Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts
Common Source Stage
Source Follower
Common Gate Stage
Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady
University of Paris VI

References
B. Razavi, Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits,
McGraw-Hill, 2001.

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts
Common Source Stage
Source Follower
Common Gate Stage
Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady
University of Paris VI

Basic Concepts I
Amplification is an essential function in most analog circuits !
Why do we amplify a signal ?
The signal is too small to drive a load
To overcome the noise of a subsequent stage
Amplification plays a critical role in feedback systems
In this lecture:
Low frequency behavior of single stage CMOS amplifiers:
Common Source, Common Gate, Source Follower, ...
Large and small signal analysis.
We begin with a simple model and gradually add 2nd order effects
Understand basic building blocks for more complex systems.
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Approximation of a nonlinear system

Input-Output Characteristic of a nonlinear system

y (t ) 0 + 1 x (t ) + 2 x 2 (t ) + ... + n x n (t )

x1 x x2

In a sufficiently narrow range:

y (t ) 0 + 1 x(t )

where 0 can be considered

the operating (bias) point and
1 the small signal gain

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Analog Design Octagon

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts
Common Source Stage
Source Follower
Common Gate Stage
Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady
University of Paris VI

Common Source Stage with Resistive Load

Vout = VDD RD I D
M1 in the saturation region:

Vout = VDD RD

M1 in limit of saturation: Vin1 VTH

M1 in the
linear region:
H. Aboushady

nCox W

(Vin VTH ) 2

2 L
C W
(Vin1 VTH ) 2
= VDD RD n ox
2 L

Vout = VDD RD nCox

W
L

Vout
V
V
V
(

in TH out

University of Paris VI

Common Source Stage with Resistive Load

M1 in deep
linear region:

Vout = VDD

Ron
VDD
=
W
Ron + RD 1 + C
RD (Vin VTH )
n ox
L

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Common Source Stage with Resistive Load

M1 in the saturation region:

Vout = VDD RD

nCox W
2

(Vin VTH ) 2

Small signal gain:

Av =

Vout
W
= RD nCox (Vin VTH )
Vin
L
= g m RD

Same relation can be derived

from the small signal equivalent
circuit

Small signal model for

the saturation region

To minimize nonlinearity, the gain equation must be a weak

function of signal dependent parameters such as gm !

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Example 1
Sketch ID and gm of M1 as a function of the Vin:

M1 in the saturation region:

ID =

nCox W

(Vin VTH )
2 L
I
W
g m = D = nCox (Vin VTH )
VGS
L

H. Aboushady

M1 in the linear region:

2

W
Vout
I D = nCox (Vin1 VTH )Vout

2
L
I
W
g m = D = nCox Vout
VGS
L
VDD
Vout =
W
1 + nCox RD (Vin VTH )
L
University of Paris VI

Voltage Gain of a Common Source Stage

Av = g m RD
Av = 2 nCox

V
W
I D RD
ID
L

Av = 2 nCox

W VRD
L ID

How to increase Av ?
Trade-offs:
Increase W/L

Greater device capacitances.

Increase VRD

Limits Vout swing.

Reduce ID

Greater Time Constant.

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Taking Channel Length Modulation into account

Calculating Av starting from the Large Signal Equations:

Vout = VDD RD

Av =

nCox W
2

(Vin VTH ) 2 (1 + Vout )

Vout
W
= RD nCox (Vin VTH )(1 + Vout )
Vin
L
RD

nCox W
2

(Vin VTH ) 2

Vout
Vin

Av = RD g m RD I D Av
Av =

RD g m
1 + RD I D

I D = 1 / rO

Av = g m

rO RD
rO + RD

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Taking Channel Length Modulation into account

Calculating Av starting from the Small Signal model:

g mV1 (rO // RD ) = Vout

V1 = Vin

H. Aboushady

Av =

Vout
= g m (rO // RD )
Vin

University of Paris VI

Example 2
Assuming M1 biased in saturation,
calculate the small signal voltage gain :
I1 : Ideal current source

Infinite Impedance

Av = g m rO
Intrinsic gain of a transistor:
This quantity represents the maximum voltage
gain that can be achieved using a single device.

I D1 =

nCox W
2

(Vin VTH ) 2 (1 + Vout ) = I1

Constant Current:
As Vin increases, Vout must decrease such that the
product remains constant
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

CS Stage with Current-Source Load

Both transistors operate in the saturation region:

Av = g m (rO1 // rO 2 )
The output impedance and the minimum
required VDS of M2 are less strongly coupled than
the value and voltage drop of a resistor.

VDS 2,min = VGS 2 VTH 2

This value can be reduced to a few hundred millivolts by
simply increasing the width of M2.
If rO2 is not sufficiently high, the length and width of M2 can be
increased to achieve a smaller while maintaining the same
overdrive voltage.
The penalty is the large capacitance introduced by M2 at the
output node.
Increasing L2 while keeping W2 constant increases rO2 and
hence the voltage gain, but at the cost of higher |VDS2|
required to maintain M2 in saturation
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

CS with Source Degeneration

Large Signal model:

Small Signal model:

I
I VGS
Gm = D = D
Vin VGS Vin

VGS = Vin I D RS
VGS
I
= 1 D RS
Vin
Vin

I
1 RS D
Vin

Gm = g m (1 RS Gm )

Gm =

I D
VGS

Gm =

gm
1 + g m RS

gm =

I D
VGS

Gm =

Av = Gm RD
Av =

H. Aboushady

ID
g mV1
=
Vin V1 + g mV1RS

Gm =

g m RD
1 + g m RS

gm
1 + g m RS

University of Paris VI

CS with Source Degeneration

Gm =

gm
1
=
1 + g m RS 1 / g m + RS

for

RS >> 1 / g m

Gm 1 / RS

ID is linearized at the cost of lower gain.

Small Signal model including body effect
and channel length modulation:

I out = g mV1 g mbVX

VX
rO

= g m (Vin I out RS ) + g mb ( I out RS )

Gm =

H. Aboushady

I out RS
rO

I out
g m rO
=
Vin RS + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO
University of Paris VI

With and Without Source Degeneration

Gm =

g m rO
1 + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

RS = 0

H. Aboushady

RS 0

University of Paris VI

Estimating Gain by Inspection

Av =

Gain =

g m RD
RD
=
1 + g m RS
1 / g m + RS

Resistance seen at the Drain

Total Resistance in the Source Path

Example:

Av =

H. Aboushady

RD
1 / g m1 + 1 / g m 2

University of Paris VI

10

Output Resistance of Degenerated CS

V1 = I X RS
The current flowing in rO :

I X ( g m + g mb )V1

= I X + ( g m + g mb ) RS I X
VX = rO [ I X + ( g m + g mb ) RS I X ] + I X RS
Rout =

VX
= rO [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ] + RS
IX

Rout = [1 + ( g m + g mb )rO ]RS + rO

Rout ( g m + g mb )rO RS + rO

Rout = [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Voltage Gain of Degenerated CS

The current through RS must equal that through RD:

I R D = I RS =

Vout
RD

VS = Vout

RS
RD

VS

Vout
( g mV1 + g mbVBS )
RD
R
V
R
V
Vout = I rO rO out RS
I rO = out [ g m (Vin + Vout S ) + g mbVout S ]
RD
RD
RD
RD
R
R
R
V
Vout = out rO [ g m (Vin + Vout S ) + g mbVout S ]rO Vout S
RD
RD
RD
RD
The current through rO :

H. Aboushady

I rO =

Vout
g m rO RD
=
Vin
RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO

University of Paris VI

11

Voltage Gain of Degenerated CS

Vout
g m rO RD
=
Vin
RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO
Vout
g m rO
RD [ RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO ]
=
Vin
RS + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb ) RS rO
Vout
= Gm (Rout // RD )
Vin
The output resistance
of a degenerated CS stage:

Rout = [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

The Transconductance
of a degenerated CS stage:

Gm =

I out
g m rO
=
Vin RS + [1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS ]rO

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

General expression to calculate Av by inspection

Lemma:

Av = Gm Rout
Gm : the transconductance of
the circuit when the output is
shorted to grounded.

Rout : the output resistance

of the circuit when the input
voltage is set to zero.

For high voltage gain the output resistance must be high!

A buffer is needed to drive a low-impedance load.
The source follower can operate as a voltage buffer.
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

12

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts
Common Source Stage
Source Follower
Common Gate Stage
Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady
University of Paris VI

Source Follower (Common Drain)

Large Signal Behavior
M1 turns on in saturation:

Vout = I D RS
Vout =

nCox W
2

(Vin Vout VTH ) 2 RS

To calculate gm :

W
V
V
Vout
= nCox (Vin Vout VTH )(1 out TH ) RS
L
Vin Vin
Vin

VTH = VTH 0 + 2F + VSB 2F

VSB

VTH VTH VSB

=
=
Vin VSB Vin 2 2F + VSB Vin
Vout
=
Vin
H. Aboushady
Since,

University of Paris VI

13

Source Follower Voltage Gain

W
V
V
Vout
= nCox (Vin Vout VTH )(1 out TH ) RS
L
Vin Vin
Vin
W
V
V
Vout
= nCox (Vin Vout VTH )(1 out out ) RS
L
Vin
Vin
Vin

W
nCox (Vin Vout VTH ) RS
Vout
L
=
Vin 1 + C W (V V V ) R (1 + )
n ox
in
out
TH
S
L
We also have,

g m = nCox
Av =

W
(Vin Vout VTH )
L

g m RS
1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Source Follower Voltage Gain

Small Signal Equivalent Circuit

Vout = [g mV1 + g mbVBS ]RS

= [g m (Vin Vout ) g mbVout ]RS

Av =
Since:
And for :

Vout
g m RS
=
Vin 1 + ( g m + g mb ) RS

g mb = g m
g m RS >> 1
Av

H. Aboushady

1
(1 + )
University of Paris VI

14

Source Follower Output Resistance

Rout : the output resistance when the input voltage is set to zero.

V1 = VBS = VX
Rout =

I X g mVX g mbVX = 0

VX
1
=
I X g m + g mb

Body Effect decreases the output resistance of source followers.

VX VGS and VTH

ID
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Source Follower body effect

Rout : the output resistance when the input voltage is set to zero.
Small Signal Model Simplification

Note that the value of the current source gmbVbs is linearly

proportional to the voltage across it.

Rout =
H. Aboushady

1
1
1
//
=
g m g mb g m + g mb
University of Paris VI

15

Source Follower Thvenin Equivalent

Av =

1
g mb
1
1
+
g m g mb

gm
g m + g mb

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Channel Length Modulation in M1 and M2

Av =

H. Aboushady

1
// rO1 // rO 2 // RL
g mb
1
1
// rO1 // rO 2 // RL +
g mb
gm

University of Paris VI

16

Source Follower Characteristics

+ High input impedance and Moderate output impedance
- Nonlinearity

- Limited voltage swing

Example:

VTH VSB
PMOS source follower with VSB=0

Without the source follower stage:

VX > VGS 1 VTH 1

p < n g mp < g mn
Routp > Routn

With the source follower stage:

VX > VGS 2 + (VGS 3 VTH 3 )

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Low Load Impedance: CS vs SF

Source Follower Amplifier

AvSF

RL
RL + 1 / g m

Common Source Amplifier

AvCS g m RL

Assuming RL=1/gm

AvSF 1 / 2

AvCS 1

Source Followers are not necessarily efficient drivers.

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

17

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts
Common Source Stage
Source Follower
Common Gate Stage
Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady
University of Paris VI

Common Gate Stage

Large Signal Behavior

Vout = VDD I D RD
Assuming M1 in saturation:

Vout = VDD

nCox W
(Vb Vin VTH ) 2 RD
2 L

V
W
Vout
= n Cox (Vb Vin VTH ) 1 TH
L
Vin
Vin

RD

W
Vout
= n Cox (Vb Vin VTH )(1 + )RD
L
Vin

Av = g m (1 + ) RD
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

18

Common Gate Stage Input Resistance

Same as Output Resistance of Source Follower:

Rin =

1
g m + g mb

Body Effect:
increases Av
decreases Rin

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Common Gate Gain

Small Signal Signal Equivalent Circuit

The current through RS is equal to -Vout / RD :

V1

Vout
RS + Vin = 0
RD

The current through rO is equal to -Vout / RD - gmV1 - gmbV1 :

V
rO out
RD
H. Aboushady

V
V
rO out g mV1 g mbV1 out RS + Vin = Vout
RD
RD

V
R
( g m + g mb )Vout S Vin out RS + Vin = Vout
RD

RD
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19

Common Gate Gain

Common Gate Amplifier:

AvCG =

( g m + g mb )rO + 1
RD
RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb )rO RS

Degenerated Common Source Amplifier:

AvCS =

g m rO
RD
RD + RS + rO + ( g m + g mb )rO RS

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Common Gate Stage Input Resistance

Since V1 = -VX :

VX = RD I X + rO [I X ( g m + g mb )VX ]
VX
RD + rO
=
I X 1 + ( g m + g mb )rO
Rin

RD
1
+
( g m + g mb )rO ( g m + g mb )

Assume RD = 0 :

Rin =

1
1 / rO + ( g m + g mb )

Replace RD by ideal current source:

Rin =

Rin of a common gate stage is low only if RD is small.

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

20

Common Gate Stage Output Impedance

Similar to Output Impedance of a
Degenerated Common Source Stage

Rout = ([1 + ( g m + g mb )rO ]RS + rO ) // RD

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Single Stage Amplifiers

Basic Concepts
Common Source Stage
Source Follower
Common Gate Stage
Cascode Stage

Hassan Aboushady
University of Paris VI

21

Biasing of a Cascode Stage

The cascade of CS stage and a CG stage is called cascode.
M1 : the input device
M2 : the cascode device
Biasing conditions:
M1 in saturation:

VX = Vb VGS 2
Vb VGS 2 Vin VTH 1
Vb Vin + VGS 2 VTH 1
M2 in saturation:

Vout VX Vb VX VTH 2
Vout Vin VTH 1 + VGS 2 VTH 2
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Cascode Stage Characteristics

Large signal behavior:
As Vin goes from zero to VDD
For Vin < VTH M1 and M2 are OFF

Vout =VDD

Output Resistance:
Same common source stage with
a degeneration resistor equal to rO1

Rout = [1 + ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 ]rO1 + rO 2

Rout ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 rO1
M2 boosts the output impedance of M1
by a factor of gmr02
Triple cascode Rout
difficult biasing at low supply voltage.
H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

22

Cascode Stage Voltage Gain

Av = Gm Rout
Gm g m1
Ideal Current Source:

Rout ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 rO1

Av ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 g m1rO1
Cascode Current Source:

Rout g m 2 rO 2 rO1 // g m3rO 3rO 4

Av g m1 ( g m 2 rO 2 rO1 // g m 3rO 3 rO 4 )

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Shielding Property
Assume VX is higher than VY by V.
Calculate the resulting difference between ID1 and ID2 (with 0 ).

nCox
2
C
= n ox
2

I D1 I D 2 =

W
(Vb VTH ) 2 (VDS 1 VDS 2 )
L

I D1 I D 2

W
(Vb VTH ) 2 ( VDS )
L

VPQ = V

rO1
[1 + ( g m 3 + g mb3 )rO 3 ]rO1 + rO 3

I D1 I D 2 =
H. Aboushady

V
( g m3 + g mb 3 )rO 3

nCox W
V
(Vb VTH ) 2
2 L
( g m3 + g mb 3 )rO 3
University of Paris VI

23

Folded Cascode

Simple Folded
Cascode

Folded Cascode
with biasing

Folded Cascode
with NMOS input

Large Signal Characteristics:

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

Output Resistance of Folded Cascode

Degenerated Common Source Stage:

Rout = [1 + ( g m1 + g mb1 )rO1 ]RS + rO1

Folded Cascode Stage:

M1

M2

RS

rO1 // rO3

Rout = [1 + ( g m 2 + g mb 2 )rO 2 ](rO1 // rO 3 ) + rO 2

H. Aboushady

University of Paris VI

24