Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts Common Source Stage Source Follower Common Gate Stage Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady University of Paris VI

References
B. Razavi, Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits, McGraw-Hill, 2001.

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts Common Source Stage Source Follower Common Gate Stage Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady University of Paris VI

Basic Concepts I
Amplification is an essential function in most analog circuits ! Why do we amplify a signal ? The signal is too small to drive a load To overcome the noise of a subsequent stage Amplification plays a critical role in feedback systems In this lecture: Low frequency behavior of single stage CMOS amplifiers: Common Source, Common Gate, Source Follower, ... Large and small signal analysis. We begin with a simple model and gradually add 2nd order effects Understand basic building blocks for more complex systems.
H. Aboushady University of Paris VI

Approximation of a nonlinear system

Input-Output Characteristic of a nonlinear system

y (t ) 0 + 1 x (t ) + 2 x 2 (t ) + ... + n x n (t )
In a sufficiently narrow range:

x1 x x2

y (t ) 0 + 1 x(t )

where 0 can be considered the operating (bias) point and 1 the small signal gain

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Analog Design Octagon

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts Common Source Stage Source Follower Common Gate Stage Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady University of Paris VI

Common Source Stage with Resistive Load

Vout = VDD RD I D
M1 in the saturation region:

Vout = VDD RD

nCox W

M1 in limit of saturation: Vin1 VTH M1 in the linear region:

H. Aboushady

2 L C W (Vin1 VTH ) 2 = VDD RD n ox 2 L

(Vin VTH ) 2

Vout = VDD RD nCox

W L

V2 (Vin VTH )Vout out 2

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Common Source Stage with Resistive Load

M1 in deep linear region:

Vout = VDD

Ron VDD = W Ron + RD 1 + C RD (Vin VTH ) n ox L

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H. Aboushady

Common Source Stage with Resistive Load

M1 in the saturation region:

Vout = VDD RD

nCox W
2 L

(Vin VTH ) 2

Small signal gain:

Av =

Vout W = RD nCox (Vin VTH ) Vin L = g m RD

Small signal model for the saturation region

Same relation can be derived from the small signal equivalent circuit

To minimize nonlinearity, the gain equation must be a weak function of signal dependent parameters such as gm !

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Example 1
Sketch ID and gm of M1 as a function of the Vin:

M1 in the saturation region:

M1 in the linear region:

2 W Vout I D = nCox (Vin1 VTH )Vout 2 L I W g m = D = nCox Vout VGS L VDD Vout = W 1 + nCox RD (Vin VTH ) L University of Paris VI

(Vin VTH ) 2 L I W g m = D = nCox (Vin VTH ) VGS L

ID =

nCox W

H. Aboushady

Voltage Gain of a Common Source Stage

Av = g m RD
Av = 2 nCox
Av = 2 nCox

V W I D RD ID L
W VRD L ID

How to increase Av ? Trade-offs: Increase W/L Increase VRD Reduce ID

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Greater device capacitances. Limits Vout swing. Greater Time Constant.

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Taking Channel Length Modulation into account

Calculating Av starting from the Large Signal Equations:

Vout = VDD RD

nCox W
2 L

(Vin VTH ) 2 (1 + Vout )

Av =

Vout W = RD nCox (Vin VTH )(1 + Vout ) Vin L RD

nCox W
2 L

(Vin VTH ) 2

Vout Vin

Av = RD g m RD I D Av
Av = RD g m 1 + RD I D

I D = 1 / rO

Av = g m

rO RD rO + RD
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H. Aboushady

Taking Channel Length Modulation into account

Calculating Av starting from the Small Signal model:

g mV1 (rO // RD ) = Vout V1 = Vin

Av =

Vout = g m (rO // RD ) Vin

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Example 2
Assuming M1 biased in saturation, calculate the small signal voltage gain : I1 : Ideal current source Infinite Impedance

Av = g m rO
Intrinsic gain of a transistor: This quantity represents the maximum voltage gain that can be achieved using a single device.

I D1 =

nCox W
2 L

(Vin VTH ) 2 (1 + Vout ) = I1

Constant Current: As Vin increases, Vout must decrease such that the product remains constant
H. Aboushady University of Paris VI

CS Stage with Current-Source Load

Both transistors operate in the saturation region:

Av = g m (rO1 // rO 2 )
The output impedance and the minimum required VDS of M2 are less strongly coupled than the value and voltage drop of a resistor.

VDS 2,min = VGS 2 VTH 2

This value can be reduced to a few hundred millivolts by simply increasing the width of M2. If rO2 is not sufficiently high, the length and width of M2 can be increased to achieve a smaller while maintaining the same overdrive voltage. The penalty is the large capacitance introduced by M2 at the output node. Increasing L2 while keeping W2 constant increases rO2 and hence the voltage gain, but at the cost of higher |VDS2| required to maintain M2 in saturation
H. Aboushady University of Paris VI

CS with Source Degeneration

Large Signal model: Small Signal model:

I I VGS Gm = D = D Vin VGS Vin

VGS = Vin I D RS
VGS I = 1 D RS Vin Vin

Gm =

I 1 RS D Vin Gm = g m (1 RS Gm ) I D VGS
Gm = gm 1 + g m RS

gm =

I D VGS

Gm =

ID g mV1 = Vin V1 + g mV1RS gm 1 + g m RS

Av = Gm RD
Av = g m RD 1 + g m RS

Gm =

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University of Paris VI

CS with Source Degeneration

Gm = gm 1 = 1 + g m RS 1 / g m + RS

for

RS >> 1 / g m

Gm 1 / RS

ID is linearized at the cost of lower gain. Small Signal model including body effect and channel length modulation:

I out = g mV1 g mbVX

VX rO I out RS rO

= g m (Vin I out RS ) + g mb ( I out RS ) Gm =

I out g m rO = Vin RS + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

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H. Aboushady

With and Without Source Degeneration

Gm = g m rO 1 + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

RS = 0

RS 0

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University of Paris VI

Estimating Gain by Inspection

Av = g m RD RD = 1 + g m RS 1 / g m + RS

Gain =

Resistance seen at the Drain Total Resistance in the Source Path

Example:

Av =

RD 1 / g m1 + 1 / g m 2

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University of Paris VI

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Output Resistance of Degenerated CS

V1 = I X RS
The current flowing in rO :

I X ( g m + g mb )V1

= I X + ( g m + g mb ) RS I X VX = rO [ I X + ( g m + g mb ) RS I X ] + I X RS
Rout = VX = rO [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ] + RS IX

Rout = [1 + ( g m + g mb )rO ]RS + rO Rout ( g m + g mb )rO RS + rO

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Rout = [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO
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Voltage Gain of Degenerated CS

The current through RS must equal that through RD:

I R D = I RS = VS = Vout

Vout RD RS RD I rO =

VS

Vout ( g mV1 + g mbVBS ) RD R V R V Vout = I rO rO out RS I rO = out [ g m (Vin + Vout S ) + g mbVout S ] RD RD RD RD R R R V Vout = out rO [ g m (Vin + Vout S ) + g mbVout S ]rO Vout S RD RD RD RD
The current through rO :

H. Aboushady

Vout g m rO RD = Vin RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO

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Voltage Gain of Degenerated CS

Vout g m rO RD = Vin RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO Vout g m rO RD [ RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO ] = Vin RS + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO Vout = Gm (Rout // RD ) Vin
The output resistance of a degenerated CS stage: The Transconductance of a degenerated CS stage:
H. Aboushady

Rout = [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO Gm = I out g m rO = Vin RS + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

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General expression to calculate Av by inspection

Lemma:

Av = Gm Rout
Gm : the transconductance of the circuit when the output is shorted to grounded. Rout : the output resistance of the circuit when the input voltage is set to zero.

For high voltage gain the output resistance must be high! A buffer is needed to drive a low-impedance load. The source follower can operate as a voltage buffer.
H. Aboushady University of Paris VI

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Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts Common Source Stage Source Follower Common Gate Stage Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady University of Paris VI

Source Follower (Common Drain)

Large Signal Behavior M1 turns on in saturation:

Vout = I D RS
Vout =

nCox W
2 L

(Vin Vout VTH ) 2 RS

To calculate gm :

W V V Vout = nCox (Vin Vout VTH )(1 out TH ) RS L Vin Vin Vin

VTH = VTH 0 + 2F + VSB 2F VSB VTH VTH VSB = = Vin VSB Vin 2 2F + VSB Vin Vout = Vin H. Aboushady
Since,

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Source Follower Voltage Gain

W V V Vout = nCox (Vin Vout VTH )(1 out TH ) RS L Vin Vin Vin W V V Vout = nCox (Vin Vout VTH )(1 out out ) RS L Vin Vin Vin

W nCox (Vin Vout VTH ) RS Vout L = Vin 1 + C W (V V V ) R (1 + ) n ox in out TH S L

We also have,

g m = nCox Av =

W (Vin Vout VTH ) L

g m RS 1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS
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H. Aboushady

Source Follower Voltage Gain

Small Signal Equivalent Circuit

Vout = [g mV1 + g mbVBS ]RS

= [g m (Vin Vout ) g mbVout ]RS

Vout g m RS = Vin 1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS

Av =
Since: And for :

g mb = g m g m RS >> 1 Av 1 (1 + )
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14

Source Follower Output Resistance

Rout : the output resistance when the input voltage is set to zero.

V1 = VBS = VX I X g mVX g mbVX = 0

Rout =

VX 1 = I X g m + g mb

Body Effect decreases the output resistance of source followers.

VX VGS and VTH

ID
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Source Follower body effect

Rout : the output resistance when the input voltage is set to zero. Small Signal Model Simplification

Note that the value of the current source gmbVbs is linearly proportional to the voltage across it.

Rout =
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1 1 1 // = g m g mb g m + g mb
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Source Follower Thvenin Equivalent

Av =

1 g mb 1 1 + g m g mb

gm g m + g mb

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University of Paris VI

Channel Length Modulation in M1 and M2

Av =

1 // rO1 // rO 2 // RL g mb 1 1 // rO1 // rO 2 // RL + g mb gm

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University of Paris VI

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Source Follower Characteristics

+ High input impedance and Moderate output impedance - Nonlinearity - Limited voltage swing Example:

VTH VSB
PMOS source follower with VSB=0

Without the source follower stage:

VX > VGS 1 VTH 1

p < n g mp < g mn
Routp > Routn
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With the source follower stage:

VX > VGS 2 + (VGS 3 VTH 3 )

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Low Load Impedance: CS vs SF

Source Follower Amplifier Common Source Amplifier

AvSF

RL RL + 1 / g m

AvCS g m RL

Assuming RL=1/gm

AvSF 1 / 2

AvCS 1

Source Followers are not necessarily efficient drivers.

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Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts Common Source Stage Source Follower Common Gate Stage Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady University of Paris VI

Common Gate Stage

Large Signal Behavior

Vout = VDD I D RD
Assuming M1 in saturation:

Vout = VDD

nCox W (Vb Vin VTH ) 2 RD 2 L

RD

V W Vout = n Cox (Vb Vin VTH ) 1 TH L Vin Vin

W Vout = n Cox (Vb Vin VTH )(1 + )RD L Vin

Av = g m (1 + ) RD
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Common Gate Stage Input Resistance

Same as Output Resistance of Source Follower:

Rin =

1 g m + g mb

Body Effect: increases Av decreases Rin

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University of Paris VI

Common Gate Gain

Small Signal Signal Equivalent Circuit

The current through RS is equal to -Vout / RD :

V1

Vout RS + Vin = 0 RD

The current through rO is equal to -Vout / RD - gmV1 - gmbV1 :

V rO out RD
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V V rO out g mV1 g mbV1 out RS + Vin = Vout R R D D V R ( g m + g mb )Vout S Vin out RS + Vin = Vout RD RD
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Common Gate Gain

Common Gate Amplifier:

AvCG =

( g m + g mb )rO + 1 RD RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb )rO RS

Degenerated Common Source Amplifier:

AvCS =

g m rO RD RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb )rO RS

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Common Gate Stage Input Resistance

Since V1 = -VX :

VX = RD I X + rO [I X ( g m + g mb )VX ]
VX RD + rO = I X 1 + ( g m + g mb )rO Rin RD 1 + ( g m + g mb )rO ( g m + g mb )
Replace RD by ideal current source:

Assume RD = 0 :

Rin =

1 1 / rO + ( g m + g mb )

Rin =

Rin of a common gate stage is low only if RD is small.

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Common Gate Stage Output Impedance

Similar to Output Impedance of a Degenerated Common Source Stage

Rout = ([1 + ( g m + g mb )rO ]RS + rO ) // RD

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University of Paris VI

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts Common Source Stage Source Follower Common Gate Stage Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady University of Paris VI

21

Biasing of a Cascode Stage

The cascade of CS stage and a CG stage is called cascode. M1 : the input device M2 : the cascode device Biasing conditions: M1 in saturation:

VX = Vb VGS 2 Vb VGS 2 Vin VTH 1 Vb Vin + VGS 2 VTH 1

M2 in saturation:

Vout VX Vb VX VTH 2 Vout Vin VTH 1 + VGS 2 VTH 2

H. Aboushady University of Paris VI

Cascode Stage Characteristics

Large signal behavior: As Vin goes from zero to VDD For Vin < VTH M1 and M2 are OFF

Vout =VDD

Output Resistance: Same common source stage with a degeneration resistor equal to rO1

Rout = [1 + ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 ]rO1 + rO 2 Rout ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 rO1

M2 boosts the output impedance of M1 by a factor of gmr02 Triple cascode Rout difficult biasing at low supply voltage.
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Cascode Stage Voltage Gain

Av = Gm Rout Gm g m1
Ideal Current Source:

Rout ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 rO1 Av ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 g m1rO1

Cascode Current Source:

Rout g m 2 rO 2 rO1 // g m3rO 3rO 4 Av g m1 ( g m 2 rO 2 rO1 // g m 3rO 3 rO 4 )

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University of Paris VI

Shielding Property
Assume VX is higher than VY by V. Calculate the resulting difference between ID1 and ID2 (with 0 ).

I D1 I D 2 = I D1 I D 2

nCox 2 C = n ox 2

W (Vb VTH ) 2 (VDS 1 VDS 2 ) L W (Vb VTH ) 2 ( VDS ) L

VPQ = V

rO1 [1 + ( g m 3 + g mb3 )rO 3 ]rO1 + rO 3

V ( g m3 + g mb 3 )rO 3

I D1 I D 2 =
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nCox W V (Vb VTH ) 2 2 L ( g m3 + g mb 3 )rO 3

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Folded Cascode

Simple Folded Cascode

Folded Cascode with biasing

Folded Cascode with NMOS input

Large Signal Characteristics:

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University of Paris VI

Output Resistance of Folded Cascode

Degenerated Common Source Stage:

Rout = [1 + ( g m1 + g mb1 )rO1 ]RS + rO1

Folded Cascode Stage:

M1 RS

M2 rO1 // rO3

Rout = [1 + ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 ](rO1 // rO 3 ) + rO 2

H. Aboushady University of Paris VI

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