Unit 1.

3: Multi-stage Small signal amplifiers

P Narashimaraja
pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in

R.V.C.E

May, 2021

pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in AICD - 18EC46

Outline

Cascode Amplifier
Folded-Cascode amplifier

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Outline of Part 3

Folded
Cascode

w.r.t
Single-ended
Multi-stage
input Amplifiers

Cascode
Device Parameters for Analog Design

Minimum
Current, ID
VDS

Output
Device Parameters impedance,
ro

Transconductance, Capacitances,
gm cgs , cgd
 Cascode Amplifier

pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in AICD - 18EC46

Outline of Part 3

Current
source load

w.r.t
Single-ended Cascode Amplifier
input

Resistive load
Cascode Amplifier

Cascade of a common-source stage and a common-gate stage is called a cascode

stage.

RD
Vo
VB M2 Rout 
Rout 
Vin M1

pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in AICD - 18EC46

Cascode Amplifier

RD
vo Approximation of Gm :


+ RD
Vo gm2 v2 gmb2 vbs
v2 Gm
VB M2
-
ñ iout 
+
gm1 v1
v1

vin
Vin M1 - Gm

Av  Gm  Rout

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Cascode Amplifier

Bias voltage:
At VOU T
RD
Vo
VB M2 At VX
X
Vin M1
Having defined the Q-point at node X, how to express the
same w.r.t M1 ? Can it be equal to VOV 1 ?

pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in AICD - 18EC46

Cascode amplifier

Vo

RD
Vo Output swing:
Vo,max 
Vin
VB M2
Vx Vo,min 
X
Vin M1

Vin
Cascode amplifier

Shielding Property:
VTC graph:

VDD

VB
VT H2 Vo
Vx

VT H1 Vin

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Cascode amplifier

Shielding Property:
Without
With

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Cascode amplifier

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Exercise



In the cascade stage of Fig, assume

W
L 1
 0.5
50
,
W
L
 0.5
10
, ID  0.5mA, and RD  1kΩ.

Given: kn  1.34  10
4 A{V 2 , λ  0.1V
1 , γ  0, VDD

2
1
 3V, and VT H  0.7V .
1. Choose VB such that M1 is 50 mV away from the triode region.
2. Calculate the small-signal voltage gain.
3. Using the value of VB found in (1), Calculate the maximum output voltage swing.

RD

Vo

VB M2

Vin M1
Exercise: Cont.



In the cascade stage of Fig, assume

W
L 1
 0.5
50
,
W
L
 0.5
10
, ID  0.5mA, and RD  1kΩ.

Given: kn  1.34  10
4 A{V 2 , λ  0.1V
1 , γ  0, VDD

2
1
 3V, and VT H  0.7V .

RD

Vo

VB M2

Vin M1
Exercise: Cont.

RD

Vo

VB M2

Vin M1
Cascode amplifier with current source load
Output swing:

Vo,max 
Vo,min 

Vo Output Impedance:


VB1 M2
Rout
Vin M1
Small-signal gain:

Av 

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Exercise: Cascode amplifier
Calculate the voltage gain of the circuit, if λ  0.

RD
Vo
VB M2

Vin M1 Rp
Exercise: Cascode amplifier
Calculate the voltage gain of the circuit, using the exact Gm of the circuit. Assume
λ  0.

I1
Vo

VB M2

Vin M1
Cascode amplifier

Observation:
1. The cascode structure – converts the input voltage (vin) to a current (id) and
apply the result to common gate stage.
2. High Voltage Gain:
- High output impedance
3. Difficulty to fix the value of VB - as it affects swing either at Vx or Vo node.
4. Direct couple between Vx and Vo [DC condition]
- Limits output swing

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 Folded-Cascode amplifier

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Folded-Cascode amplifier

Motivation:
Cascode amplifier: The use of CS and CG stages with similar type of MOSFET, ended
up in a direct couple of Vx and Vo nodes with the VB.
So the idea is to break the coupling of Vx and Vo on VB, such that the fixture of VB
shouldn’t disturb the swing at one among nodes.

pnarashimaraja@rvce.edu.in AICD - 18EC46

Folded cascode amplifier
What about DC condition of the circuit?

RD

Vin M1 Vo

M2 VB

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Folded cascode amplifier

Types:

RD I1
Vin M1 Vo
X
M2 VB M2 VB
X
Vin M1 Vo
I1 RD

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Folded up cascode amplifier
Large-signal characteristics

Vo ID1,2
RD

Vin M1 Vo

M2 VB
X

I1 Vin Vin
Folded up cascode amplifier
Vin1 expression:
When Vin  Vin1:

RD

Vin M1 Vo

M2 VB
X

I1
Exercise

Calculate output impedance. Assume γ  0.

Rout
Vin M1

M2 VB1

VB2 M3

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