5.

Fundamental amplifier forms &

Elementary R configurations
Reading: Sedra & Smith Sec. 5.6
(S&S 5th Ed: Sec. 4.7)

ECE 102, Fall 2011, F. Najmabadi

Fundamental MOS Amplifier Forms

We are considering only signal circuit here!

Voltage Amplifier Model

Input Resistance:
Voltage gain:
Open-loop gain:
Output resistance:

Ri = vi/ii
Av = vo/vi with load
Avo = vo/vi with no load
Ro (resistance seen between
output terminals with vi= 0 )

vi
Ri
=
vsig Ri + Rsig
vo
RL
= Av = Avo
vin
RL + Ro

vo
Ri
RL
=
Avo
vsig Ri + Rsig
RL + Ro

Possible MOS amplifier configurations

Common-Source

Common-Gate

Common-Source with Rs

Same as Common Gate

(vi does not change)

Common-Drain

Not Useful

PMOS configurations are the same as NMOS

Common-Source

Common-Gate

Common-Drain

Since PMOS has the same signal model, configurations and results are exactly the same

Textbook includes RD in the fundamental

configurations
Small Signal Circuit for a Common Source Amplifier
Textbook:
Textbook is inconsistent. It
includes RD for common source
and common gate but does not
include RS in common drain.
Lecture:

Note RD is parallel to RL.

To avoid confusion, I am using
only one resistor, RL.

Common Source Configuration (Gain)

Signal Circuit:

vo = g m v gs (ro || RL )
Av =

vo
= g m (ro || RL )
vin

Avo = g m ro

Small Signal Circuit

with MOS SSM

Relevant circuit for

Gain calculation

By KCL

Common Source Configuration (Ri)

Small Signal Circuit
with MOS SSM

Relevant circuit for

Ri calculation

ii = 0
Ri =

vi
=
ii

Common Source Configuration (Ro)

Small Signal Circuit
with MOS SSM

Relevant circuit for

Ro calculation (set vi = 0)
Current source becomes open circuit

Ro = ro

Common Source with Source Resistor

Small Signal Circuit:

Small Signal Circuit

with MOS SSM

Input Resistance

ii = 0 Ri =

vi
=
ii

Common Source with Source Resistor (Gain*)

Relevant circuit for

Gain calculation

Node voltage method:

v gs = vi vS

Node vS

vS vS vo
+
g m (vi vS ) = 0
RS
ro

Node vo

vo vo vS
+
+ g m (vi vS ) = 0
RL
ro

* Text book ignore ro

vo
g m ro RL
=
vi
ro + (1 + g m ro ) R S + RL
g m RL
Av
1 + g m R S + RL / ro
Av =

Avo = g m ro

Common Source with Source Resistor (Ro*)

set vi = 0
Attach vx and compute ix
Ro = vx /ix
Node voltage method:
v gs = vS

Node vS

vS vS v x
+
g m ( vS ) = 0
RS
ro
vS
vx
=
RS
ro + (1 + g m ro ) RS
ix =

vS
vx
=
RS ro + (1 + g m ro ) RS

* Text book ignore ro

i
1
1
x =
Ro v x ro + (1 + g m ro ) RS

Ro = ro + (1 + g m ro ) RS

Common Gate Configuration

Small Signal Circuit:

Small Signal Circuit

with MOS SSM

Common Gate Configuration (Gain*)

Node voltage method:

v gs = vi

Node vo

vo vo vi
+
+ g m (vi ) = 0

RL
ro
vo
1 + g m ro
vi
=
ro || RL
ro

vo 1 + g m ro
=
(ro || RL )
vi
ro
Av g m (ro || RL )
Av =

Avo g m ro

Common Gate Configuration (Ri and Ro*)

Input Resistance

KVL: vi = (ii +g m v gs )ro + ii RL

vi (1 + g m ro ) = ii (ro + RL )

vi ro + RL
Ri = =
ii 1 + g m ro
1
R
+ L
Ri
g m g m ro

Output Resistance (set vi = 0)

Current source becomes open circuit

Ro = ro

* Text book ignore ro

Common Drain Configuration (Source Follower)

Gain
Node voltage method:
v gs = vi vo

Node vo

vo vo
+ g m (vi vo ) = 0
RL ro
g m vi =

vo
+ g m vo

ro || RL

g m (ro || RL )
Av =
1 + g m (ro || RL )
Avo =

g m ro
1
1 + g m ro

Common Drain Configuration (Source Follower)

Input Resistance
ii = 0

Ri =

vi
=
ii

Output Resistance (set vi = 0)

ix =

vx
v
v
g m v gs = x + x
ro
ro 1 / g m

Ro =

1
1
|| ro
gm
gm

MOS Amplifier Fundamental Configurations

(PMOS circuits are identical)

Common Source

Common Gate

Av = g m (ro || RL )

Av = g m (ro || RL )

Common Source with RS

Common Drain/Source Follower

g m RL
Av =
1 + g m R S + RL / ro

Av =

g m (ro || RL )
1 + g m (ro || RL )

Elementary R Configurations

Transistor can be configured to act as a resistor

for small signals!
Ex: Output resistance of a CS Amplifier

ro

Set vi = 0, current source becomes open circuit

Ro = ro

Notation:
ro is the small-signal resistance
between the point and ground

If we connect any two terminals of a MOS, we get a two-terminal device.

o For Small Signals, this two terminal device can be replaced with its
Thevenin equivalent circuit.
o As there is NO independent sources present, the Thevenin
equivalent circuit is reduced to a resistor.

Transistor can be configured to act as a resistor

for small signals!
But, MOS should be in saturation for small signal model to work!
o Connection between MOS terminals are, therefore, made through
ground for small signals.
o In fact, one or both MOS terminals have to be connected to bias power
supplies to ensure that MOS is in saturation

Real Circuit

Small Signal Circuit

A)

B)

No Small Signal circuit

MOS is NOT in saturation

Elementary Configurations for MOS resistance

(PMOS circuits are identical)

ro (1 +g m R ) + R

ro (1 +g m R )

ro +R
1
R

+
1 + g m ro g m
g m ro
Output resistance
of CS Amp with Rs

ro

Input resistance
of CG Amp

1
1
|| ro
gm
gm

Input resistance
of CS Amp

Diode-connected
Transistor
Always in saturation!

Above configurations are for Small Signal. Typically one or both grounds
are connected to bias voltage sources to ensure that MOS is in saturation!

Gain, input, and output resistances of

MOS amplifiers can be found
using
the fundamental amplifiers and
elementary R configurations