What is CMRR?
The Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) is a key specification for differential amplifiers and operational amplifiers. It measures the amplifier's ability to reject signals that appear simultaneously and in-phase on both inputs while amplifying the difference between the inputs.
Formula
The CMRR is calculated using the following formula:
$$\text{CMRR} = \frac{\text{Differential Gain}}{\text{Common Mode Gain}}$$
Where:
- Differential Gain is the amplification applied to the difference between the two input signals
- Common Mode Gain is the amplification (or attenuation) applied to signals common to both inputs
Example Calculation
Calculate the CMRR when:
- Differential Gain = 9.3
- Common Mode Gain = 4.5
$$\text{CMRR} = \frac{9.3}{4.5} = 2.07$$
The CMRR is 2.07, indicating the amplifier's differential gain is about twice its common mode gain.
Applications
CMRR is important in:
- Operational amplifiers - Higher CMRR means better noise rejection
- Instrumentation amplifiers - Critical for measuring small differential signals in noisy environments
- Audio equipment - Helps eliminate noise and interference
- Medical equipment - Essential for accurate biological signal measurements