Cascode Current Mirror

The cascade connection achieves a very high output resistance. Since this is a desirable characteristic for a current mirror, exploring the use of cascades for highperformance current mirrors is natural. A bipolar-transistor current mirror based on the cascode connection is shown in Fig. below. Transistors M3 and M1 form a simple current mirror, MOS structure is preferred because it does not suffer from finite beta, effect. the small signal output resistance is given as Explanation: in this approach ( allen holberg) We are objective to minimize lambda. Cascading we lead to increase to Rout. Now Rout is Inversely proportional to lambda, so increasing Rout We decrease lambda. So that Iout=Iin . Even with finite mismatch between Vds1 and Vds2.

The Widlar Current Source

Resistor R in the Widlar current source circuit shown in the schematic in Fig. below gives the designer an additional degree of freedom in adjusting the mirror ratio of the current mirror. In this circuit, the difference between the gate-source voltages of transistors M1 and M2 appears across resistor R, and IO can be expressed as

Here the current equastion can be given as below

Now If IREF, R, and the W/L ratios are known, then above Eq. can be written as a quadratic equation in terms of
MOS Widlar Source Output Resistance: the small-signal model for the MOS Widlar source is recognized as a common source stage with resistor R in its source. Therefore,

Wilson Current Mirror

The Wilson current sources shown in Figs. Below (a) and (b) use the same number of transistors as the buffered current mirror but achieve much higher output resistance; it is often used in applications requiring precisely matched current sources.

Figure (a)

figure(b)

the output current is taken from the drain of M3, and M1 and M2 form a current mirror. During circuit operation, the three transistors are all pinched-off and in the active region. Because the gate current of M3 is zero, ID2 must equal reference current IREF. If the transistors all have the same W/L ratios, then

The current mirror require

and because IO = ID3 and ID3 = ID1, the output current is given by

Active Loads