Power Supply Rejection vs Common Mode Rejection in Analog Electronics - What is The Difference?

Last Updated Jan 15, 2025

Common mode rejection measures a device's ability to eliminate noise or interference present simultaneously on both input lines, enhancing signal accuracy in differential amplifiers. Power supply rejection evaluates how well a circuit can maintain stable operation despite fluctuations in its power supply voltage; continue reading to understand how these factors impact your electronic system's performance.

Table of Comparison

Feature Common Mode Rejection (CMR) Power Supply Rejection (PSR)
Definition Ability to reject input signals common to both input terminals Ability to reject variations and noise from power supply voltage
Parameter Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR)
Frequency Dependency Decreases with increasing frequency Decreases with increasing frequency
Impact Reduces noise and interference from common signals Minimizes power supply noise affecting output
Measurement Unit Decibels (dB) Decibels (dB)
Typical Application Instrumentation amplifiers, differential amplifiers Voltage regulators, operational amplifiers

Introduction to Common Mode Rejection and Power Supply Rejection

Common Mode Rejection (CMR) measures an amplifier's ability to reject input signals common to both input terminals, minimizing noise and interference from external sources. Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) quantifies how effectively a circuit resists variations or noise in its power supply voltage, ensuring stable output performance. Understanding these parameters helps you optimize circuit design for noise immunity and signal integrity in analog systems.

Defining Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)

Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) quantifies an amplifier's ability to reject input signals common to both input terminals, minimizing interference from noise or electromagnetic disturbances. It is expressed as the ratio of differential gain to common-mode gain, typically measured in decibels (dB). High CMRR values indicate superior performance in rejecting common-mode signals, crucial for precision analog circuits.

Understanding Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR)

Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) measures an amplifier's ability to suppress variations in its power supply voltage from appearing at its output, typically expressed in decibels (dB). PSRR is critical in sensitive analog circuits where power supply noise can degrade signal integrity, directly impacting overall system performance. Unlike Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR), which focuses on rejecting common-mode signals at the input, PSRR specifically quantifies immunity to power supply fluctuations, ensuring stable and accurate output despite supply voltage changes.

Key Differences Between CMRR and PSRR

Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) measures an amplifier's ability to reject input signals common to both input terminals, ensuring accuracy by minimizing noise interference. Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) quantifies the amplifier's capability to suppress variations or noise from the power supply voltage affecting the output signal. While CMRR addresses input signal noise immunity, PSRR focuses on the stability and purity of the output despite fluctuations in the power supply.

Importance of CMRR in Analog Circuit Design

Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) is crucial in analog circuit design as it quantifies an amplifier's ability to reject input signals common to both input terminals, effectively minimizing noise and interference. High CMRR ensures accurate differential signal amplification by distinguishing desired signals from common-mode voltages, enhancing measurement precision and circuit stability. Unlike Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR), which measures immunity to power supply variations, CMRR specifically targets noise rejection at the input stage, making it vital for applications like sensor interfaces and instrumentation amplifiers.

Role of PSRR in Power Integrity

Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) measures a circuit's ability to suppress power supply noise, playing a critical role in maintaining power integrity by ensuring stable voltage levels and reducing signal distortion. Common mode rejection focuses on eliminating noise common to both input lines in differential signaling, but PSRR directly addresses fluctuations in the power supply that can degrade overall system performance. High PSRR values are essential for sensitive analog and mixed-signal circuits where power supply variations can lead to significant errors and reduced signal fidelity.

Factors Affecting Common Mode Rejection

Common mode rejection (CMR) is influenced by input impedance matching, amplifier design, and the quality of differential signal paths; mismatches and asymmetries reduce the CMR ratio, allowing common mode signals to convert into differential errors. Temperature variations and component tolerances also degrade common mode rejection by altering transistor gain and offset voltages in operational amplifiers. Precise PCB layout and high-quality differential amplifiers enhance CMR, maintaining signal integrity despite noise or interference.

Methods to Improve Power Supply Rejection

Improving power supply rejection typically involves using low-dropout (LDO) regulators, low-noise voltage references, and carefully designed filtering with bypass capacitors to minimize supply voltage fluctuations. Advanced techniques include implementing differential amplifier architectures with high common-mode rejection ratios (CMRR) and employing power supply isolation through dedicated biasing and layout optimization to reduce coupling noise. Selecting components with inherently high power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) specifications and applying proper grounding strategies also significantly enhance overall power supply noise immunity.

Real-world Applications: CMRR vs PSRR

In real-world applications, Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) is crucial for minimizing noise and interference in differential amplifier circuits, especially in sensor signal processing where external electromagnetic interference is common. Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) ensures stable operation of analog circuits by filtering out ripple and variations from the power supply, which is vital in battery-powered or low-noise instrumentation systems. Your choice between prioritizing CMRR or PSRR depends on whether the circuit is more exposed to common-mode signals or power supply fluctuations in its operational environment.

Conclusion: Selecting for Optimal Rejection Performance

Selecting components with high common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) is essential for minimizing noise interference in balanced signal environments, while power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) ensures stability by filtering supply voltage fluctuations. Achieving optimal rejection performance requires balancing CMRR and PSRR based on specific circuit demands, such as sensor accuracy or audio fidelity. Prioritizing devices with both high CMRR and PSRR ratings yields improved signal integrity and enhanced overall system reliability.

common mode rejection vs power supply rejection Infographic

Power Supply Rejection vs Common Mode Rejection in Analog Electronics - What is The Difference?


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