CMOS AMPLIFIERS

Tonie Adrian R. Diamante

Ricia Mae R. Delatore
ECE 132

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 Intended Learning Outcomes
■ To understand the concept of CMOS Amplifier.
■ To familiarize and solve problems involving CMOS Amplifiers.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 CMOS Amplifiers
■ Most CMOS amplifiers have identical bipolar counterparts and can therefore
be analyzed in the same fashion.
■ The similarity of bipolar and MOS small-signal model (i.e. voltage-controlled
current source) suggests that the same must hold for MOS amplifiers.
■ THREE BASIC CMOS AMPLIFIERS:
– Common – Source (CS) stage
– Common – Gate (CG) stage
– Source follower (Common-Drain)

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

MOS Biasing

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 MOS Biasing

■ To ensure operation in saturation region, 𝑽𝒀 = 𝑽𝑿 − 𝑽𝑻𝑯

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
Example 1:

Answer: 𝑹𝑫 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟓𝒌Ω

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 2:

= 2.5kΩ Answer:
𝑾
= 𝟓𝟔. 𝟐
𝑳
𝑹𝒔 = 𝟔𝟎𝟔 Ω

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 3:
The circuit must be designed for a voltage
drop of 200 mV across 𝑹𝒔 . Given that
µ𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 µA/𝑉 2 and 𝑽𝑻𝑯 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝑽.
(a) Calculate the minimum allowable
value of W/L if 𝑴𝟏 must remain in
saturation.
(b) What are the required values of 𝑹𝟏
and 𝑹𝟐 if the input impedance must
be at least 30 kΩ?

Answer:
𝑾
= 𝟓𝟔
𝑳
𝑹𝟏 = 𝟒𝟓 𝒌Ω
𝑹𝟐 = 𝟗𝟎 𝒌Ω
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
 CMOS Amplifiers
■ Biasing techniques establish the required gate voltage by means of a
resistive path to the supply rails or the output node (self-biasing)
■ Common – Source Stage
– Provides a moderate voltage gain, a high input impedance, and a
moderate output impedance.
■ Common – Gate Stage
– Provides a moderate voltage gain, a low input impedance, and a
moderate output impedance.
■ Source Follower
– Provides a voltage gain less than a unity, a high input impedance, and a
low output impedance, serving as a good voltage buffer.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

The best way to identify the type of amplifier is to
follow the signal.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Self-biased MOS Stage
■ Biasing using a Drain-to-Gate
Feedback Resistor
𝑴𝟏 is in saturation,
Voltage drop across 𝑹𝑮 is zero.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 4:

Answer:
@𝑰𝑫 = 𝟐𝟕𝟖µ 𝑨
𝑹𝑫 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟔𝟕 𝒌Ω

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 Realization of Current Sources
■ When in saturation region, a MOSFET behaves as a current source.
■ NMOS draws current from a point to ground (sinks current), whereas PMOS draws current from
𝑽𝑫𝑫 to a point (sources current).
■ It is important to understand that only the drain terminal of a MOSFET can draw a dc current and
still present a high impedance.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Common – Source Stage

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 Operation in Saturation

■ In order to maintain operation in saturation, 𝑽𝒐𝒖𝒕 cannot fall below 𝑽𝒊𝒏 by more than one threshold
voltage.
■ The condition above ensures operation in saturation.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 5:

Answer:
𝑨𝑽 = −𝟑. 𝟑𝟑
M1 operates in saturation
with margin of 0.2 V.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

CS Stage with λ=0

= 𝑹𝑫

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 6:
The circuit is designed with W/L = 20/0.18, λ = 0,
and ID = 0.25 mA. Given that µ𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 µA/𝑉 2 and
𝑽𝑻𝑯 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝑽.
(a) Compute the required gate bias voltage
(b) With such a gate voltage, compute W/L while
M1 remains in saturation? What is the maximum voltage
gain that can be achieved as W/L increases?

Answer:
𝑽𝑮 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝑽
𝑨𝑽 = 𝟐𝟐

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 CS Stage with λ≠0

■ Channel length modulation may not be negligible, especially if 𝑹𝑫 is large.

■ Early effect and channel length modulation affect CE and CS stages in similar manner.
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 CS Gain Variation with Channel Length

■ Since λ is inversely proportional to L, the voltage gain actually becomes proportional to the square root
of L.
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
 CS Stage with Current-Source Load

■ To alleviate the headroom problem, an active current source load is used.

■ This is advantageous because a current source has a high output resistance and can tolerate a
small voltage drop across it.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 7:
The CS stage must provide a voltage gain of 10
with a bias current of 0.5 mA. Assume λ𝟏 = 0.1 𝑉 −1 , and
λ𝟐 = 0.15 𝑉 −1 . Given that µ𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 µA/𝑉 2 , µ𝒑 𝑪𝒐𝒙 =
𝟏𝟎𝟎 µA/𝑉 2 and 𝑽𝑻𝑯 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝑽.
(a) Compute the required value of (𝑊/𝐿)1 .
(b) If (𝑊/𝐿)2 = 20/0.18, calculate the required
value of 𝑉𝐵 .

Answer:
(𝑾/𝑳)𝟏 = 𝟕. 𝟖𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝑽𝑩 = 𝟏. 𝟏 𝑽

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 CS Stage with Diode-Connected Load

■ Lower gain, but less dependent on process parameters.

■ A Diode connected MOSFET can be used to achieve small resistances:
– The Drain is directly connected to Gate, and therefore it can only be operated in saturation (or
cutoff)
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
Example 8:
We wish to design the circuit for a voltage gain of 3. If of (𝑊/𝐿)1 = 20/0.18,
determine (𝑊/𝐿)2 . Assume λ = 0.

Answer:
𝑾 𝟏𝟎
( )𝟐 =
𝑳 𝟎.𝟖𝟏

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

CS Stage with Degeneration

■ Similar to bipolar counterpart,

when a CS stage is degenerated,
its gain, I/O impedances, and
linearity change.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 Example of CS Stage with Degeneration

■ A diode-connected load device degenerates a CS stage.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
Example 9:
The degenerated CS stage of the circuit
must provide a voltage gain of 4 with a bias current
of 1 mA. Assume a drop of 200 mV across 𝑹𝑺 and
λ = 0. If 𝑹𝑫 = 1 k Ω , determine the required value
of W/L. Does the transistor operate in saturation
for this choice of W/L? Given that µ𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒙 =
𝟐𝟎𝟎 µA/𝑉 2 and 𝑽𝑻𝑯 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝑽.

Answer:
W/L= 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
Yes. Operates in saturation.

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

CS Core with Biasing

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Example 10:

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

COMMON GATE AMPLIFIER CHARACTERISTICS

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

 Common – Gate Stage

■ Common-gate stage is similar to common-base stage: a rise in input causes a rise in output. Thus, the
gain is positive.
■ The gate terminal held at a DC voltage. (AC Ground)
■ Since source terminal not at signal ground, the body effect is present.
■ Typically used as second stage of a multi-stage amplifier circuit.
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
Example 11:

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
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Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7
COMMON DRAIN/SOURCE FOLLOWER
AMPLIFIER CHARACTERISTICS

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

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Comparison of Amplifier Configurations

Parameters Common-Source Common-Gate Source Follower

Voltage Gain Moderate Moderate Av < 1 (Unity)

Input Impedance High Low High

Output Impedance Moderate Moderate Low

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7

Important Facts

Fundamentals of Microelectronics Chapter 7