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6 September 2020 1442 ‫ محرم‬18

َ ُْ ََ

Analog IC Design

Lecture 19
OTA Topologies

Dr. Hesham A. Omran

Integrated Circuits Laboratory (ICL)
Electronics and Communications Eng. Dept.
Faculty of Engineering
Ain Shams University
 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA output range in CL configuration
▪ Unity-gain buffer configuration
▪ Fully-differential amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 2

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA output range in CL configuration
▪ Unity-gain buffer configuration
▪ Fully-differential amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 3

 MOSFET in Saturation
❑ The channel is pinched off if the difference between the gate and drain voltages is not
sufficient to create an inversion layer
𝑉𝐺𝐷 ≤ 𝑉𝑇𝐻 𝑜𝑟 𝑉𝐷𝑆 ≥ 𝑉𝑜𝑣
❑ Square-law (long channel MOS) VSG > |VTH|
𝜇𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑥 𝑊 2 VSD > |Vov|
𝐼𝐷 = 2 𝐿
⋅ 𝑉𝑜𝑣 1 + 𝜆𝑉𝐷𝑆
𝑉𝑆𝐵 ↑ ⇒ 𝑉𝑇𝐻 ↑ VDG < |VTH|

VGS>VTH VGD<VTH
VSB G
B S D VGD < VTH

VDS > Vov

p+ n+ n+
p-sub VGS > VTH
VDS>Vov
17: Noise Fundamentals 4
 Regions of Operation Summary
OFF
(Subthreshold) ON
𝑉𝐺𝑆 > 𝑉𝑇𝐻
𝑉𝐺𝑆 < 𝑉𝑇𝐻

Triode Pinch-Off
(Saturation)
𝑉𝐷𝑆 < 𝑉𝑜𝑣
𝑉𝐷𝑆 ≥ 𝑉𝑜𝑣
Or
Or
𝑉𝐺𝐷 > 𝑉𝑇𝐻
𝑉𝐺𝐷 ≤ 𝑉𝑇𝐻

𝑊 2
𝑉𝐷𝑆 𝜇𝐶𝑜𝑥 𝑊 2
𝐼𝐷 = 𝜇𝐶𝑜𝑥 𝑉𝑜𝑣 𝑉𝐷𝑆 − 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑉𝑜𝑣 1 + 𝜆𝑉𝐷𝑆
𝐿 2 2 𝐿

17: Noise Fundamentals 5

 High Frequency Small Signal Model
𝜕𝐼𝐷 𝑊 𝑊 2𝐼𝐷
𝑔𝑚 = = 𝜇𝐶𝑜𝑥 𝑉𝑜𝑣 = 𝜇𝐶𝑜𝑥 ⋅ 2𝐼𝐷 =
𝜕𝑉𝐺𝑆 𝐿 𝐿 𝑉𝑜𝑣

𝑔𝑚𝑏 = 𝜂𝑔𝑚 𝜂 ≈ 0.1 − 0.25

1 𝑉𝐴 1 1
𝑟𝑜 = 𝜕𝐼 = = 𝜆𝐼 𝑉𝐴 ∝ 𝐿 ↔ 𝜆 ∝ 𝐿 𝑉𝐷𝑆 ↑ 𝑉𝐴 ↑
𝐷 /𝜕𝑉𝐷𝑆 𝐼𝐷 𝐷

𝐶𝑔𝑏 ≈ 0 𝐶𝑔𝑠 ≫ 𝐶𝑔𝑑 𝐶𝑠𝑏 > 𝐶𝑑𝑏

Cgd
G D

Cgb Cgs gmvgs gmbvbs ro Cdb

Csb
S
B
17: Noise Fundamentals 6
 Rin/out Shortcuts Summary

𝑟𝑜 1 + 𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑅𝑆
H.I.N.

1 𝑅𝐷
1+
∞ 𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑟𝑜
At low
frequencies ONLY L.I.N.

17: Noise Fundamentals 7

 Summary of Basic Topologies
CS CG CD (SF)

RD RD RD
vout vout
vin vin
vin vout
RS RS RS

Voltage & current amplifier Voltage amplifier Voltage buffer

Current buffer Current amplifier
1 𝑅𝐷
Rin ∞ 𝑅𝑆|| 1+ ∞
𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑟𝑜
1 𝑅𝐷
Rout 𝑅𝐷||𝑟𝑜 1 + 𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑅𝑆 𝑅𝐷 ||𝑟𝑜 𝑅𝑆|| 1+
𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑟𝑜
−𝒈𝒎 𝒈𝒎
Gm 𝒈𝒎 + 𝒈𝒎𝒃
𝟏 + 𝒈𝒎 + 𝒈𝒎𝒃 𝑹𝑺 𝟏 + 𝑹𝑫 /𝒓𝒐
17: Noise Fundamentals 8
 Differential Amplifier
Pseudo Diff Amp Diff Pair (w/ ideal CS) Diff Pair (w/ 𝑹𝑺𝑺)

𝑨𝒗𝒅 −𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝐷 −𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝐷 −𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝐷

−𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝐷
𝑨𝒗𝑪𝑴 −𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝐷 0
1 + 2 𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑅𝑆𝑆

2 𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 𝑅𝑆𝑆
𝑨𝒗𝒅 /𝑨𝒗𝑪𝑴 1 ∞
≫1

𝑣𝑜𝑑 Δ𝑅𝐷 Δ𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝐷

𝐴𝑣𝐶𝑀2𝑑 = ≈ +
𝑣𝑖𝐶𝑀 2𝑅𝑆𝑆 2𝑔𝑚1,2 𝑅𝑆𝑆
𝐴𝑣𝑑
𝐶𝑀𝑅𝑅 =
𝐴𝑣𝐶𝑀2𝑑

17: Noise Fundamentals 9

 Op-Amp
❑ An op-amp is simply a high gain differential amplifier
▪ The gain can be increased by using cascodes and multi-stage amplification
❑ The diff amp is a key block in many analog and RF circuits
▪ DEEP understanding of diff amp is ESSENTIAL

M3 M4
Vout
Vin+
Vout Vin+ M1 M2 Vin-
Vin-

VB M5

17: Noise Fundamentals 10

 Op-Amp vs OTA
❑ In short, an OTA is an op-amp without an output stage (buffer)
❑ Some designers just use op-amp name and symbol for both
Op-amp OTA
Rout LOW HIGH
Rout iout iout
vin vout vin vout
iin iin
Model Rin Avvin Rin Gmvin Rout

Diff input, SE output

Fully diff

17: Noise Fundamentals 11

 V-star 𝑽 ∗

❑ V-star 𝑉 ∗ is inspired by 𝑉𝑜𝑣 but calculated from actual simulation data

2𝐼𝐷 ∗
2𝐼𝐷 2
𝑔𝑚 = ∗ ↔ 𝑉 = =
𝑉 𝑔𝑚 𝑔𝑚 /𝐼𝐷
❑ Figures-of-merit in terms of 𝑉 ∗
2𝐼𝐷 1 2
𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 = ∗ ⋅ = ∗
𝑉 𝜆𝐼𝐷 𝜆𝑉
𝑔𝑚 1 2𝐼𝐷 1
𝑓𝑇 = = ⋅ ∗ ⋅
2𝜋𝐶𝑔𝑔 2𝜋 𝑉 𝐶𝑔𝑔
𝑔𝑚 2
= ∗
𝐼𝐷 𝑉
❑ The boundary between weak and strong inversion (𝑛 = 1.2 → 1.5)
𝑉𝑜𝑣 𝑆𝐼 = 𝑉 ∗ 𝑊𝐼 = 2𝑛𝑉𝑇 ≈ 60 → 80𝑚𝑉
17: Noise Fundamentals 12
 Negative Feedback
𝑅2
𝛽=
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐴𝑂𝐿 𝐴𝑂𝐿 1 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑅1

𝐴𝐶𝐿 = = = ≈ = = 1+
𝑉𝑖𝑛 1 + 𝛽𝐴𝑂𝐿 1 + 𝛽𝐴𝑂𝐿 𝛽 𝑅2 𝑅2

𝜔𝑝,𝐶𝐿 = 1 + 𝛽𝐴𝑂𝐿𝑜 𝜔𝑃,𝑂𝐿

Vin
+ Verr
Vout Vin
_+
AOL
Verr AOL Vout

Vfb R1
β Vfb
β
R2

17: Noise Fundamentals 13

 Phase Margin and the Ultimate GBW
❑ If 𝜔𝑝2 = 𝜔𝑢: PM = 45o
▪ Typically inadequate (peaking/ringing)
❑ Thus 𝜔𝑝2 should be > 𝜔𝑢→ 𝜔𝑝1 ≪ 𝜔𝑢 < 𝜔𝑝2
▪ 𝜔𝑝1 defines OL BW and 𝜔𝑝2 defines ultimate GBW (max CL BW)
𝟐𝟎 log 𝜷𝑨𝑶𝑳 𝝎

Frequency domain peaking

→ noise amplification
GX 𝝎
Time domain ringing
→ poor settling time ∠𝜷𝑨𝑶𝑳 𝝎
𝝎

17: Noise Fundamentals PM 14

 Noise Models
𝑅 𝑛𝑉
Vn 𝑉𝑛 𝑓 = 4𝑘𝑇𝑅 ≈ ×4
Resistor thermal 1𝑘 𝐻𝑧
R In
noise R 4𝑘𝑇 1𝑘 𝑝𝐴
𝐼𝑛 𝑓 = ≈ ×4
𝑅 𝑅 𝐻𝑧

Vn
𝐼𝑛2 𝑓 = 4𝑘𝑇𝛾𝑔𝑚
MOSFET thermal and In
flicker noise 𝐾 1
𝑉𝑛2 𝑓 =
𝐶𝑜𝑥 𝑊𝐿 𝑓

2
𝑘𝑇
𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 4𝑘𝑇𝑅 × 𝐵𝑁 =
𝐶
R 1 𝜋
Vnout 𝐵𝑁 = = 𝑓
RMS noise 4𝑅𝐶 2 𝑝
Vn C
1𝑝
𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑚𝑠 ≈ × 64 𝜇𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝐶
19: OTA Topologies 15
 Noise Analysis Procedure
❑ Deactivate the input signal
❑ Identify the dominant noise sources → Model as 𝑉𝑛2 𝑓 or 𝐼𝑛2 𝑓
2
❑ Find the output noise density for each source: 𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑥 𝑓
❑ Calculate the rms output noise of each source
2 2
𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑚𝑠,𝑥 = 𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑥 𝑓 × 𝐵𝑁,𝑥
❑ Calculate total rms noise
2 2 2
𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑚𝑠,𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 𝑉𝑛𝑟𝑚𝑠,1 + 𝑉𝑛𝑟𝑚𝑠,2 +⋯
❑ Calculate the input-referred rms noise voltage
2 2
𝑉𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑟𝑚𝑠,𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑚𝑠,𝑡𝑜𝑡 /𝐴2𝑣
❑ For low 𝑍𝑖𝑛, input referred noise current must be added

19: OTA Topologies 16

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA output range in CL configuration
▪ Unity-gain buffer configuration
▪ Fully-differential amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 17

 OTA / Op-Amp
❑ Integral part of many analog and mixed-signal systems
▪ Amplification
▪ Filtering
▪ Any form of “signal-conditioning”
▪ Voltage regulation
▪ Reference generation
❑ Challenges
▪ Complex interdependence between different specs
▪ Supply voltage scaling
▪ Channel length scaling
▪ Energy efficiency
19: OTA Topologies 18
 Finite Gain
❑ Negative feedback: Gain set by ratio of matched components
▪ Very low sensitivity to PVT, load, and input variations
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐴𝑂𝐿 1
𝐴𝐶𝐿 = = ≈
𝑉𝑖𝑛 1 + 𝛽𝐴𝑂𝐿 𝛽
❑ Open-loop gain is finite: still small dependence on OL gain
𝐴𝐶𝐿𝑖−𝐴𝐶𝐿 𝐴𝐶𝐿
▪ Static gain error 𝜖𝑠 = = 1−
𝐴𝐶𝐿𝑖 𝐴𝐶𝐿𝑖
Vin
𝐴𝑂𝐿 1 1 Verr AOL Vout
𝜖𝑠 ≈ 1 − 𝛽 × 𝛽𝐴 1 − 𝛽𝐴 = 𝐿𝐺
𝑂𝐿 𝑂𝐿
R1
❑ Example: 𝐴𝐶𝐿 = 10 and 𝜖𝑠 < 1% Vfb
β
▪ 𝐴𝑂𝐿 > 1000 = 60𝑑𝐵 R2

19: OTA Topologies 19

 Finite Small-Signal Bandwidth
❑ How much bandwidth / speed is required by your application?
𝜔𝑢 = 𝐴𝑂𝐿 𝜔𝑝,𝑂𝐿 = 𝐴𝐶𝐿 𝜔𝑝,𝐶𝐿
1 𝐴𝑂𝐿
𝜏𝑂𝐿 = =
𝜔𝑝,𝑂𝐿 𝜔𝑢
1 𝐴𝐶𝐿
𝜏𝐶𝐿 = =
𝜔𝑝,𝐶𝐿 𝜔𝑢

Vin 𝐴𝑂𝐿
Vout
Vf
R1 𝐴𝑂𝐿𝑜
1 + 𝛽𝐴𝑂𝐿𝑜
𝜔𝑢
R2
𝜔𝑝,𝑂𝐿 𝜔𝑝,𝑂𝐿 1 + 𝛽𝐴𝑂𝐿𝑜
19: OTA Topologies 20
 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA output range in CL configuration
▪ Unity-gain buffer configuration
▪ Fully-differential amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 21

 Popular OTA Topologies
❑ Single-stage OTAs
▪ 5T OTA
▪ Telescopic cascode OTA
▪ Folded cascode OTA
❑ Two-stage OTA
❑ Three-stage OTA
❑ Gain-Boosted OTA

19: OTA Topologies 22

 Fully-Differential (FD) 5T OTA
𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜
❑ Gain ~ 2 VB
❑ Max output swing ~ 2 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 3𝑉 ∗ Vout- Vout+
❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 oppositely coupled
Vin+ Vin-
▪ Fixed CM input @ max output swing
❑ Efficiency ~ 100% Vcmfb

𝐺𝐵𝑊⋅𝐶𝐿
▪ FoM = 𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝑀𝐻𝑧. 𝑝𝐹/𝑚𝐴 ~ ?

❑ Noise: 𝛼 ~ 2
❑ Single pole

19: OTA Topologies 23

 FD Telescopic Cascode OTA
𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 2
❑ Gain ~ 2 Vbiasp

❑ Max output swing ~ 2 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 5𝑉 ∗ Vcascp

▪ Practically less (why?) Vout- Vout+

❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 oppositely coupled Vcascn

Vin+ Vin-
▪ Fixed CM input @ max output swing
𝐺𝐵𝑊⋅𝐶𝐿
❑ Efficiency 𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
~ 100% Vcmfb

❑ Noise: 𝛼 ~ 2
𝜔𝑇
❑ 𝜔𝑝2 ~ 2

19: OTA Topologies 24

 FD Folded Cascode OTA
𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 2
❑ Gain ~ 4
IB IB
Vcmfb Vcmfb
❑ Max output swing ~ 2 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 4𝑉 ∗ Vcascp
2IB
Vcascp
▪ Practically less (why?) Vout- Vin+ Vin- Vout+

❑ Flexible CMIR Vcascn Vcascn

𝐺𝐵𝑊⋅𝐶𝐿
❑ Efficiency ~ 50% Vbiasn Vbiasn
𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 2IB 2IB
❑ Noise: 𝛼 ~ 3
𝜔𝑇
❑ 𝜔𝑝2 ~
3

❑ The most popular OTA due to flexible CMIR benefit

19: OTA Topologies 25

 Folded Cascode with Rail-to-Rail CMIR

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 26

 FD Two-Stage Miller OTA
𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 2
❑ Gain ~ 4
❑ Higher gain if first stage is telescopic/folded
Vbp
cascode Vout-
∗ Vout+
❑ Max output swing ~ 2 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 3𝑉
Vin+ Vin-
❑ CMIR better than 5T OTA (why?)
𝐺𝐵𝑊⋅𝐶𝐿 Vcmfb1 Vcmfb2
❑ Efficiency < 50%
𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙

❑ Noise: 𝛼 ~ 2 + 2𝛽
𝐺𝑚2
❑ 𝜔𝑝2 ~ 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑜𝑡

19: OTA Topologies 27

 OTAs Comparison
Spec Best Worst

DC gain

Swing

CMIR
Efficiency
𝐺𝐵𝑊⋅𝐶𝐿
𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙

Noise

Stability

19: OTA Topologies 28

 OTAs Comparison
Spec Best Worst

DC gain Miller Telescopic Folded 5T

Swing Miller 5T Folded Telescopic

CMIR Folded Miller 5T Telescopic

Efficiency
𝐺𝐵𝑊⋅𝐶𝐿 5T Telescopic Folded Miller
𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙

Noise 5T Telescopic Folded Miller

Stability 5T Telescopic Folded Miller

19: OTA Topologies 29

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA input range in buffer configuration
❑ OTA output swing in feedback amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 30

 Gain-Boosted OTA
❑ Very high gain and good output swing
❑ But higher noise, higher power (less efficient), complicated stability (many poles), and slow
settling (pole-zero doublets)

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 31

 Gain-Boosted OTA: Auxiliary Amplifier
❑ Folded-cascode used as auxiliary amplifier
❑ No headroom limitation
▪ 𝑉𝑋,𝑌 ≥ 𝑉𝑜𝑣1 + 𝑉𝐼𝑆𝑆1

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 32

 Quiz: Gain-Boosted OTA
❑ Calculate the voltage gain. Assume all transistors have the same gm and ro. Assume the
load is identical to 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡 (not drawn).

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 33

 Quiz: Gain-Boosted OTA
❑ 𝐺𝑚 ≈ 𝑔𝑚1
❑ 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡 ≈ 𝑟𝑜3 1 + 𝑔𝑚3,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑜1 ≈ 𝑟𝑜3 𝐴1 𝑔𝑚3 𝑟𝑜1
❑ 𝐴1 ≈ 𝑔𝑚5 𝑔𝑚11 𝑟𝑜11𝑟𝑜13 ||𝑔𝑚7 𝑟𝑜7 𝑟𝑜5 ||𝑟𝑜9
1 4
❑ 𝐴𝑣 ≈ 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 → quadruple cascode
6

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 34

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA output range in CL configuration
▪ Unity-gain buffer configuration
▪ Fully-differential amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 35

 5T OTA as a Buffer
❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 OL: 𝑉𝑇 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣1,2 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣5 < 𝑉𝑖𝑛 < 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 𝑉𝑜𝑣3,4
❑ 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 OL: 𝑉𝑜𝑣1,2 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣5 < 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 < 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 𝑉𝑜𝑣3,4

VIN
0V VDD
M3 M4
VOUT
0V VDD VM Vout

❑ Max swing ~ 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 𝑉𝑇 − 3𝑉 ∗ Vin+ M1 M2 Vin-

❑ Example: 𝑉𝐷𝐷 = 1.2 𝑉, 𝑉𝑇 = 0.3 𝑉,

VB M5
and 𝑉𝑜𝑣 = 0.1 𝑉
▪ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0.5 → 1.1 𝑉
▪ Max swing = 0.6 𝑉
19: OTA Topologies 36
 Telescopic Cascode as a Buffer
❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 OL: 𝑉𝑇 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣1,2 + 𝑉𝐼𝑆𝑆 < 𝑉𝑖𝑛 < 𝑽𝑩𝟏 − 𝑉𝑜𝑣3
❑ 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 OL: 𝑽𝑩𝟏 − 𝑉𝑇 < 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 < 𝑉𝐵2 + 𝑉𝑇

VIN
0V VDD
M7 M8
VOUT M5
0V VDD VB2 M6
VM Vout
❑ Max swing ~ 𝑉𝑇 − 𝑉3∗
VB1 M3
▪ Independent of 𝑽𝑫𝑫 ! M4

❑ Example: 𝑉𝐷𝐷 = 1.2 𝑉, 𝑉𝑇 = 0.3 𝑉, Vin+ M1 M2 Vin-

and 𝑉𝑜𝑣 = 0.1 𝑉
ISS
▪ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉𝐵1 − 0.3 → 𝑉𝐵1 − 0.1
▪ Max swing = 0.2 𝑉
19: OTA Topologies 37
 Folded Cascode as a Buffer
❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 OL: 𝑉𝑇 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣1,2 + 𝑉𝐼𝑆𝑆1 < 𝑉𝑖𝑛 < 𝑉𝐷𝐷 + 𝑉𝑇 − 𝑉𝑜𝑣5,6
❑ 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 OL: 𝑉𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑛 − 𝑉𝑇 < 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 < 𝑉𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑝 + 𝑉𝑇

VIN
0V VDD
IB1 IB1
VOUT Vbiasp M5a M5b Vbiasp
0V VDD

❑ Max swing ~ 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 4𝑉 ∗ − 𝑉𝑇 Vcascp M4a M1a,b M4b Vcascp

Vin+ Vin-
▪ Depends on 𝑉𝐷𝐷 VM Vout
❑ Example: 𝑉𝐷𝐷 = 1.2 𝑉, ISS
Vcascn M3a M3b Vcascn
𝑉𝑇 = 0.3 𝑉, and 𝑉𝑜𝑣 = 0.1 𝑉
M2a M2b
▪ Max swing = 0.5 𝑉 IB2 IB2

19: OTA Topologies 38

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ OTA/op-amp overview
❑ Comparison of OTA topologies
❑ Gain-boosted OTA
❑ OTA output range in CL configuration
▪ Unity-gain buffer configuration
▪ Fully-differential amplifier configuration

19: OTA Topologies 39

 Telescopic Cascode Output Swing (CL)
❑ Input and output CM levels are equal (why?) → Same as buffer
❑ Input swing is negligible (why?)

VIN
0V VDD

VOUT
0V VDD
❑ Set CM level at its max value w.r.t. 𝑉𝑖𝑛: 𝑉𝐶𝑀 = 𝑉𝑏 − 𝑉3∗
❑ Max Diff Swing = 2 × 2 × 𝑉𝑇 − 𝑉3∗ = 0.8𝑉

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 40

 Folded Cascode Output Swing (CL)
❑ Input and output CM levels are equal (why?) → Same as buffer
❑ Input swing is negligible (why?)
VIN
0V VDD

VOUT
0V VDD
❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 and 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 ranges NOT oppositely coupled → Set CM to 𝑉𝐷𝐷 /2
❑ Max Diff Swing = 2 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 4𝑉 ∗ = 1.6𝑉

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 41

 Thank you!

19: OTA Topologies 42

 References
❑ B. Razavi, “Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits,” McGraw-Hill, 2nd ed., 2017.
❑ T. C. Carusone, D. Johns, and K. W. Martin, “Analog Integrated Circuit Design,” 2nd ed.,
Wiley, 2012.
❑ B. Murmann, EE214 Course Reader, Stanford University.

19: OTA Topologies 43

 SE 5T OTA Trade-offs Matrix
❑ Note: In simulations and interviews, you will usually encounter the case of constant W
rather than constant gm/ID
𝒈𝒎 𝒈𝒎 𝒈𝒎
Spec 𝑰𝑺𝑺 𝑳𝟏𝟐 𝑳𝟑𝟒 𝑳𝟓
𝑰𝑫 𝟏𝟐
𝑰𝑫 𝟑𝟒
𝑰𝑫 𝟓

DC gain ↑
GBW ↑
Thermal Noise ↓

Flicker Noise ↓

PM ↑

𝑪𝒊𝒏 ↓ (Fanout ↑)

Output swing
CMRR @DC ↑
19: OTA Topologies 44
 Clever Telescopic Cascode Biasing
❑ 𝑉𝐵1 tracks 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝐶𝑀
M7 M8
❑ 𝑉𝑖𝑛 OL: 𝑉𝑇 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣1,2 + 𝑉𝐼𝑆𝑆 < 𝑉𝑖𝑛 < 𝑽𝑩𝟏 − 𝑉𝑜𝑣3,4
M5
❑ 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 OL: 𝑽𝑩𝟏 − 𝑉𝑇 < 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 < 𝑉𝐵2 + 𝑉𝑇 VB2 M6
VM Vout
❑ Set 𝑉𝐵1 ≥ 𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝐶𝑀 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣3 → 𝑉𝑜𝑣𝐵 ≥ 𝑉𝑜𝑣1,2 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣3,4
IB
❑ Input/output ranges extended VB1
M3 M4
MB
Vin+ M1 M2 Vin-

IB + ISS

19: OTA Topologies 45

 Gain-Boosted OTA Frequency Response
❑ See [Razavi, 2017] Section 9.4.3

19: OTA Topologies [Razavi, 2017] 46