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APPLICATION INFORMATION
FULLY DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIERS
Differential signaling offers a number of performance
advantages in high-speed analog signal processing
systems,
including
immunity
mon-mode
noise,
suppression
nonlinearities, and increased dynamic range. Fully
differential amplifiers not only serve as the primary
means of providing gain to a differential signal chain,
but also provide a monolithic solution for converting
single-ended
signals
into
easier, higher performance processing. The THS4500
family of amplifiers contains the flagship products in
Texas
Instruments'
high-performance fully differential amplifiers. Infor-
mation on fully differential amplifier fundamentals, as
well as implementation-specific information, is pres-
ented in the applications section of this data sheet to
provide a better understanding of the operation of the
THS4500 family of devices, and to simplify the design
process for designs using these amplifiers.
FULLY DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
TERMINAL FUNCTIONS
Fully differential amplifiers are typically packaged in
eight-pin packages as shown in the diagram. The
device pins include two inputs (V
IN+
,V
IN-
), two outputs
(V
OUT-
,V
OUT+
), two power supplies (V
S+
, V
S-
), an
output common-mode control pin (V
OCM
), and an
optional power-down pin (PD).
V
IN
1
2
3
4
8
7
6
5
V
OCM
V
S+
V
OUT+
V
IN+
V
S
V
OUT
PD
Fully Differential Amplifier Pin Diagram
Applications Section
Fully Differential Amplifier Terminal Functions
Input Common-Mode Voltage Range and the
THS4500 Family
Choosing the Proper Value for the Feedback and
Gain Resistors
Application Circuits Using Fully Differential Ampli-
fiers
Key Design Considerations for Interfacing to an
Analog-to-Digital Converter
Setting the Output Common-Mode Voltage With
the V
OCM
Input
Saving Power with Power-Down Functionality
Linearity: Definitions, Terminology, Circuit Tech-
niques, and Design Tradeoffs
An Abbreviated Analysis of Noise in Fully Differ-
ential Amplifiers
Printed-Circuit Board Layout Techniques for Opti-
mal Performance
Power Dissipation and Thermal Considerations
Power Supply Decoupling Techniques and Rec-
ommendations
Evaluation Fixtures, Spice Models, and Appli-
cations Support
INPUT COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE RANGE
AND THE THS4500 FAMILY
The key difference between the THS4500/1 and the
THS4502/3 is the input common-mode range for the
two devices. The input common-mode range of the
THS4504/5 is the same as the THS4500/1. The
THS4502
and
THS4503
mon-mode range that is centered around midrail, and
the THS4500 and THS4501 have an input com-
mon-mode range that is shifted to include the nega-
tive power supply rail. Selection of one or the other is
determined by the nature of the application. Specifi-
cally, the THS4500 and THS4501 are designed for
use in single-supply applications where the input
signal is ground-referenced, as depicted in Figure 75.
The THS4502 and THS4503 are designed for use in
single-supply or split-supply applications where the
input signal is centered between the power supply
voltages, as depicted in Figure 76.
THS4504
THS4505
SLOS363C–AUGUST 2002–REVISED MARCH 2004
Additional Reference Material
to
external
of
com-
even-order
differential
signals
for
expanding
line
of
The THS4504 and THS4505 are intended to be
low-cost alternatives to the THS4500/1/2/3 devices.
From a topology standpoint, the THS4504/5 have the
same architecture as the THS4500/1. Specifically, the
input common-mode range is designed to include the
negative power supply rail.
A standard configuration for the device is shown in
the figure. The functionality of a fully differential
amplifier can be imagined as two inverting amplifiers
that share a common noninverting terminal (though
the voltage is not necessarily fixed). For more infor-
mation on the basic theory of operation for fully
differential amplifiers, refer to the Texas Instruments
application
note
titled
fiers
(SLOA054).
Fully
Differential
Ampli-
have
an
input
com-
20