ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Differential Amplifier with Active

Loads
●
Active load basics
●
PNP BJT current mirror
●
Small signal model
●
Design example and simulation
●
Comparison of CMRR with resistive load design

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 1

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Differential Amp – Active Loads Basics 1

Vcc

Rc1 Rc2 Iref Q6

Vcg2 Vcc Q5 Q7
Rref
Vcg1

Rb1 Rb2 + + Iref1

Vcg2 Rref1
Vee Vcg1
Iref2
Rref2
+ Q1 Q2 +
Vi1 Vi2

Q3 Q4
RC2 ⇒ r o7
RC1 ⇒ r o6 -Vee
PROBLEM: Op. Pt. VCG1, VCG2 very
sensitive to mismatch Iref1 ≠ Iref2.

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 2

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Differential Amp – Active Loads Basics 2

IC2 IC2, IC7

slope = -1/RC2 slope = -1/ro7

VBE2
VBE2

VCE2 VCE2
VCC VCC

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 3

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Differential Amp – Active Loads Basics 3

SOLUTION: all currents referenced

PROBLEM: Op. Pt. VCG1, VCG2 very
to Iref1. Op. Pt. sensitivity eliminated.
sensitive to mismatch Iref1 ≠ Iref2.
COST: output single-ended only.
GOOD NEWS: CMRR is much
improved over resistive-load
differential amp single-ended CMRR.
2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 4
 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Quick Review - PNP BJT

Voltage bias equations:
IE
IB VCC −V BG0.7
I I E=
RE
IC  VCC −V BG −0.7
I E=
RE

Note reference current V R1−0.7 I ∗ R1−0.7

I E= =
directions! RE RE
IC
I≈
10

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 5

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Quick Review - PNP BJT

Usual Large signal equations:
IE v EB
IB VT
I
iC = I S e

IC
iC
i B=

1
i E = i C  i B= iC


i C = i E

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 6

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Quick Review - PNP – Small Signal Model

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 7

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

PNP Mirror veb

Current source Small signal model:

model Q1 = Q2: E1 ix E2

Q1 Q2 B1 C1 B2 C2
Current through rπ and gmveb1:
I

 
I veb1 1
i x=  g m veb1=  g m veb1 recall
r r 
r =
VCC =V EB1 I RREF
   
gm 1 veb1 gm
i x=  g m veb1= g m veb1= r
  re r e=
V CC −0.7 E1 E2 1
I=
RREF re1

B1 C1 B2 C2

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 8

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified Midband DM Small Signal Model

E1 E2
Q1 Q2 VCC
vo-dm gm2 veb1
B2 C2 vo-dm
vdm/2 B1=C1
Q3 Q4 B3 C3 C4 B4
vdm/2 VEE gm3 vdm/2
vdm/2 gm4 vdm/2
vdm/2
ie
I ie E3 veg E4
vdm/2 ie vdm/2
ie
Q3 = Q4
Q1 = Q2 i virtual ground
ro
vo-dm is single-ended output. veg = 0 , i = 0
NOTE:
1. Due to imbalance created by active load current mirror, only single-
ended output is available from common collector of Q2 and Q4.
2. Symmetry creates virtual ground at amplifier emitter connection.

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 9

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified DM Small Signal Model cont.

Matched NPN: Q3 = Q4 E1 E2
g m3= g m4= g mn From previous slide
r e3 =r e4 =r en B1=C1 C2
B3 C3 B2 C4 B4
r 3 =r 4 = r  n vdm/2 vdm/2
r o3 =r o4 = r on vdm/2 vdm/2
E3 E4
combining parallel E1 E2
resistances to ground gm2 veb1
virtual ground
re1∥ro1∥ro3∥rpi2 ≈ re1
C2 vo-dm
B3 C3 B1=C1=B2 C4 B4
gm3 vdm/2
Matched PNP Q1 = Q2
vdm/2 gm4 vdm/2
vdm/2
g m1= g m2= g mp
vdm/2 vdm/2
E3 E4 r e1= r e2= r ep
r 1 =r  2 =r  p
virtual ground r o1 =r o2 =r op

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 10

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified DM Small Signal Model - cont.

From previous slide with re1∥ro1∥ro3∥rpi2 ≈ re1

Matched NPN: Q3 = Q4
Matched PNP: Q1 = Q4
E1 E2

gm2 veb1

C2 vo-dm
B3 B1 C4 B4
gm3 vdm/2
vdm/2 gm4 vdm/2
vdm/2

vdm/2 vdm/2
E3 E4

virtual ground

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 11

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified DM Small Signal Model - cont.

Matched NPN: Q3 = Q4 Determine ic2 and ic4:
Matched PNP: Q1 = Q4 vdm
E2
veb1≈ g mn r ep
E1 2
ic2

B3
B1
C2
gm2 veb1

C4 B4
vo-dm
i c2= g mp veb1= g mp  g mn
vdm
2
r ep 
gm3 vdm/2
vdm/2 gm4 vdm/2
vdm/2 1 1 1
vdm/2 ic4 vdm/2 where: r ep = ≈
E4
 g mp g mp
E3
vdm
hence: i c2≈ g mn
virtual ground 2
Matched transistors has been assumed vdm
by inspection: i c4 = g mn
throughout. 2
⇒ i c2≈ i c4

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 12

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified DM Small Signal Model - cont.

Matched NPN: Q3 = Q4 Note that the Early resistors ro2 = rop
Matched PNP: Q1 = Q4 (PNP) & ro4 = ron (NPN) are in parallel,
E1
ic2 = ic ic
and are driven by two nearly equal
parallelcurrent sources.
gm2 veb1 ro
B1 ic
C2 vo-dm Ro= r op∥r on ≠ r o∥r o =
C4 2
gm3 vdm/2
vdm/2 gm4 vdm/2
vdm/2 vdm
vdm/2 vo− dm= i c2 i c4  Ro=2 g mn  Ro
vdm/2 ic4 = ic 2
vdm
vo− dm=2 g mn Ro
virtual ground 2
vo− dm
G dm= = g mn r op∥r on
From previous slide: vdm
vdm
i c2≈ g mn =i c4 vo− cm r op
2 also G cm= =−
vcm p ro
2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 13
 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified Midband CM Small Signal Model

Matched NPN: Q3 = Q4 E1 = E2 Matched PNP: Q1 = Q2
r o3 =r o4 = r on ie gm2veb1− ic4
re1∥ro1∥rpi2 ≈ re1∥rpi2 veb1 gm2 veb1
r 3 = r 4 = r  n vo-cm r o1 =r o2 =r op
B1=C1 = B2 B2 C2
r e3=r e4 =r en B3 C3 ic4 C4 B4
r 1 = r  2 =r  p
ib
n vcm ib
nvcm r e1 =r e2= r ep
g m3= g m4= g mn
vcm E3 veg E4 vcm g m1= g m2= g mp
3=4 = n ie ie 1 =2= p
i
ro i c4 ≈ ie
r op
r n vcm vo−cm= r op  g mp veb1− i e =  g  r ∥r −1 v cm
vcm= ie 2 r o i e ≈2 r o i e ⇒ i e ≈ 2 r o mp ep  b
1 2ro  p
 p  
 r ep∥r  b  vcm g g 1  1  
p
2
1 1
p p
veb1≈ r ep∥r  p  i e = r r ∥r
b 
ep epb =
mp mp p
= p
∗∗
2ro p p gmp
mp 1
1 pp  2
p 1
p p  p

re1∥rpi2 g mp g mp 1 p

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 14

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Simplified CM Small Signal Model - cont.

Matched NPN: Q3 = Q4
Matched PNP: Q1 = Q4

From previous slide

r op
vo− cm=  g  r ∥r −1 vcm
2 r o mp  b ep
1 p
r  b∥r ep=
g mp 2 p

vo −cm r op 1 p
G cm= = g −1
vcm 2 r o mp g mp 2 p
r op r op
r op  p r op −2 => G cm=− ≈−
.=  −1= 2 p  r o pr o
2 r o 2 p 2 r o 2 p

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 15

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

DM Diff Amp 2N3906 PNP Active Loads

Design: set R3 for
IREF
IREF = 10 mA
vo-dm
23.3 V
R3= =2.33 k 
10 mA

vo −dm
Adm= = g m r o2∥r o8
vin− dm
Adm = 55.5 dB @ 1 kHz
vin-dm
= 52.5 dB @ 1.43 MHz

Matched NPN: Q1 = Q2
= Q3 = Q4
Matched PNP: Q7 = Q8

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 16

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

CM Diff Amp 2N3906 PNP Active Loads

vo-cm vo− cm
Acm=
vin −cm
Acm = -79.9 dB @ 1 kHz
= -76.9 dB @ 0.54 MHz
Adm = 55.5 dB @ 1 kHz
∣Adm∣
vin-cm CMRR=20 log10  
∣ Acm∣
= Adm−dB− Acm−dB
Matched NPN: Q1 = Q2
= Q3 = Q4 = 135.4 dB @ 1 k Hz
Matched PNP: Q7 = Q8

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 17

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

CMRR Comparison

vo vo

v-dm/2 v-dm/2
v-dm/2 v-dm/2

CMRR = 66 dB @ 1 kHz CMRR = 135 dB @ 1 kHz

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 18

 ESE319 Introduction to Microelectronics

Summary
Active load advantages:
1. Minimizes number of passive elements needed.
2. Can produce very high gain in one stage.
3. Much larger single-ended CMRR then single-ended
CMRR for resistive load differential amplifier.
3. Inherent differential-to-single-ended conversion.

Active load advantages:

1. No differential output available.

2008 Kenneth R. Laker (based on P. V. Lopresti 2006) updated 18Nov08 KRL 19