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16 April 2020 1441 ‫ شعبان‬23

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Analog IC Design

Lecture 07
Cascode Amplifiers

Dr. Hesham A. Omran

Integrated Circuits Laboratory (ICL)
Electronics and Communications Eng. Dept.
Faculty of Engineering
Ain Shams University
 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ Cascode amplifier
❑ Telescopic vs folded cascode
❑ Super cascode

07: Cascode Amplifiers 2

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ Cascode amplifier
❑ Telescopic vs folded cascode
❑ Super cascode

07: Cascode Amplifiers 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
𝐼𝐷 = ⋅ 𝑉𝑜𝑣 1 + 𝜆𝑉𝐷𝑆 VSD > |Vov|
2 𝐿

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
07: Cascode Amplifiers 4
 Regions of Operation Summary
OFF
ON
(Subthreshold)
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 𝑉 𝑉 − 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑉 1 + 𝜆𝑉𝐷𝑆
𝐿 𝑜𝑣 𝐷𝑆 2 2 𝐿 𝑜𝑣

07: Cascode Amplifiers 5

 Low-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 = = = 𝑉𝐴 ∝ 𝐿 ↔ 𝜆 ∝ 𝑉𝐷𝑆 ↑ 𝑉𝐴 ↑
𝜕𝐼𝐷 /𝜕𝑉𝐷𝑆 𝐼𝐷 𝜆𝐼𝐷 𝐿

G D

vgs gmvgs gmbvbs ro

vbs
S

B
07: Cascode Amplifiers 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.

07: Cascode Amplifiers 7

 Active Load (Source OFF)

ro

ro

07: Cascode Amplifiers 8

 Diode Connected (Source Absorption)
❑ Always in saturation (𝑉𝐷𝑆 = 𝑉𝐺𝑆 > 𝑉𝑜𝑣 )
❑ Body effect: 𝑔𝑚 → 𝑔𝑚 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏 (if G is ac gnd)

1/gm ro

1/gm ro

07: Cascode Amplifiers 9

 Why GmRout?
𝑅𝑖𝑛 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛 /𝑖𝑖𝑛
𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑣𝑥 /𝑖𝑥 @ 𝑣𝑖𝑛 = 0 vin
Rout iout
vout
iin
𝐺𝑚 = 𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑠𝑐 /𝑣𝑖𝑛 Rin Avvin
𝐴𝑣 = 𝐺𝑚 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐴𝑖 = 𝐺𝑚 𝑅𝑖𝑛
❑ Divide and conquer
iout
▪ Rout simplified: 𝑣𝑖𝑛 = 0 vin
iin
vout

▪ Gm simplified: 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 0 Rin Gmvin Rout

▪ We already need Rin/out and Gm
▪ We can quickly and easily get Rin/out from the shortcuts

07: Cascode Amplifiers 10

 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
07: Cascode Amplifiers 11
 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ Cascode amplifier
❑ Telescopic vs folded cascode
❑ Super cascode

07: Cascode Amplifiers 12

 Boosting Voltage Gain
❑ The max gain of a single transistor amplifier is the intrinsic gain (body effect may add).
𝐴𝑖 = 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜
❑ 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 is quite small for modern deep submicron technologies.
▪ May be less than 10!
▪ But we need high voltage gain to design an op-amp.
❑ How to boost the gain?
▪ Both CS and CG stages provide voltage gain.
1. Use a cascade of CS stages: CS + CS + CS + …
2. Use a cascode amplifier: CS + CG + CG + …
• Single cascode: CS + CG
• Double cascode: CS + CG + CG
•…

07: Cascode Amplifiers 13

 Cascode
❑ CS + CG

vout
VB M2 CG

vin M1 CS

07: Cascode Amplifiers 14

 Cascode Gain Using GmRout
❑ Transconductance is always related to the input transistor
(VCCS)
𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑠𝑐 ≈ −𝑔𝑚1 𝑣𝑖𝑛
vout
𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑠𝑐 iout,sc
𝐺𝑚 = ≈ −𝑔𝑚1 VB
𝑣𝑖𝑛 M2
Same Gm of CS
𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡 ≈ 𝑟𝑜2 1 + 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏2 𝑟𝑜1 vin M1
iout,sc
≈ 𝑟𝑜2 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏2 𝑟𝑜1
Rout significantly boosted

𝐴𝑣 ≈ −𝑔𝑚1 𝑟𝑜1 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏2 𝑟𝑜2

❑ Assume all 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 are equal and neglect body effect
𝐴𝑣 = − 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 2
07: Cascode Amplifiers 15
 Cascode as CS + CG
𝑣𝑥
𝐶𝑆: = −𝑔𝑚1 𝑟𝑜1 //∞
𝑣𝑖𝑛
𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 vout
𝐶𝐺: = 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏2 𝑟𝑜2
𝑣𝑥 VB M2 CG
𝑣𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 vx
𝐴𝑣 = ⋅ vin
𝑣𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑥 M1 CS

≈ −𝑔𝑚1 𝑟𝑜1 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏2 𝑟𝑜2

❑ Assume all 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 are equal and neglect body effect

𝐴𝑣 = − 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 2

07: Cascode Amplifiers 16

 Quiz
❑ The circuit below shows a double cascode.
❑ Find the voltage gain. Assume all 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 are equal and neglect body effect.

vout
VB2 M3

VB1 M2

vin M1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 17

 What if 𝑹𝑫 is small?
❑ Is this cascode useful?
▪ Not useful for boosting the gain
▪ But useful for boosting the BW (more about this later)

RD
vout
VB M2

vin M1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 18

 Cascode Load
❑ If you want to keep the large Rout, you must use
cascode load
VB3 M4
❑ Assume all 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 are equal and neglect body
VB2 M3
effect
vout
2
𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜
𝐴𝑣 = − VB1 M2
2
vin M1
❑ Output swing ≈ 𝑉𝐷𝐷 − 4𝑉𝑜𝑣

07: Cascode Amplifiers 19

 Cascode Bias Voltage
❑ Keep M1 in sat
𝑉𝐵 > 𝑉𝐺𝑆2 + 𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉𝑇𝐻1
𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑎𝑥 < 𝑉𝑇𝐻1 + 𝑽𝑩 − 𝑉𝐺𝑆2 vout

❑ Keep M2 in sat VB M2
𝑉𝐵 < 𝑉𝑇𝐻2 + 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 vin M1
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 > 𝑽𝑩 − 𝑉𝑇𝐻2
❑ Increasing/decreasing 𝑉𝐵 either hurts 𝑉𝑖𝑛 range or 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡
range
▪ Input and output ranges are coupled oppositely

07: Cascode Amplifiers 20

 Quiz: Cascode Bias Voltage
❑ Assume 𝑉𝑇𝐻 = 0.4 𝑉 and 𝑉𝑜𝑣 = 0.1 𝑉.
❑ Find minimum 𝑉𝐵 .
❑ If 𝑉𝐵 is set at 0.1 𝑉 above the minimum value, find vout
𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 . VB M2

vin M1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 21

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ Cascode amplifier
❑ Telescopic vs folded cascode
❑ Super cascode

07: Cascode Amplifiers 22

 Telescopic vs Folded Cascode
❑ Telescopic: CS + CG (both NMOS or both PMOS)
▪ Both CS and CG use same bias current
vout
❑ Folded: CS + CG (NMOS-PMOS combination)
VB M2 CG
▪ The small signal current is folded up or down
▪ Extra bias current is needed vin M1 CS
▪ Rout is lower (due to 𝐼𝐵1 )
▪ Why is it useful?
vin M1 CS IB2

vout
VB M2 CG

IB1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 23

 Folded Cascode Bias Voltage
❑ Input and output ranges are NOT coupled oppositely
𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑖𝑛 > − 𝑉𝑇𝐻1 + 𝑽𝑩 − 𝑉𝐺𝑆2
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 > 𝑽𝑩 − 𝑉𝑇𝐻2
❑ Choosing small 𝑉𝐵 extends both 𝑉𝑖𝑛 and 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 ranges
▪ Just bias 𝐼𝐵1 in saturation
❑ More on this point when we study operational amplifier design

vin M1 CS IB2

vout
VB M2 CG

IB1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 24

 Quiz: Folded Cascode Bias Voltage
❑ Assume 𝐼𝐵1 is implemented using a MOSFET, 𝑉𝑇𝐻 = 0.4 𝑉, and 𝑉𝑜𝑣 = 0.1 𝑉.
❑ Find minimum 𝑉𝐵 .
❑ If 𝑉𝐵 is set at 0.1 𝑉 above the minimum value, find 𝑉𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑖𝑛 and 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 .

vin M1 CS IB2

vout
VB M2 CG

IB1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 25

 Quiz: Rout of Folded Cascode
❑ Assume all transistors have the same 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 , and neglect body effect. Calculate Rout.

Rout

vin M1
VB2 M2

VB1 M3

07: Cascode Amplifiers 26

 Quiz: Rout of Folded Cascode
❑ Assume all transistors have the same 𝑉𝑜𝑣 and 𝐿, CS and CG have the same bias current, and
neglect body effect. Calculate Rout in terms of 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 of M1.

Rout

vin M1
VB2 M2

VB1 M3

07: Cascode Amplifiers 27

 Quiz: Gain of Folded Cascode
❑ Calculate Av = GmRout. Assume all transistors have the same 𝑔𝑚 and 𝑟𝑜 , and neglect body
effect.

VB4 M5

VB3 M4

vout
vin M1
VB2 M2

VB1 M3

07: Cascode Amplifiers 28

 Outline
❑ Recapping previous key results
❑ Cascode amplifier
❑ Telescopic vs folded cascode
❑ Super cascode

07: Cascode Amplifiers 29

 Gain Boosting: Super Transistor
❑ 𝑔𝑚,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 = 𝐴𝑣 𝑔𝑚 D

❑ 𝑟𝑜,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 = 𝑟𝑜
Gsuper G
Av

Gsuper D
gmvgs
vgs,super =(Avgm)vgs,super gmbvbs ro

vbs
S

B
07: Cascode Amplifiers 30
 Gain Boosting: Super Transistor
𝑔𝑚,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑠 𝑔𝑚 1
❑ 𝐺𝑚 ≈ ≈ ≈
1+𝑔𝑚,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑠 1+𝐴𝑠 𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝑠 𝑅𝑆

❑ 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡 ≈ 𝑟𝑜 1 + 𝑔𝑚,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑆 = 𝑟𝑜 1 + 𝐴𝑠 𝑔𝑚 𝑅𝑆
❑ 𝐴𝑣 ≈ 𝐴𝑠 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜

IB
vout
vin
As

RS

07: Cascode Amplifiers 31

 Super Cascode
❑ A.k.a. regulated cascode or gain boosted cascode
❑ 𝐺𝑚 ≈ 𝑔𝑚1
❑ 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑟𝑜2 1 + 𝑔𝑚2,𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑜1 = 𝑟𝑜2 1 + 𝐴𝑠 𝑔𝑚2 𝑟𝑜1
❑ 𝐴𝑣 ≈ 𝐴𝑠 𝑔𝑚1 𝑟𝑜1 𝑔𝑚2 𝑟𝑜2
❑ Gain is boosted while preserving headroom (no extra stacking)
❑ But more power, noise, and complexity

IB
vout
VB
As M2

vin M1
07: Cascode Amplifiers 32
 Gain Boosting Implementation
❑ NMOS CS: headroom limitation
▪ 𝑉𝑋 = 𝑉𝐺𝑆3 = 𝑉𝑇𝐻3 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣3 instead of 𝑉𝑜𝑣1
❑ PMOS CS: M3 in triode
▪ 𝑉𝐷𝐺3 = 𝑉𝐺𝑆2 > 𝑉𝑇𝐻
❑ Folded cascode: M4 provides level shift
▪ Can bias the circuit such that 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡,𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑉𝑜𝑣2 + 𝑉𝑜𝑣1

As IB1 IB1 IB1

vout vout IB3 vout
IB2
As As
M2 M2 M2
VS
VB M4
M3 VX M3 VX M3 VX
VDG>VTH
IB2 IB2
vin M1 vin M1 vin M1

07: Cascode Amplifiers 33

 Thank you!

07: Cascode Amplifiers 34

 References
❑ A. Sedra and K. Smith, “Microelectronic Circuits,” Oxford University Press, 7th ed., 2015
❑ B. Razavi, “Fundamentals of Microelectronics,” Wiley, 2nd ed., 2014
❑ B. Razavi, “Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits,” McGraw-Hill, 2nd ed., 2017

07: Cascode Amplifiers 35