Unit 1.

2: Small signal amplifiers

P Narashimaraja
pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in

R.V.C.E

April, 2021

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Outline of Part 2

Common
Source

Common
Gate

Single-stage

Common
Drain
w.r.t
Single-ended
Small-signal
input Amplifiers

Multi-stage Cascode

Folded-
Cascode
Device Parameters for Analog Design

Minimum
Current, ID
VDS

Output
Device Parameters impedance,
ro

Transconductance, Capacitances,
gm cgs , cgd
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Device Parameters for Analog Design

1. Transconductance, gm :
2. Capacitances, cgs , cgd :
3. Output impedance, ro :
4. Current, ID :
5. Minimum VDS :

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

single-stage Amplifiers

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

single-stage Amplifiers
Common-source amplifier

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-source amplifiers

With different loads

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Common-source amplifier: Basics
In common-source amplifiers, the input is (somehow!) connected to the gate and the
output is (somehow!) taken from the drain.

Vout

Vout

Vin
Vout
Vout
Vin
We can divide common source amplifiers into two groups:
1. Without source degeneration (no body effect for the
main transistor)
Rdeg
2. With source degeneration (have to take body effect into Vout

Vin
account for the main transistor) Vin

Vout
Rdeg
Common source amplifier – Resistive load
Drawback:
Calculate the gain using Large signal analysis

VOU T

VDD VDD A

C
RD
Vo
B
VOV
Vin
VT H VIN
VOV VT H

Therefore, one can expect the small-signal gain to be:

Common source amplifier – Resistive load
Sketch ID and gm of M1 as a function of Vin .
IDS
ID gm

Vin1

VT Vin VT Vin1 Vin

¤VVT
DS
Common source amplifier – Resistive load
Drawback:
Gain of common-source amplifier:To increase the gain:
1. gm :Ò
2. Ò RD and Ø ID :
3. Ò RD and Ó ID :
Notice the trade-offs between gain, bandwidth, and voltage swings.
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Diode Connected Load

Review: Diode-connected configuration

Body effect RX (when λ  0) RX (when λ  0)
VDD RX

RX

RX VDD

RX

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – nMOS Diode Connected Load

ID2
Output swing:
VDD
ID1

M2
VDS2
Vo ID
Vin M1

VDS1

VO

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – nMOS Diode Connected Load

VDD

Gain:
Gm 
M2

Vo Rout 
Av  Gm  Rout 
Vin M1

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – pMOS Diode Connected Load

VDD

M2
Gain:
Vo Av  Gm  Rout 
Vin M1

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Diode Connected Load

VDD

M2

Vo Gain:
Av 

gm1
Vin M1
gm2
Which expression of gm can be substituted:
VDD
1W
c
gm  kn pVGS
VT q  2ID kn1  V 2I
D V
W
M2 L L GS T
Vo

Vin M1

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Diode Connected Load

Gain: g
Av 
gm2
m1 c
Case 1: gm  2ID kn1
W
Case 2: gm  2ID {VV O
L
VDD

M2

Vo

Vin M1

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Observations: CS amplifier – Diode Connected Load

1. The amplifier gain is not a function of the bias current.

So, the change in the input and output levels does not
affect the gain, and the amplifier becomes more linear.
ID1 2. The amplifier gain is not a function of the input signal
(amplifier becomes more linear).
3. The amplifier gain is a weak function (square root)of
the transistor sizes. So, we have to change the
dimensions by a considerable amount so as to increase
the gain.
4. The voltage swing is constrained by both the overdrive
voltage and the threshold voltage of the
diode-connected device.
5. A high amplifier gain leads to a high overdrive voltage
VDS1 for the diode connected device which limits the voltage
swing.
6. The gain of the amplifier is reduced when body effect
should be considered.
Exercise
Find the gain of the following circuit if M1 is biased in saturation and
IS  0.75I1 . Assume λ  0 for both MOSFETs.

VDD

M2 IS

Vo
I1

Vin M1
Exercise
Observation:
VDD 1. For fixed transistor sizes, using the current source
increases the gain by a factor of 2.
M2 IS 2. For fixed overdrive voltages, using the current source
increases the gain by a factor of 4.
Vo 3. For a given gain, using the current source allows us to
I1 make the diode connected load 4 times smaller.
4. For a given gain, using the current source allows us to
Vin M1 make the overdrive voltage of the diode connected load
4 times smaller.
This increases the headroom for voltage swing.
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Exercise
In the circuit shown below, the parameters of the nMOS are:
1
kn  160µA{V 2 , VT n  0.4V, λn  0V
1 and those of the
1
VDD PMOS are: kp  36µA{V 2 , VT p 
0.565V, λp  0V
1 , in
a standard CMOS process. The aspect ratio of M2 is 2/2.
Assume that VDD  5V .
M2 1. A voltage gain of 5 V/V is required at the bias point of
Vo Vo  2.5V . If the minimum length should be 2µm,
what should be width of M1 ?
Vin M1 2. Find the range of the input voltage over which both
MOSFETs operate in the saturation region.
3. Also, obtain the voltage gain and the output resistance
for the small signals at Vo  1.26V . Assume γ  0.

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Exercise

Given: kn  160µA{V 2 , VT n
1
 A voltage gain of 5V/V is required at the bias point of Vo  2.5V .
0.4V, λn  0V
1 , If the minimum length should be 2µm, what should be width of
kp  36µA{V 2 , VT p  M1 ?
1

0.57V, λp  0V
1 ,
pW {Lq2  2{2, VDD  5V .
VDD

M2

Vo

Vin M1
Exercise
Given: kn  160µA{V 2 , VT n 
1
Find the range of the input voltage over which both MOSFETs
0.4V, λn  0V
1 , operate in the saturation region.
kp  36µA{V 2 , VT p 
1

0.57V, λp  0V
1 ,
pW {Lq2  2{2, VDD  5V .
VDD

M2 Also, obtain the voltage gain and the output resistance for the
small signals at Vo  1.26V . Assume γ  0.
Vo

Vin M1
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Assignment
Given kn  1.34  10
4 A{V 2 , kp  3.8  10
4 A{V 2 , VT n 
1 1

0.7V, |VT p |  0.8V and VDD  3V .

1. Assume pW {Lq1  50{0.5, pW {Lq2  10{0.5. Assume λ  γ  0.
At what input voltage is M1 is at the edge of triode region? What
VDD is the small-signal gain under this condition.
2. What input voltage drives M1 into triode region by 50 mV?
Calculate the small-signal gain under this condition.
M2

Vo

Vin M1

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Current source Load

ID2
Output swing:
VDD
ID1

VB M2
VDS2
Vo ID
Vin M1

VDS1

VO

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Current source Load

Output swing:
VDD
ID1 VOU T

VDD
A
VB M2 VOV 2

Vo
B
Vin M1 VOV 1

VT n VIN
VOV 1 VT n
VDS1 VOV 2 VT p

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Current source Load

VDD The gain can be expressed as

VB M2
Av  Gm  Rout
Vo vin
+v gm1 vgs ro1 ro2
gs
Vin M1
-

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Observation: CS amplifier – Current source Load

Av 9gm1 ; but still the DC current is defined by M2 ,

M3 M2 rather than M1 (as in case of Diode-connected and
Resistive loads)
Vo
The output Q-point is undefined. So one needs a
Iref Vin M1
Common Mode feedback circuit to fix a DC potential at
node Vo .

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – Triode Load

The expression for ron2 is given as

VDD
VDD

M2 ron2

Vo
VB Vo
Vin M1
Vin M1

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Summary – Common source amplifier

Resistive load:
Gain is function of gm (which in turn depend on ID )
So change in Vin,Q changes gain: Non-linearity
Vo,max  VDD and Vo,min  VOV 1.
Diode-connected Load:
Gain is not a function of ID . But still it is a weak function of device dimension.
Improved linearity
Body effect reduces the gain.
Vo,max  VDD
VT 2 and Vo,min  VOV 1.
If High Gain is required: VOV 2 has to be increased Ñ lowers the output Q-Pt

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Summary – Common source amplifier

Current source Load:

Gain is not a function of input transistor Bias point.
Vo,max  VDD
|VOV 2 | and Vo,min  VOV 1 .
Reduce VOV to get greater swing
- If ID is fixed – W should be increased.
– Output capacitance is increased
Needs CMFB for fixed output Q point
Triode Load:
Defining VB    2pVSG
|VT |q is bit difficult to control
ron depends on technology used
Vo,max  VDD and Vo,min  VOV 1.

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Common source amplifier - with source degeneration
Gm :

vin
+v gm1 vgs ro1 gmb1 vbs RD
gs

RD -
RS
Vo

Vin M1
Rout :

vin
+v gm1 vgs ro1 gmb1 vbs RD
RS gs
-
RS
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common source amplifier – with source degeneration

If λ  0 and γ  0, then
Gm 1 gm
gm RS
and Rout  RD

Vin

RS

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Common source amplifier – with source degeneration
CS amplifier without RS :
VDD
ID gm
RD
Vo

Vin

VT Vin VT Vin
CS amplifier with RS :
ID G1m
RS
RD
Vo

Vin M1

RS VT Vin VT Vin
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Review: CS amplifier – with source degeneration

CS amplifier with RS : RX  R S ro g m ro R S
Gm 
gm ro
RX
RD Rout  RD k RX
Vo Av  Gm  Rout
Vin M1 
RgXm ro RRDD
If λ  0 and γ 0
RS
Gm 1 gm
gm RS
 R1S Rout  RD
Gm  iout
vin
 R1S ñ vin  iout  RS

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Exercise

Assume λ  γ  0. Calculate the small-signal gain of the circuit.

RD
Vo

Vin M1

M2

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

single-stage Amplifiers
Common-drain amplifier

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-drain amplifier

Why Buffers ?

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-drain amplifier

Resistive load

Also known
as Source CD Amplifier
Follower

Current
source load

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-drain amplifier: Resistive load

Large-Signal Analysis:

Vo

Vin M1

Vo
RS

Vin

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Common-drain amplifier: Resistive load
Gain calculation using Large-signal analysis:
Common-drain amplifier
Gain calculation using Small-signal analysis:
1 1
The impedance through Source of M1 is ro1 k k .
gm gmb
Visualized as:
G D
B
1
vin vgs ro

gm
Vin M1

1
b
gm
S
vo Vo
RS
Simplified:
vgs
G
S vo
1 1
vin gm ro
gmb
Common-drain amplifier: Resistive load
Av Vs Vin :
Large-Signal Analysis:

Av

Vin M1
B Vo
BVin  1
gm RS
RS pgm gmb q
Vo

RS

VT Vin
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Exercise 1

Vin M1

Vo
RS

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Exercise 2

Vin M1

Vo
VB M2

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-drain amplifier

DC level shift:

ID


X M1
Vo,max
Vin M3 Vo Vo,min 
VB M2

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-drain amplifier

1. Source followers have typically small output impedance.

2. Source followers have large input impedance.
3. Source followers have poor driving capabilities.
4. Source followers are nonlinear. This nonlinearity is caused by:
Variable bias current which can be resolved if we use a current source to bias the
source follower.
Body effect; i.e., dependence of VT on the source (output) voltage. This can be
resolved for PMOS devices, because each PMOS transistor can have a separate
n-well. However, because of low mobility, PMOS devices have higher output
impedance. (In more advanced technologies, NMOS in a separate p-well, can be
implemented that potentially has no body effect)
Dependence of ro on VDS in submicron devices.

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

single-stage Amplifiers
Common-gate amplifier

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common-gate amplifier

RD
Vo
VB M1

Vin
C1 I1

The gain is positive (under the assumption λ  0)

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Common Gate amplifier

Large-Signal Analysis:

Vo

Vin

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Common-gate amplifier

RD
Vo
+v gm1 vgs ro1 gmb1 vbs RD
gs
M1 -
RS

RS
vin

Vin

1
Av r gm ro
1 r R
gm
1
RS RD
 RD  RD
ro RD
 Source
Drain Resistance
Resistance
o o S
1 r
1 gm
RS
o
single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Example

Calculate the Input Impedance and voltage gain

I1

VB

Ix
Vx

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Exercise
1W
Given: kn
L
 2mA{V 2, Rsig  1kΩ, RD  15kΩ, I  0.25mA and γ  0.
VDD
Find Rin , Rout , Av for
1. λ  0 RD CC2

2. VA  10V Vo
VB M1

Rsig CC1
Rout
+
I
Vsig
vi
-
Rin

VSS

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Exercise

Derive the small-signal gain expression. Assume γ  0 and λ  0

RD
Vo
VB M1

M2
Vin

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Reference

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single-stage Amplifiers Reference

Reference I

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