EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II

Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-1

ntegrated Circuit
{C} Biasing:
Bipolar Transistor
Current 8ources
Reference: Neamen, Chapter 10
{3}
I
Learning Outcome
Able to describe and:
Analyze and design a simple two-transistor BJT
current-source circuit to produce a given bias current.
Analyze and design more sophisticated BJT current-
source circuits, such as the three-transistor circuit,
cascode circuit, Wilson circuit, and Widlar circuit.
Analyze the output resistance of the various BJT
current-source circuits.
Z
3.0) Biasing BJT Circuits to Achieve Forward-
active Mode
3
Fig 3.50: Common-emitter
circuit with a single bias
resistor in the base.
3.0.1) Single Base Resistor Biasing
Advantages
Simple
Disadvantages
No bias
stabilization, i.e. Q-
point varies with
Requires large
resistors (Ms),
i.e. uses large
area, which is an
important issue in
IC design.
3.0) Biasing BJT Circuits to Achieve Forward-
active Mode {Cont}
4
Fig 3.53: Common-emitter
circuit with an emitter
resistor and voltage divider
bias circuit in the base.
3.0.2) Voltage Divider Biasing and Bias Stability
Advantages
Smaller resistors
required (k range)
R
E
has provided
bias stabilization
and negative
feedback
Disadvantages
Resistor size is
still undesirable
for IC design
3.0) Biasing BJT Circuits to Achieve Forward-
active Mode {Cont}
b
Simple transistor circuit
biased with both positive
and negative dc voltages.
3.0.3) Positive and Negative Voltage Biasing
Advantages
Used for
differential amplifier
biasing
Allows, in certain
application, for
elimination of C
C
and allows use of
dc input voltages
as input signals
Disadvantages
Resistor size is
still undesirable
for IC design
3.0) Biasing BJT Circuits to Achieve Forward-
active Mode {Cont}
o
Bias stabilization: biasing uses
constant current sources
Avoid devices consuming large
area, i.e. avoiding the use of moderate
and large resistors (which consume
large area on IC)
3.0.4) The main issues required for biasing in IC design
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-2
7
Can be a current
source that establishes
the quiescent collector
current ICQ as shown in
Figure 10.1
Advantages:
Emitter current becomes
independent of and R
B
Collector current and C-E
voltage are independent of
transistor gain, for
reasonable values
Value of R
B
(hence R
in
) can
be increased without
affecting bias stability
Figure 10.1:
Bipolar circuit with
current-source
biasing
3.1) ntegrated Circuit Biasing
8
Simplest: Two-transistor current source
Need to improve approximation of I
O
= I
REF
Need to improve stability of I
O
by having higher
output resistance
Improved current source topologies
Basic 3-transistor: better approximation of I
O
= I
REF
Cascode: higher output resistance by factor of
Wilson: higher output resistance by factor of /2
Widlar: higher output resistance by (1 + g
m
R
E
)
3.2.1) Pre-summary of Current Source circuits
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources
9
Sum currents at the various nodes in the
circuit to find the relation between the
reference current and the bias current.
To find the output resistance, place a test
voltage at the output node and analyse the
small-signal equivalent circuit. Keep in mind
that the reference current is constant, which
may make some of the base voltage constant
or at signal ground.
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
Problem-Solving Technique
I0
Figure 10.2: (a) Basic two-transistor current source
(b) Two-transistor current source with
reference resistor R
1
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
II
Also called Current Mirror,
with two matched transistors, Q
1
& Q
2
V
BE1
= V
BE2
= V
BE
I
B1
= I
B2
I
C1
= I
C2
Q
1
is diode-connected
Reference current I
REF
established by R
1
(10.1)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
1
R
V V V
I
BE
REF
+

=
IZ
Sum currents at collector of Q
1
I
C1
= I
C2
and I
B2
= I
C2
/
Output current:
3.2.2.1) Current Relationship
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
2 2
2
B C REF
I I I + =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
= =

2
1
2
REF
C O
I
I I
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-3
I3
In actual transistors, the Early voltage (V
A
) is
finite. So, r
o
is also finite.
Then the collector current is a function of the collector-
emitter voltage. Thus, the stability of I
O
is affected by
the bias conditions in the load circuit.
Refer to Fig 10.3. The voltage V
I
applied to base of Q
0
is a dc voltage. When V
I
is changed, V
CE2
changes since
B-E voltage of Q
0
is essentially a constant. A variation in
V
CE2
in turn changes the output current I
O
, because of
the Early effect.
Fig 10.4 shows that I
O
versus V
CE2
characteristics at a
constant B-E voltage.
3.2.2.2) Significance of Output Resistance, r
o
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
I4
Fig 10.3: The dc equivalent of
simple amplifier biased with
two-transistor current source
3.2.2.2) Significance of Output Resistance, r
o
(Cont)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
Fig 10.4: Output current versus
collector-emitter voltage,
showing the Early voltage
Ib
The ratio of load current to reference current, taking
the Early effect* into account, is
*Refer to
Equation 3.16
in Neaman
where V
A
is the early voltage and the factor (1 + 2/)
accounts for the finite gain.
3.2.2.2) Significance of Output Resistance, r
o
(Cont)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
A
CE
A
CE
REF
O
V
V
V
V
I
I
1
2
1
1
2
1
1

Io
V
CE1
= V
BE
V
CE2
= V
I
V
BE0
V

The differential change in I

O
with respect to a change
in V
CE2
is
(10.7)
3.2.2.2) Significance of Output Resistance, r
o
(Cont)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
A
BE A
REF
CE
O
V
V V
I
dV
dI
1
1 1
2
1
2

I7
Assuming V
CE2
<< V
A
, then
(10.8)
where r
o
is the small-signal output resistance looking
into the collector of Q
2
3.2.2.2) Significance of Output Resistance, r
o
(Cont)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
O A
O
CE
O
r V
I
dV
dI 1
2
=
I8
# ExompIe I0.Z
# TYU I0.3 {Ex I0.Z}
3.2.2.2) Significance of Output Resistance, r
o
(Cont)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-4
I9
In practice, Q
1
and Q
2
may not be exactly identical.
If >> 1, base currents can be neglected. The current-
voltage relationship, neglecting Early effect, is then
and
Therefore, (10.10)
3.2.2.3) Mismatched Transistors
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
1
2
/
2 2
/
1 1
S
S
REF
O
V V
S C O
V V
S C REF
I
I
I
I
e I I I
e I I I
T BE
T BE
=
=
=
Z0
Thus, any deviation in the bias current from the ideal,
as a function of mismatch between Q
1
and Q
2
, is directly
related to the ratio of the reverse-saturation currents I
S1
and I
S2
.
I
S
is a strong function of temperature. Therefore, in
most IC fabrication of current sources, Q
1
and Q
2
must
be close to one another so that their temperatures will
be the same in order for the circuit to operate properly.
Also, parameters I
S1
and I
S2
are functions of cross-
sectional area of B-E junctions. Hence, Equation
(10.10) allows scaling of I
O
with respect to I
REF
by
having transistors of different sizes.
3.2.2.3) Mismatched Transistors (Cont)
3.2.2) Two-transistor Current Source (Cont)
ZI
Current source circuits that have improved
load current stability against changes in and
changes in output transistor collector voltage
are:
Basic Three-Transistor Current Source: better
approximation of I
O
= I
REF
Cascode Current Source: higher output
resistance by factor of
Wilson Current Source: higher output
resistance by factor of /2
Widlar Current Source: higher output resistance
by (1 + g
m
R
E
)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
ZZ
3.2.3.1) Basic Three-Transistor Current Source
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Fig 10.5: Basic three-
transistor current source
Assume that all
transistors are identical:
V
BE1
= V
BE2
= V
BE
I
B1
= I
B2
I
C1
= I
C2

1
=
2
=
Note: Current in Q
3
is
substantially smaller
than in either Q
1
and Q
2
,
i.e.
3
<
Z3
Sum currents at collector of Q
1
I
REF
= I
C1
+ I
B3
I
C1
= I
C2
and I
B2
= I
C2
/
I
B1
= I
B2
, I
E3
= 2 I
B2
, I
E3
= (1+
3
)I
B3
Therefore,
3.2.3.1) Basic Three-Transistor Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
+
+ =
+
+ =
+
+ =
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
1
3
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
1


C
C
C REF
B
C
E
C REF
I
I
I I
I
I
I
I I
Z4
Assuming V
BE3
= V
BE
, Reference Current is
Advantages:
Better approximation of I
O
to I
REF
I
O
is less sensitive to variation in
3.2.3.1) Basic Three-Transistor Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
1 1
3
2
R
V V V
R
V V V V
I
BE BE BE
REF
+ +

=
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-5
Zb
Fig 10.6:
(a) Two-transistor
current mirror
(b) Three-transistor
current mirror
(c) Variation in bias
currents with a
change in
3.2.3.1) Basic Three-Transistor Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Zo
Output Resistance, r
O
The output resistance looking into the
collector of output transistor Q
2
of the basic
3-transistor shown in Fig 10.5 is the same as
that of the 2-transistor current source, that is
(10.18)
This means any mismatch between Q
1
and Q
2
produces a deviation in the bias
current from the ideal, as given by Equation
(10.10).
3.2.3.1) Basic Three-Transistor Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
2 2
1
O CE
O
r dV
dI
=
Z7
3.2.3.2) Cascode Current Source
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Fig 10.7: (a) Bipolar cascode current mirror
(b) Small-signal equivalent circuit
Current-source circuits with R
o
much greater than that
of the two-transistor circuit, such as the cascode circuit.
Z8
For a constant I
REF
, base voltages of Q
2
and
Q
4
are constant, which implies these terminals
are at signal ground.
Fig 10.7(b) can be rearranged as follows.
3.2.3.2) Cascode Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Z9
Since g
m2
V
be2
= 0, then
V
be4
= - I
x
(r
o2
|| r
4
)
Summing currents at output node yields
3.2.3.2) Cascode Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
( )
( )
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
4
4 2
4 2 4
4
4 2
4 4
||
||
||
o
o x x
o x m x
o
o x x
be m x
r
r r I V
r r I g I
r
r r I V
V g I

30
Combining terms
(10.20)
The output resistance has increased by a
factor of compared to the 2-transistor current
source, which increases the stability of the
current source with changes in output voltage.
3.2.3.2) Cascode Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
( )
4 4 4
1
o o
x
x
O
r r r
I
V
R

+ + = =
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-6
3I
3.2.3.3) Wilson Current Source
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Another configuration of a 3-transistor current source.
Fig 10.8: Wilson
current source
Assume that all transistors
are identical:
V
BE1
= V
BE2
= V
BE
I
B1
= I
B2
I
C1
= I
C2
Current levels in all three
transistors are nearly the
same, therefore

1
=
2
=
3
=
3Z
3.2.3.3) Wilson Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Sum currents at the collector of Q
1
I
REF
= I
C1
+ I
B3
(10.21)
At the emitter of Q
3
(10.22)
At the collector of Q
2
(10.23)
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = + =

2
1 2
2 2 2 3 C B C E
I I I I
3 3
3
2
2
1 1
2
1
1
2
1
C C
E
C
I I
I
I
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
| +

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=

33
3.2.3.3) Wilson Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Replacing I
C1
with I
C2
I
REF
= I
C2
+ I
B3
(10.24)
Solve for the output current:
(10.25)
) 2 (
2
1
1
3
+
+
= =
REF O C
I I I

3
3
2
1
C
C REF
I
I I +
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
34
3.2.3.3) Wilson Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Equation (10.25) is essentially the
same as that of previous 3-transistor
current source.
The difference between the two 3-
transistor current-source circuits is
the output resistance.
3b
3.2.3.3) Wilson Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
In Wilson current source: the output
resistance looking into the collector of Q
3
is
which is approximately a factor /2 larger than
that of either the 2-transistor source or the basic
3-transistor source.
This means that, in the Wilson current source,
the change in bias current I
O
with a change in
output collector voltage is much smaller.
) 2 / ( 2 /
3 3

o o O
r r R =
3o
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
In all the previous current source circuits, the load
current and reference currents have been nearly equal.
For the two-transistor current source in Fig 10.2(a), if a
load current of I
O
= 10A is required, for V
+
= 5V and V
--
=
-5V, the resistance value needed is
In ICs, resistors on the order of 1M require large
areas and are difficult to fabricate accurately.
Therefore, need to limit IC resistor values to the low
k range.
=

+
k
I
V V V
R
REF
BE
930
10 10
) 5 ( 7 . 0 5
6 1
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-7
37
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
A Widlar current source, Fig 10.9,
meets the objective of limiting IC
resistor values to the low k range.
A voltage difference is produced
across resistor R
E
, so that the B-E
voltage of Q
2
is less than the B-E
voltage of Q
1
.
A smaller B-E voltage produces a
smaller collector current, which in turn
means that the load current I
O
is less
than the reference current I
REF
.
Fig 10.9: Widlar
current source
38
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Current Relationship
If Q
1
and Q
2
are identical and if >>1 for both
transistors, then
and
Thus,
and
) ln(
) ln(
2
1
/
2
/
1
2
1
S
O
T BE
S
REF
T BE
V V
S C O
V V
S C REF
I
I
V V
I
I
V V
e I I I
e I I I
T BE
T BE
=
=
= =
=
39
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Combining: (10.28)
From the circuit: (10.29)
Finally: (10.30)
) ln(
) ln(
2 2 1
2 1
O
REF
T E O
E O E E BE BE
O
REF
T BE BE
I
I
V R I
R I R I V V
I
I
V V V
=
=
=
Equation (10.30) gives the relationship
between the reference and bias currents.
40
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Output Resistance
The output resistance looking into the
collector of Q
2
in Fig 10.9 can be expressed
as
(10.31)
This output resistance can be determined by
using the small-signal equivalent circuit in
Fig 10.10(a).
O C
O
R dV
dI 1
2
=
4I
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Fig 10.10(a): Small-signal equivalent circuit for
determining output resistance of Widlar current source
4Z
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
KCL equation at the base of Q
1
Noting V
1
=V
x1
:
or
1 1
1
1 1
1 1
1
1
1 1
1
1
1 1
1
1 1
1
1
1
|| ||
1
||
||
1 1
||
R r
g
r R
R r
V
g
r V
I
R
R r
V
V g
r
V
I
o
m
o
o
x
m
x
x
o
o
x
m
x
x

=
+ + = =
+ + =
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-8
43
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Next calculate the approximate value for R
o1
If I
REF
= 1mA, for = 100
then r
1
= 2.6k and g
m1
= 38.5mA/V
Assume R
1
= 9.3k and r
o1
=
then R
o1
0.026k = 26
For I
O
= 12A, r
2
= 217k
R
o1
is in series with r
2
and R
o1
<< r
2
so can neglect the effect of R
o1
base of Q
1
is
essentially at signal ground.
44
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Fig 10.10(b): Simplified Norton equivalent circuit for
determining output resistance
Fig 10.10(c): Thevenin equivalent circuit
Then, determine output resistance at collector of Q
2
using simplified equivalent circuits as follows.
4b
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Resistances r
2
and R
E
are in parallel.
Define
Then
Normally, (1/r
o2
) << g
m2
; therefore
(10.37) ( )
E m o o
o
m E o o
x
x
E x o m o x x
E x
E E
R g r R
r
g R r R
I
V
R I V r g r I V
R I V
r R R
' 1
1
' 1
'
'
|| '
2 2
2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2
2
+
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + = =
+ =
=
=

4o
3.2.3.4) Widlar Current Source (Cont)
3.2.3) Improved Current-Source Circuits (Cont)
Hence, the output resistance (R
o
) of the Widlar
current source is a factor (1 + g
m2
R
E
) larger
than that of the simple two-transistor current
source.
The stability of the load current, as a function
of a change in output voltage, is improved in the
Widlar current source, compared to the simple
two-transistor current source.
47
The B-E voltage of reference transistor Q
R
can also
be applied to multiple output transistors to generate
multiple load currents, as shown in Fig 10.12
3.2.4) Multitransistor Current Mirrors
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
Fig 10.12: Multitransistor
current mirror
The relationship between
each load current and I
REF
,
assuming all transistors are
matched and V
A
= , is

) 1 (
1
....
2 1
N
I
I I I
REF
ON O O
+
+
= = = =
48
The collector of multiple output transistors can be
connected together, changing the load current versus
current relationship. An example of such a circuit is
shown in Fig 10.13
3.2.4) Multitransistor Current Mirrors (Cont)
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
Fig 10.13: Multioutput transistor
current source
Assume all transistors
are matched. If is very
large the base currents
can be neglected. Then,
REF O
REF
I I
I I I I
3
3 2 1
=
= = =

EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-9
49
Transistors are connected in parallel to increase the
effective B-E area of the device, hence increasing the
load current.
Circuit symbols as shown in Fig 10.14 can be used to
indicate parallel output transistors.
3.2.4) Multitransistor Current Mirrors (Cont)
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
Fig 10.14: Equivalent circuit symbols
(a) two transistors in parallel,
(b) three transistors in parallel, and
(c) N transistors in parallel
b0
Generalized Current Mirror
As shown in Fig 10.15
Obtain several I
O
s as
multiples of a single I
REF
o pnp to source current
o npn to sink current
Effect of finite :
I
O
to be less than I
REF
since
I
REF
supplies all base currents.
It becomes more severe as
more transistors are added.
3.2.4) Multitransistor Current Mirrors {Cont}
Fig 10.15: Generalised
current mirror
bI
The minimum output voltage, V
O
(min), of
the current mirror influences the maximum
symmetrical output voltage, V
OUT
, swing of
the load circuit being biased.
The minimum output voltage for the two-
transistor current source is:
V
O
(min) = V
C2
= V
-
+ V
CE2
(sat)
where V
CE2
(sat) may be in the order of
0.1 to 0.3 V
3.2.5) Output Voltage Swing
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
bZ
For the cascode and Wilson current
sources:
V
O
(min) = V
C2
= V
-
+ V
BE
+ V
CE2
(sat)
The value may be in the order of 0.7 to 0.9 V
Note: Increase in V
O
(min) means reduced
maximum output voltage swing of the load
circuit, which is critical in the low-power
applications.
3.2.5) Output Voltage Swing (Cont)
3.2) Bipolar Transistor Current 8ources {Cont}
b3
3.3.1) Load Current and Output Resistance
3.3) 8ummary of Current 8ource Circuits
b4
3.3.2) Comparison of Current Source Circuits
3.3) 8ummary of Current 8ource Circuits {Cont}
Widlar Tronsform, Two-transistor
EEEB273 Electronics Analysis & Design II
Lecturer: Dr Jamaludin Bin Omar 3-10
bb
3.3.2) Comparison of Current Source Circuits (Cont)
3.3) 8ummary of Current 8ource Circuits {Cont}
Two-transistor Cascode Tronsform,
bo
3.3.2) Comparison of Current Source Circuits (Cont)
3.3) 8ummary of Current 8ource Circuits {Cont}
Two-transistor Three-transistor Tronsform,
b7
3.3.2) Comparison of Current Source Circuits (Cont)
3.3) 8ummary of Current 8ource Circuits {Cont}
Three-transistor Wilson Tronsform,
b8
Previous Ouestion: Test 2 Semester 2 2000/01
Assume that all transistors to be matched, with current gain .
a) Starting with current I at collector of Q1, find current at locations
marked with number 1 to number 12 in Figure above, expressed
in terms of I and . (18 marks)
b) Find current at I
REF
and I
O
in terms of I and . Find I
O
in terms of
I
REF.
(4.5 marks)
c) Calculate I
O
when I
REF
= 7 mA and = 50. (2.5 marks)