Sec. 5:3. Active Current Mirrors 151 ‘Thereafter, the bias current of all of the transistors drops, lowering the rate at which Voy decreases. For Vpp < |Vripl, we have Vour = 0. —_—————_ 5.3.2 Small-Signal Analysis We now analyze the small-signal properties of the circuit shown in Fig. 5.21(a), assuming y = for simplicity. Can we apply the half-circuit concept to calculate the differential gain here? As illustrated in Fig. 5.23, with small differential inputs, the voltage swings at nodes Yop My My \ od > Vv My My Olss Figure 5.23 Asymmetric swings in a differential pair with active current = mirror. X and ¥ are vastly different. This is because the diode-connected device Ms yields a much ower voltage gain from the input to node X than that from the input to node Y. As a result, the effects of Vx and Vy at node P (through ro: and rox, respectively) do not cancel each other and this node cannot necessarily be considered a virtual ground. We compute the gain using two different approaches. In the first approach, we write |Av] = Gm Row and obtain Gy, and Roy separately. For the calculation of Gm, consider Fig. 5.24(a). The circuit is not quite symmetric but ) Figure 5.24 (a) Circuit for calculation of Gy, (b) circuit of (a) with node P grounded.152 Chap.5 Passive and Active Current Mirrors because the impedance seen at node X is relatively low and the swing at this node small, the current returning from X to P through ro, is negligible and node P can be viewed as a virtual ground [Fig. 5.24(b)]. Thus, Jor = os! = |/pal = @mi2Vin/2 and Tox = —8m1.2Vin/2, yielding Jou = —&m1.2Vin and hence |Gm| = gmi,2. Note that, by virtue of active current mirror operation, this value is twice the transconductance of the circuit of Fig. 5.17(b). Calculation of Roy is less straightforward. We may surmise that the output resistance of this circuit is equal to that of the circuit in Fig. 5.17(c), namely, (2r02)llroa. In reality, how- ever, the active mirror operation yields a different value because when a voltage is applied to the output tomeasure Rou, the gate voltage of M, does not remain constant. Rather than draw the entire equivalent circuit, we observe that, for small signals, Iss is open [Fig. 5.25(a)}, any current flowing into M, must flow out of Mp, and the role of the two transistors can be (@) (b) Figure 5.25 (a) Circuit for calculating Rous, (b) substitution of My and Mz by a resistor. represented by a resistor Ryy = 2ro1,2 (Fig. 5.25(b)]. As a consequence, the current drawn from Vx by Rxy is mirrored by M; into My with unity gain. We can therefore write: Vy Vy x oo. (5.27) r Yroia+ == ros os Ix where the factor 2 accounts for current copying action of M3 and My, For 2roi.2 > (1/8m3)|lro3, We have Row © rorllros. (5.28) ‘The overall voltage gain is thus equal to |Ay| higher than that of the circuit in Fig. 5.17(a). The second approach tocalculating the voltage gain of the circuits illustrated in Fig. 5.26, providing more insight into the operation. We substitute the input source and My and M; by a Thevenin equivalent. As illustrated in Fig. 5.27(a), for the Thevenin voltage calcula- tion, node P is a virtual ground because of symmetry, and a half-circuit equivalent yields Veq = &mi.2701,2 Vin. Moreover, the output resistance is Rey = 2ro1,2. From Fig. 5.27(b), Gr Rou = 8mi.2(To2I\"o4), somewhatSec. 5.3 Active Current Mirrors 153 Ad (a) ) Yeq Figure 5.27 (a) Calculation of the Thevenin equivalent voltage, (b) simplified circuit, wwe note that the current through Reg is Vu 8m1.2701.2Vin Ix (5.29) I 2rova + — Bins |" The fraction of this current that flows through 1/gq3 is mirrored into M, with unity gain. That is, Vout = SnicronaVin a7 (5.30) r in: Qroat—liros "08 T1808 Bm3 Assuming 2ro1,2 > (1/8m3.4)\Iro3.4, we obtain Vous _ 8m1,2703.4TO1.2 (531) Vin Toi2+To3a = 8mi.2(roi.llro3). (5.32)Chap.5 Passive and Active Current Mirrors Example 5.6 Calculate the small-signal voltage gain of the circuit shown in Fig. 5.28. How does the performance of this circuit compare with that of a differential pair with active mirror? Yoo Vp wm, Vout Vino, Figure 5.28 Solution We have Ay = gmi(roillro2), similar to the value derived above. For given device dimensions, this circuit requires half of the bias current to achieve the same gain as a differential pair. However, advantages of differential operation often outweigh the power penalty. The above calculations of the gain have assumed an ideal tail current source. In re ality, the output impedance of this source affects the gain, but the error with respect to 8m1.2(Fo1,2|\ro3.s) is relatively small. 5.3.3 Common-Mode Properties Let us now study the common-mode properties of the differential pair with active current mirror. We assume y = 0 for simplicity and leave a more general analysis including body effect for the reader. Our objective is to predict the consequences of a finite output impedance in the tail current source. As depicted in Fig. 5.29, a change in the input CM level leads to Figure 5.29 Differential pair with ac- tive current mirror sensing a common- mode change. a change in the bias current of all of the transistors, How do we define the common-mode gain here? Recall from Chapter 4 that the CM gain represents the corruption of the outputSec.5.3 Active Current Mirrors 155 signal of interest due to variations of the input CM level. In the circuits of Chapter 3, the output signal was sensed differentially and hence the CM gain was defined in terms of the output differential component generated by the input CM change. In the circuit of Fig. 5.29, on the other hand, the output signal of interest is sensed with respect to ground. Thus, we define the CM gain in terms of the single-ended output component produced by the input CM change: AVour Acm = . oH AVincm (5.33) ‘To determine Acy, we observe that if the circuit is symmetric, Vj4, = Vp for any input CM level. For example, as Via,cm increases, Ve drops and so does Voy. In other words, nodes F and X can be shorted [Fig. 5.30(a)], resulting in the equivalent circuit shown Yoo Ms M4 F Vout Vin.cw: My My (a) (b) Figure 5.30 (a) Simplified circuit of Fig. 5.29, (b) equivalent circuit of (a. in Fig. 5.30(b). Here, M, and M> appear in parallel and so do M3 and Mg. It follows that _ (3 Acw tees 2 (534) R Bema? 8 Bmi2 =— (5.35) 1+ 28mi.2Rss 8ma4156 Chap.5 Passive and Active Current Mirrors where we have assumed I/(28n3,4) ro3.«.and neglected the effect of r),2/2. The CMRR is then given by cure = [40m (5.36) Acu zna.a(l + 28n1.2Rss) = Bmalroralros 4) eee Smt) (531) Bmi2 = (1+ 2gm1,2Rss)8ma.4(rorallros.)- (5.38) Equation (5.35) indicates that, even with perfect symmetry, the output signal is corrupted by input CM variations, a drawback that does not exist in the fully differential circuits of Chapter 3. High-frequency common-mode noise therefore degrades the performance | considerably as the capacitance shunting the tail current source exhibits a lower impedance, Example 5.7 ‘The CM gain of the circuit of Fig. 5.29 can be shown to be zero by a (flawed) argument. As shown in Fig. 5.31(@) if Via,cm introduces a change of A/ in the drain current of each input transistor, then ) Figure 5.31 1p3 also experiences the same change and so does Ips. Thus, Mg seemingly provides the additional ‘current required by Mz, and the output voltage need not change, i., Aciy = 0. Explain the flaw in this proof. Solution The assumption that A Jpg completely cancels the effect of Apa is incorrect. Consider the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 5.31(b). Since i AVr = Ah | —' Bn vo); (5.39)Se0. 5.3 Active Current Mirrors 157 we have \Alpal = gmadVe (540) = bt as (6.41) ‘This current and A fy (= Al; = A/) give a net voltage change equal to ro3 AVout = (18m —— “T+ enaroa — Ab)roa 42) -Al — (5.43) faaros + 17% 6) which is equal to the voltage change at node F. Itis also instructive to calculate the common-mode gain in the presence of mismatches. As an example, we consider the case where the input transistors exhibit slightly different transconductances (Fig. 5.32(a)]. How does V,., depend on Vin,cw? Since the change at Vin,om M2 ) Figure §:32 Differential pair with gy, mismatch, nodes F and X isrelatively small, wecan compute the change in /py and Jz while neglecting the effect of ro1 and ro2. As shown in Fig. 5.32(b), the voltage change at P can be obtained by considering M; and M2 as a single transistor (in a source follower configuration) with a transconductance equal to gi + 8m? i-€., AVp = AVin,eom———7— 6.44)158 Chap.5 Passive and Active Current Mirrors where body effect is neglected. The changes in the drain currents of M; and M) are therefore given by Alp = 8mi(AVincm — AV) (5.45) AVin, m = ra Smt 646 Rss 1 Smt + 8m2 Bm + Bm Alo2 = 8m2(A Vinca — AVp) (5.47) — Snr 5.48) Bint + 8m2 The change A/p; multiplied by (1/gm3)|Ir03 yields |AIpal = gmal(1/8na) roa] ATp1. The difference between this current and A//p2 flows through the output impedance of the circuit, which is equal to ro, because we have neglected the effect of roy and rox Smit AVincw ros Bn2AVinco Vous = | OR 8 En roy (5.49) TH Gi F BwaDRo5 p54 LT Gm + Bad Rss |" Bm3 AVin, Simi — 8m2)O3 ~ 8m2/ Bm: _ co (mi = 8ma)ro3 ~ &ma/8 Bry4, (5.50) TH Gm taedRss © 83 If ros > 1/8m3, we have Vout fmt — Sr = 8m2/ 8m: AVour_ (mi ~ Bm2)F03 ~ Bm2/ Br 3 (551) AVincw E+ (mi + 8m2)Rss Compared to Eq. (5.35), this result contains the additional term (m1 — 8m2)roa in the numerator, revealing the effect of transconductance mismatch on the common-mode gain. Unless otherwise stated, in the following problems, use the device data shown in Table 2,1 and assume Vip = 3 V where necessary. All device dimensions are effective values and in microns. 5.1. In Fig. 5.2, assume (W/L), = 50/0.5, 4 = 0, four = 0.5 mA, and Mj is saturated. (a) Determine Ro/R. (b) Calculate the sensitivity of Jour to Von, defined as 4 Joy;/Vpp and normalized to Io. (6) How much does Zour change if Vrw changes by 50 mV? (a) If the temperature dependence of j1» is expressed as j1y x T~3/? but Vr-y is independent ‘of temperature, how much does Jour vary if T changes from 300°K to 370°K?