CFB Simulator

Circuits for stimulating neural tissue with magnetic fields must source an arbitrary current through an inductive load. One approach is to use a current feedback amplifier as shown is figure 1a (biasing circuit) and figure 1b (Amplifier Stage). The core of the Current Feedback Amplifier is a differential circuit that precludes the use of a source coupled pair. The circuit level implementation using BJTs is as shown below.

Figure1a. Biasing Circuit for CFA using current mirrors

topology varies from a source coupled pair the use of CFAs in feedback circuits is different from VFAs. However, standard amplifier design approaches are still appropriate. A general design approach is in progress. Initially, output resistance, gain, frequency response and slew rate design approaches have been evaluated. The output resistance of the CFA is equal to sum of resistances looking into the device at the emitter in the output buffer. This resistance is equal to 1/gm. Therefore the output resistance can be trimmed accordingly by adding resistor to tune the amplifiers output voltage and gain. The bandwidth is the point of dominant pole roll off the amplifier gain and the frequency axis. The zero induced by the inductive load will close the loop and can be used to stabilize the transfer function. The compensation capacitance is equal to the feedback impedance of the closed loop. Hence in design its value is give as Z(s) = I/sC, where Z(s) is at W3db cut off The stray capacitances of the power amplifier design will be high and should be taken into account during design calculations. The slew rate limit is introduced due to the output current value of the amplifier. It is given by the following equation dV/dt = I out max/Cc The slew rates are limited by the finite base currents and the parasitic capacitances in the output node.

Figure1b. Singles stage CFA The speed of the CFA is due to a lack of high impedance nodes present in the circuit except at the current mirror output. Since the input stage