(PPT) Noise Tutorial - Low-Frequency CMOS Analog Design

Noise Tutorial:
Low-frequency CMOS
Analog Design
May 16, 2002
Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora
http://www.betasoft.org/
1 of 30
Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design
Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Resistor Noise Sources
MOSFET Noise Sources
Noise of Common Amplifier Topologies
Examples
Summary
2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/
2 of 30
Goals
Grasp the importance of noise performance in low-frequency

instrumentation design
Understand the types of noise present in integrated resistors

and MOS devices.
Understand the noise trade-offs of different circuit topologies
Perform simple noise analysis
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Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Examples
Summary
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What is noise?
Unwanted disturbance that interferes with a desired signal
External: power supply & substrate coupling, crosstalk, EMI, etc.
Internal: random fluctuations that result from the physics of the devices or materials
Smallest detectable signal, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and dynamic range are
determined by noise
2
P signal
Vrms, signal
SNR = -------------------- = ------------------------2
P noise
Vrms, noise
We will look at internal noise sources and how

they affect key performance metrics.
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What does it look like?

WHITE NOISE (GAUSSIAN DISTRIBUTION)
V (t )
FUZZ 6
P (x )
t
MEAN
m = 0
STANDARD DEVIATION
= V rms
V rms Hz
VARIANCE
= V rms
(Normalized Noise Power)
Noise Power Spectral Density
Random process with zero mean

Instantateous amplitude is unpredictable
Average noise power can be measured (variance)
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Types of Noise
THERMAL
thermal excitation of charge carriers
V rms Hz
2
V rms
---------- =
f
4kTR , V2/Hz
SHOT
fluctuations in dc current flow through junctions
A rms Hz
2
I rms
----------- =
f
2qI DC , A2/Hz
FLICKER
2
V rms Hz
traps in semiconductors
1f
f
2
V rms
------------- =
f
2
K f V DC 2
, V /Hz
-------------------f
T = Temperature, K
k = 1.38 x 10-23 J/K
q = 1.6 x 10-19 C
Kf = Flicker coefficient
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Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Examples
Summary
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Resistor Thermal Noise
Vn
NOISE DENSITY
NOISE POWER
fn
2
Vn
In
Vn
------ =
f
, V /Hz
In
------- =
f
= 4kTRfn , V2
In =
4kTR
= NOISE BANDWIDTH
2
4kT
---------------- , A /Hz
R
4kT
2
---------------- fn, A
R
1k @ 25 C
Integrate noise PSD over frequency to arrive at total noise power.
4.05
nV H z
For white noise, multiply PSD by noise bandwidth.
4.05
pA H z
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Noise Bandwidth
A v (f )
No. Poles
1
f n =
--- f 3dB
2
f n =
1.22 f 3dB
f n =
1.16 f 3dB
2nd-order BPF
f n =
--- f 3dB
2
2
A vo
f3dB
fn
2
Avo
f n =
NOISE BW
A v(f) df
Noise bandwidth is defined for a brickwall transfer function

Noise bandwidth is not the same as 3dB bandwidth
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kT/C Limit
Vo
Vn
4kTRfn , V2
1
4kTR ----------
Vo =
*
fn =
f 3dB =
Vo =
-- f 3dB
2
1
--------------2 RC
f n =
1
----------4R C
4RC
Vo =
kT
------ , V2
C
Total noise power is independent of R

Capacitor is noiseless, but accumulates noise from resistor
This fundamental limit is important for sampled systems
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Combining Noise Sources

SERIES
PARALLEL
2
I n 1 R2
R1
2
V n1
2
R1
I n2
Vn 1 + Vn 2
2
R1+R2
R1||R2
In1 + In 2
V n2
R2
Vo =
4kT ( R1 + R2 )fn
I 2o
4kT ( ---1----
+ ---1---- )fn
R1 R2
For uncorrelated noise sources, just add the noise powers.

For correlated sources use:
2
Vo
2
V n1
c 1
2
V n2
+ 2cV n1 V n2
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT
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Resistor Flicker (1/f) Noise
2
2
K f VD C 2
Vnf
------- = --------------------- , V /Hz
f
f
1f
V n Hz
THERMAL
fL
fH
fc
fH K V2
f H
DC
2
f
--------------------- df = K f V DC ln ----- , V2
fL
f
fL
2
Vnf =
2
Vn f =
2.3 K f V 2DC
FOR fH/fL = 10
Constant noise power per decade

fc defines 1/f corner frequency where
flicker noise is equal to thermal noise.

TOTAL RESISTOR NOISE
2
Vo =
f H
4kTRfn + K f V 2DC ln -----
fL
, V2
ASSUMES
fn f c
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Noise Index
2
Vn f
------------2
V DC
=
DEC
K f V D C ln ( 10 )
----------------------------------------------------2
VD C
2.3Kf 10
2.3 K f
, V/V/decade
NI
2
V nf
NI V DC 1 2
= ---------------------------- -- , V /Hz
12 f
2.3 10
fc
NI VDC
, Hz
= ------------------------------------------------- 12
2.3 10
4kTR
Normalize 1/f noise per Volt, per decade of frequency

Can express 1/f noise PSD and fc in terms of NI
20log(NI)
poly -15dB
ndiff -10dB
-5dB
pdiff
[Motchenbacher93]
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Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Examples
Summary
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Noise Sources in a MOSFET

DRAIN THERMAL NOISE
2
In d
------- =
f
4kTg m , A2/Hz
Vn g
I nd
* *
2/3, long channel
2-3, short channel

due to limited channel conductance
GATE THERMAL NOISE

2
V ng
-------- = 4kTRG 3 , V2/Hz
f
can be neglected with good layout
FLICKER NOISE
2
Kf
Vnf
2
------- = ------------------- , V /Hz
f
WLC o xf
Vn f
FOR NMOS
24 2
K f = 1.2 10
V F
[Razavi01]
Rds = 1/gm
Long Channel
Saturation
SPICE
AF
2
K
I
In f
f DC , A2/Hz
------ = ----------------------2
f
L EFF C o x f
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Input-referred Noise
2
Vn f
2
I nd
Vn i
Vn i
I ni
Define equivalent input voltage and
INPUT-REFERRED DRAIN NOISE
current noise sources.

MOSFET input current noise source
can be neglected at low frequencies.
2
In d
Vn d
-------- = ------f
f
gm
4kT
--------------------gm
, V 2/Hz
TOTAL INPUT-REFERRED NOISE

2
Vni
------- =
f
Kf
4kT
2
--------------------- + ------------------- , V /Hz
g m WLCox f
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1/f Corner Frequency

2
V n Hz
1f
THERMAL
f
fc
4kT
--------------------gm
Kf
---------------------WLCox fc
Kf g m
f c = --------------------------------------4kTWLCox
Defines where flicker noise is equal to thermal noise.
Need to increase transistor area to reduce flicker noise.
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Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Examples
Summary
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Current Source
VDD
2
I n1
------- =
f
I1
2
VBIAS
Vo
M1
I n1
Vo
-------f
In 1 2
------- ro , V2/Hz
f
4kTg mr o , V2/Hz
Vo
-------f
4kTg m , A2/Hz
Neglected flicker noise of M1

Need to minimize output current noise
Minimize gm for low noise
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Common Source
VDD
I n1
------- =
f
I nL
RL
2
Vo
2
Vn f
Vi
M1
InL
--------- =
f
4kTg m , A2/Hz
2
4kT
---------------- , A /Hz
RL
2
Kf
Vnf
------- = ------------------- , V2/Hz
f
WLC o xf
I n1
Vn i
------- =
f
Kf
4kT
4kT
--------------------- + ------------------- + ---------------------g m WLC o xf g 2 R
, V2/Hz
m L
Neglected output conductance of M1

Maximize gm , R L, and transistor area for low noise
For a differential pair, double the noise
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Source Follower
2
Vn 1
Vi
VDD
2
V n1
-------- =
f
M1
*
2
Vo
VBIAS
M2
Kf
4kT
2
--------------------- + ------------------- , V /Hz
g m1 WLCox f
I n2
------- =
f
4kTg m , A2/Hz
I n2
2
I n2 1
2
2 2
------- --------------- || r o1 || ro2
2
2
Vni
V n1 f g m1
------- = -------- + --------------------------------------------------------------------------- , V2/Hz
f
2
f
Av
WHERE
Av 1
Neglected flicker noise of M2

VERY NOISY, AVOID
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Common Gate
VDD
InL
--------- =
f
I nL
RL
2
Vo
VBIAS
M1
Vn f
/Hz
2
Kf
Vnf
------- = ------------------- , V2/Hz
f
WLC o xf
I n1
------- =
f
4kTg m
, A2/Hz
I n1
V ni
------- =
f
Kf
4kT
4kT
2
--------------------- + ---------------------- + ------------------- , V /Hz
g m g 2 R WLCox f
m L
2
2
g
Kf
Ini
2
4kT
m
------- = ---------------- + ------------------- , A /Hz
f
RL WLCo x f
Vi
Rs = 1/gm
(neglecting
body effect)
4kT
---------------- , A
RL

Define equivalent input voltage and current noise sources
Input noise current cannot be ignored
Transfers load current noise to the input
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Cascode
VDD
2
I nL
RL
Vo
VBIAS
M2
Kf
4kT
2
--------------------- + ------------------- , V /Hz
g m1 WLCox f
2
4kT
---------------- , A /Hz
RL
V n1
-------- =
f
InL
--------- =
f
I n2
2
V ni
------- =
f
2
Vn 1
Vi
Kf
4kT
4kT 2
--------------------- + ------------------- + -------------------------- , V /Hz
g m1 WLCox f g 2 R
m1 L
M1
*
M2s noise contribution is negligible at low frequencies
Capacitance at M1s drain increase noise at high frequencies
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Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Examples
Summary
25 of 30
Variable Resistor
Vi
kRT
In1
Vo
(1-k)RT
In 2
Vo
kRT
(1-k)RT
2
In
WORST CASE
k = 0.5
Req = RT/4
2
4kT
---------------- , A /Hz
Req
16kT
2
--------------------- , A /Hz
RT
In
------=
f
In
------- =
f
Req = k(1-k)RT
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Inverting Operational Amplifier Filter

C
2
Vn 1
R1
R2
1. SHORT Vna
2
------- =
f
Avi = R2
------Avni = 1 + R2
------R1
R1
1
1
f n =
-- ----------------= ------------2 2R2 C
4R2 C
Vo
3. APPLY SUPERPOSITION
2
Vn i
V n2
2
------- = V n 1 + -------2
f
Avi
2. SHORT Vi
A2
2 vni
V na -----------
2
Avi
where
V na
2
Vn i
Low frequency operation
*
-
Ignore 1/f noise
2
Vn 2
Vi
Negligible input noise current
Vni
2
Vn 2
2
2
------- = V n 1 + -------+ V na 1 + R1
-------
R2
2
f
A vi
FOR LARGE GAIN, R2 >> R1
2
= V na 1 + R1
-------
R2
Vni
Vn 2
2
2
------- = V n 1 + -------- + V na , V2/Hz
2
f
A vi
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Outline
Goals
Noise Overview
Examples
Summary
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What We Learned
NOISE IN GENERAL
Thermal noise and flicker noise are the major sources of headaches
for low-noise, low frequency instrumentation design in CMOS.
Noise bandwidth is not the same as 3dB bandwidth.
Capacitors are noiseless, but they can accumulate noise.
Resistors can have flicker noise, but only when there is current flow.
NOISE IN MOSFETS
Need to increase transistor area to reduce flicker noise.
Current source: Minimize gm for low noise current
Common source: Maximize g m , RL, and transistor area for low noise
Source follower: VERY NOISY, AVOID
Common gate: Transfers load current noise to the input. Input noise
current cannot be ignored.

Cascode: Cascode transistor noise contribution is negligible at low
frequencies.
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References
1. P.H. Garret, Analog I/O Design: Acquisition, Conversion,

Recovery, Reston Publishing, Reston, VA, pp. 264, 1981.
2. D.A. Johns, K. Martin Analog Integrated Circuit Design,
John Wiley & Sons, pp. 706, 1997.
3. C.D. Motchenbacher, J.A. Connelly, Low Noise Electronic
System Design, John Wiley & Sons, pp. 422, 1993.
4. B. Razavi, Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits,
McGraw-Hill, pp. 684, 2001.
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(PPT) Noise Tutorial - Low-Frequency CMOS Analog Design

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Noise Tutorial:

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Resistor Noise Sources

MOSFET Noise Sources

Noise of Common Amplifier Topologies

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Grasp the importance of noise performance in low-frequency

Understand the types of noise present in integrated resistors

Understand the noise trade-offs of different circuit topologies

Perform simple noise analysis

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Resistor Noise Sources

MOSFET Noise Sources

Noise of Common Amplifier Topologies

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

We will look at internal noise sources and how

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

What does it look like?

(Normalized Noise Power)

Noise Power Spectral Density

Random process with zero mean

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

thermal excitation of charge carriers

fluctuations in dc current flow through junctions

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Resistor Noise Sources

MOSFET Noise Sources

Noise of Common Amplifier Topologies

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Resistor Thermal Noise

Integrate noise PSD over frequency to arrive at total noise power.

For white noise, multiply PSD by noise bandwidth.

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Noise bandwidth is defined for a brickwall transfer function

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Total noise power is independent of R

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Combining Noise Sources

For uncorrelated noise sources, just add the noise powers.

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Resistor Flicker (1/f) Noise

Constant noise power per decade

flicker noise is equal to thermal noise.

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Normalize 1/f noise per Volt, per decade of frequency

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Resistor Noise Sources

MOSFET Noise Sources

Noise of Common Amplifier Topologies

2002, Rafael J. Betancourt-Zamora http://www.betasoft.org/

Noise Tutorial: Low-frequency CMOS Analog Design

Noise Sources in a MOSFET

2/3, long channel

2-3, short channel