Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design to help professionals and graduates upskill for real-world careers.
Fun, engaging games to boost memory, math fluency, typing speed, and English skills—perfect for learners of all ages.
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Let's talk about differential gain, which is the ability of the amplifier to amplify the difference between two inputs. Can anyone tell me the formula for calculating differential gain?
Isn't it A_d = -g_m R_C/2?
Correct, Student_1! The negative sign indicates a phase inversion. Can anyone tell me what g_m stands for?
It's the transconductance, right?
Yes! Great job, Student_2. Now, if we assume R_C is 4.7 kΩ and I_CQ is 0.5 mA, what is the differential gain?
I think we need to use g_m = I_CQ/V_T, where V_T is approximately 26 mV?
Exactly! Now let's substitute and calculate A_d together. Remember, the value helps us understand how effectively our amplifier operates.
In summary, differential gain is essential for amplifying the difference in signals and is calculated using the transconductance and collector resistor.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Now, let's move to common-mode gain. Can anyone tell me why we want this value to be small?
We want to reject signals that appear on both inputs. A low common-mode gain indicates better performance.
Exactly! The formula for common-mode gain is A_cm = -R_C/(2R_E'). What can you tell me about R_E'?
It's the effective resistance at the common emitter point.
Correct! Let's calculate A_cm using R_E as 100 kΩ. What does this indicate about our amplifier's performance?
If A_cm is very small, that means it's good at rejecting noise and common signals!
Great understanding! In summary, we desire a small common-mode gain for effective signal amplification and noise rejection.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Next, we need to understand the Common Mode Rejection Ratio, or CMRR. What does CMRR tell us about an amplifier?
It tells us how well the amplifier rejects common-mode signals while amplifying differential signals.
Exactly! The formula is CMRR = |A_d| / |A_cm|. Can someone explain why a high CMRR is desirable?
The higher the CMRR, the better the amplifier is at ignoring unwanted noise.
Correct! Let's do a quick calculation. If A_d = -45.19 and A_cm = -0.0235, what's our CMRR?
That gives us a CMRR of about 1923! And in dB, it’s around 65.6 dB.
Excellent! CMRR is crucial in practical amplifier applications. A high CMRR helps ensure clean and accurate signal amplification.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Lastly, let's discuss bandwidth and its relationship with gain. Can anyone explain the concept of GBW?
It stands for Gain-Bandwidth Product and is a constant value for a given operational amplifier.
That's right! Can anyone then tell me how GBW relates to amplifier configuration?
If we increase gain, the bandwidth decreases. They are inversely proportional!
Excellent observation! Let's summarize that: the GBW remains constant, and as we design our circuits, we need to be aware of how gain affects the bandwidth.
Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.
This section covers the essential calculations needed to assess the performance of differential amplifiers and operational amplifiers, including differential gain, common-mode gain, CMRR, and bandwidth calculations. Understanding these calculations is crucial for evaluating amplifier performance in practical applications.
In this section, we delve into the calculations necessary to understand the performance characteristics of both differential amplifiers and operational amplifiers. The key calculations include:
\[ A_d = -\frac{g_m R_C}{2} \]
where g_m is the transconductance and R_C is the collector resistor. A numerical example demonstrates how to calculate this value, highlighting the importance of accurate measurements in performance analysis.
\[ A_cm = -\frac{R_C}{2 R_E^{\prime}} \]
where *R_E' symbolizes the effective resistance at the common emitter point. Practical measures of this gain should be minimized for effective signal amplification.
\[ CMRR = \frac{|A_d|}{|A_cm|} \]
and in decibels as
\[ CMRR_{dB} = 20 \log_{10}\left(\frac{|A_d|}{|A_cm|}\right) \].
Understanding CMRR is vital for assessing the quality of differential amplifiers, where a higher CMRR indicates better noise rejection.
\[ BW_f = \frac{GBW}{|A_v|} \]
where |A_v| is the magnitude of the closed-loop gain.
These calculations form the basis for evaluating the effectiveness of amplifiers in real-world applications.
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
● For Differential Gain (A_d):
- Calculate I_CQ (quiescent collector current per transistor, from 7.1).
- Calculate Transconductance (g_m=I_CQ/V_T, where V_T=26mV).
- A_d=−(g_m * R_C)/2 = [Your Calculation]
● For Common-Mode Gain (A_cm):
- If using resistor R_E for current source: A_cm=−(R_C)/(2 * R_E) = [Your Calculation]
- If using BJT current source: (This formula is more complex, involving output resistance of current source, r_o. Often, A_cm is primarily determined experimentally due to high output resistance.)
● For CMRR:
- CMRR=|(A_d)|(A_cm)| (using measured values from 7.2) = [Your Calculation]
- CMRR_dB=20log_10(CMRR) = [Your Calculation] dB
In this section, we will go over the calculations necessary for determining the performance metrics of a BJT differential amplifier. The first step is to compute the Differential Gain (A_d). This is done by finding the quiescent collector current (I_CQ), which represents the steady-state current flowing through each transistor in the amplifier. Next, we determine the transconductance (g_m), which is a measure of how effectively the current can be converted to voltage. The final Differential Gain calculation utilizes these parameters to arrive at A_d.
Next, we turn our attention to the Common-Mode Gain (A_cm). This gain measures how well the amplifier can reject signals that are common to both inputs. If we utilized a resistor as a current source, we can calculate A_cm with the given formula. In scenarios where a BJT is used as the current source, the calculation can be more complex and usually requires experimental determination due to the high output resistance involved.
Lastly, the Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) is computed, which is an important specification that tells us how effectively the amplifier distinguishes between differential signals and common-mode signals. CMRR is expressed both as a ratio and in decibels (dB), making it easy to communicate its effectiveness.
Think of the BJT differential amplifier as a sophisticated filter used in a crowded room - it needs to pick up whispers (differential signals) while ignoring the loud chatter (common-mode signals). The equations we use to calculate A_d and A_cm serve as the tuning knobs that adjust how effectively the amplifier filters out the unwanted noise, allowing only clear communication to pass through.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
● For Inverting Amplifier:
- Theoretical Gain (A_v) = −(R_f)/(R_in) = [Your Calculation]
- Measured Gain (A_v) = (V_out(p−p))/(V_in(p−p)) = [Your Calculation]
- Calculated Bandwidth (BW) based on LM741 GBW (1 MHz typical):
BW=(GBW)/(∣A_v∣) = [Your Calculation] Hz
● For Non-Inverting Amplifier:
- Theoretical Gain (A_v) = 1+(R_1)/(R_2) = [Your Calculation]
- Measured Gain (A_v) = (V_out(p−p))/(V_in(p−p)) = [Your Calculation]
- Calculated Bandwidth (BW) based on LM741 GBW (1 MHz typical):
BW=(GBW)/(∣A_v∣) = [Your Calculation] Hz
Here, we focus on the calculations pertinent to the gain stages of operational amplifiers (Op-Amps), specifically the inverting and non-inverting amplifier configurations. For the inverting amplifier, the theoretical voltage gain (A_v) formula incorporates the feedback (R_f) and input (R_in) resistors, allowing us to anticipate how much the output voltage will deviate based on the input. We then measure the actual gain during experiments and calculate its ratio to ascertain performance accuracy. Additionally, we calculate the bandwidth (BW) of the amplifier, which shows the range of frequencies over which the amplifier can operate effectively. This is particularly important since it informs us how quickly the amplifier can handle varying signals.
For non-inverting amplifiers, the theoretical and measured gains are calculated similarly but with a slightly different approach using resistors R_1 and R_2. The relationship also dictates how input signals are amplified, maintaining a zero phase shift. BW calculations follow a comparable logic, ensuring we factor in how the gain affects the operational bandwidth.
Imagine tuning a musical instrument, where you adjust the tension of strings (akin to varying resistances in the Op-Amp). The tighter the string (lower resistance), the higher the pitch (greater gain) it produces. You want to ensure your instrument not only sounds good but also maintains its quality across various notes (frequencies), similar to how we calculate gain and bandwidth to ensure consistency in amplifier performance.
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
Differential Gain: The ability of an amplifier to amplify the difference in voltage between two input signals.
Common-Mode Gain: The amplification produced when the same signal is applied to both inputs of an amplifier.
CMRR: A metric indicating the effectiveness of a differential amplifier in suppressing common signals.
Gain-Bandwidth Product: The constant that shows the trade-off between gain and bandwidth for operational amplifiers.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
If a differential amplifier has a differential gain of -45.19 and a common-mode gain of -0.0235, its CMRR is calculated as 1923 or approximately 65.6 dB.
An operational amplifier configured for a gain of 10 has a bandwidth of 100 kHz when its GBW is 1 MHz.
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
To cut noise and enhance gain, CMRR should be your claim!
Imagine a race between two signals: one trying to sneak in (common-mode signals) and the other dodging around (differential signals); the best amplifier acts like a bouncer, only letting the right signals through.
Remember 'GCB' for Gain, Common-mode Gain, and Bandwidth when calculating amplifier performance.
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Differential Gain (A_d)
Definition:
The ratio of output voltage to differential input voltage in a differential amplifier.
Term: CommonMode Gain (A_cm)
Definition:
The output voltage produced by the amplifier when equal signals are applied to both inputs.
Term: Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)
Definition:
A measure of an amplifier's ability to reject common-mode signals relative to differential signals.
Term: Transconductance (g_m)
Definition:
A parameter that indicates the relationship between the output current and input voltage of a transistor.
Term: GainBandwidth Product (GBW)
Definition:
The constant that represents the product of the amplifier's gain and bandwidth.