2222 will provide better matching). You can use the basic current mirror fromLab1 to bias the diff pair.
As explained the class, the differential amplifier amplifies the differential input signal, Vid = (Vin+) - (Vin-), where the differential signals are applied at the bases of the transistors as shown in Fig. 1. The differential output can be taken across the collectors as, Vod=(Vo+)-(Vo-). Note that the differential input and output signals have 180 degphase shift between them. 180 deg phase shift corresponds to the opposite polarity.An ideal differential amplifier should have differential input signals with identical amplitudes.
1.1 Design
First select an appropriate value of Rp to provide the bias current at the emitters, iE=iC=1 mA, while considering -VEE=-15 V.Then determine the values of RC resistors. Select RC such that the transistor operates deep in the active-mode. For example, RC=10 kΩ will make the dc voltage at the collector (VC) ~10V. Collector current in each of the branches will be about half of the bias current (iC/2). It is best to make sure that the collector voltage is less than VCMmax in eq. 8.66.
L1: What are the values of Rpfor the current mirror andRCfor the diff pair?
Now we will focus on the figure-of-merit, Common-mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR). To determine CMRR, we need to calculate the common-mode gain, Acm and differential-mode gain, Ad.
Common-mode GainAcm
The amplifier exhibits the common-mode gain when both the input signals are same (common). Ideally the amplifier should completely reject the common-mode signal. However, the amplifier will not completely reject the common-mode signal due to the mismatches in the scale currents, the bias resistors, the collector resistors, the finite impedance of the current source at the collector and so on. Consequently, the common-mode gain represents the ability of the amplifier to amplify noise. So the lower the common-mode gain, the better the amplifier will be at rejecting common-mode interference or noise.
Let’s assume that we will applya 1Vdc (or 1-kHz sinusoidal signal of 2V peak-to-peak) to both inputs. Calculate common-mode gain based on these input signals (see eq. 8.99, assume 1% mismatch between the resistors).
L2: What is the calculated common-mode gain Acm of the differential amplifier?
Differential Voltage GainAd
The amplifier will exhibit differential voltage gain when you apply differential input signals (equal amplitude and opposite polarity). The differential voltage gain is the ratio of output differential voltage over the input differential voltage. This is the central theme of a differential amplifier.
For the purposes of calculation and simulation, we will assume that the two input signals have equal amplitudes and are 180 deg out of phase with each other (opposite polarity). Calculate the differential voltage gain for input signals of 20 mV peak-to-peak at 1 kHz (see eq. 8.95).
L3: What is the calculated differential voltage gain Ad of the differential amplifier?
Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)
The CMRR is a measure of the effectiveness of the differential pair in amplifying the differential signal while rejecting common-mode interference. It is simply the ratio of the magnitude differential voltage gain to the magnitude of common-mode gain (see eq. 8.100 and 8.50b). Calculate the CMRR in dB (20*log10(x)). Note: We will assume that the main contribution to CMRR is the mismatch between the collector resistors.
L4: What is the calculated common-mode rejection ratio CMRR (dB) of the differential amplifier?
1.2 Simulation
Simulate the circuit shown in Fig. 1 and determine the CMRR (in dB) of the amplifier.
Common-mode Gain
step1: Make sure to change either of collector resistor to +/- 1% of the other resistor value (e.g.
10 kΩ and 9.9kΩ represent the mismatch).
step2: Apply both the input voltages with same phase (use 2V peak-to-peak at 1 kHz). This
will make the two input signals common-mode. Run the simulation.
step3: Plot (vo+) - (vo-). Note the peak value and calculate the ratio of this value to input
amplitude. This is the common-mode gain.
L5: What is the simulated common-mode gain Acm of the differential amplifier?
Differential Voltage Gain
step1: Set the phase of one of the input voltages to 180 deg and amplitudes to small values (e.g.
10 mVamp). Run simulation.
step2: Plot (vin+)-(vin-) and (vout+)-(vout-) on the same plot, use markers and obtain the ratio of
output differential voltage to input differential voltage.
L6: What is the simulated differential voltage gain Ad of the differential amplifier?
Based on the above numbers, find the CMRR in dB (20*log10(x)).
L7: What is the simulated CMRR (dB) of the differential amplifier?
Please see the next page for the experimental set up.
1.3 Experiment
Use the shortest possible wires (ask for short jumper wires if you don’t have any) and clip the terminal wires of your components and make them as short as possible. Make your circuit very neat and organized. Please ask to see an example. You will be graded on this aspect of the experiment.
Don’t forget to check the multi-meter mode before you measure a current or voltage, if it is set incorrectly you will blow a fuse!
HIGH-Z MODE Make sure you put the function generator in High-Z mode. Otherwise
your signal amplitudes will be off by factor two.
Connecting the Current Mirror
First adjust Rp to the value you calculated so that Io=1mA at the output of the current mirror after connecting the emitters of the current mirror to -15V.Use 2.5V at the output node of the current mirror to accomplish the above. Now you are ready to connect the current mirror to your diff pair.
Common-mode Gain
Build the circuit and make sure that the diff pair is biased at ~1mA at its emitters. Apply a 1-kHz sinusoidal signal of 0.1V peak-to-peak to both inputs. Measure the amplitude of the differential output signal, vod=vo+ -vo-by connecting the two outputs to o-scope and using math menu (-). Calculate the common-mode gain (=vod/ vicm). Is the common mode gain higher or lower than your calculated and simulated values? Why?
L8: What is the measured common-mode gain Acm of the differential amplifier?
Differential Voltage Gain
To measure the differential mode gain, you will need two equal amplitude signals with opposite polarity. We can supply the needed signals with the circuit shown in Fig. 2. You can use any op-amp that accomplishes this task (alternatively you can use any other scheme that produces differential input signals). You can use a potentiometer for R2, nn which will be useful for fine adjustment. Make R2=R1=1kΩ. Connect a 1-kHz, 0.1Vamp sinusoidal signal and measure Vin+ and Vin- on the oscilloscope (you should reduce the amplitude later after you get the op-amp working). Set the scope to sum the two channels (use math function). The sum should be as close to zero as possible (since Vin+ and Vin- have opposite polarity). Adjust R2 until you achieve zero sum. Note that Vin+ and Vin- may need to pass through the blocking caps CB before connecting them to the transistors if you have dc offset from the op-amp.
Fig. 2: Circuit with op-amp for creating differential input signals
Now reduce the amplitude of the input signalVinuntil the differential output signal, Vod is sinusoidal (for no distortion, you may need to build the voltage divider to attenuate the input signal further). Measure both Vidand Vod. Remember that Vid=(Vin+)-(Vin-) and Vod=(Vo+)-(Vo-); use math function. Please make note of where the two output signals are measured in Fig. 1. Calculate the differential voltage gain as the ratio, Vod/Vid.
L9: What is the measured differential voltage gain Ad of the differential amplifier?
Based on the above numbers, find the CMRR in dB (20*log10(x)).
L10: What is the measured CMRR (dB) of the differential amplifier?
Create a table with calculated, simulated and measured values of Acm, Ad, and CMRR in your report. Comment on the discrepancies.
Part 2 Continued to the next page....
2.0 Differential Amplifier with Active Load
You will only do experimental work for this portion of the lab.
Fig. 3: Differential amplifier with active load
Build the circuit shown in Fig.3 by using the active load to improve the CMRR. Is CMRR higher than the previous circuit? If so, why?
L11: What is the measured CMRR (dB) of the differential amplifier with current mirror?
Weber State University EE3120 Microelectronics II Suketu Naik