Basic Differential Amplifier The differential amplifier is another BJT standard circuit.

The differential amp lifier has an internal symmetry that allows it to cancel errors common to its bo th inputs, whatever the source of those errors. For example, the shared error to be canceled could be noise picked up by both of the amplifier's inputs. This in ternal symmetry even allows you to cancel errors that arise from within the ampl ifier itself - for example, temperature effects which become harmless if they af fect both sides of the amplifier equally. When faced with common noise, the diff erential amplifier can reject it (refuse to amplify it) while amplifying the sig nal. In other words, the differential amplifier throws out the bad signal and ke eps/amplifies the good signal (differential amplifiers are a good introduction t owards understanding operational amplifiers). The general circuit and the equivalent half-circuits are shown below. In the gen eral circuit, note the physical mirror symmetry between the two circuit halves: Using the reasoning established in Physical & Electrical Symmetry, the following logic applies to Ia and Ib: Common mode Ia = Ib Currents into node T equal currents out of node T. In other words, current throu gh RTAIL is Ia + Ib = 2Ia = 2Ib. Because currents Ia and Ib both flow into RTAIL (no current flows between the tw o half-circuit), the voltage at node T is equivalent to 2Ia x RTAIL (or Ia x 2RT AIL). RTAIL is electrically present (as opposed to absent) and enters into the g ain equation. Because no current flows between the two half-circuit, the two halves act indepe ndently. The circuit above shows the equivalent half-circuit in common mode. Based on the above and on the equivalent half-circuit, Gain = - RC / (re + RE + 2RTAIL). Differential mode Ia = -Ib Currents into node T equal currents out of node T. In other words, current throu gh RTAIL is zero. Current flows entirely from one emitter to the other. Because no current flows through RTAIL (current flows entirely from one emitter to the other), the voltage at node T is effectively zero. This means that RTAIL is electrically absent and does not enter into the gain equation. The circuit above shows the equivalent half-circuit in differential mode. Based on the above and on the equivalent half-circuit, Gain = - RC /2 (re + RE). Note in the above how RTAIL affects gain in both cases. In the differential-mode , RTAIL does not enter into the equation. However, in the common-mode, RTAIL doe s enter into the gain equation and hence greatly reduces the gain in common-mode operation - exactly what we need in order to weaken or eliminate unwanted commo n (noise) signals. This means that the bigger RTAIL the better the common-mode r ejection will be. A respectable differential amplifier includes a current source in the tail to almost completely weed out the common (noise) signals. The term common-mode rejection ratio CMRR is then the ratio of response for a normal (dif ferential) mode signal to the response for a common-mode signal. The higher the CMRR the better. The relevant equations for a differential amplifier are shown b elow: