Lect.

22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Various bias techniques for MOSFET circuits

How do we make
a constant current source
with MOSFETs?

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Constant current source:

I D1

1 ' W
2
= kn (VGS Vtn )
2 L 1

I D1 = I REF

VDD VGS
=
R

Assuming Q1, Q2 have same properties,

IO = I D 2 =

1 ' W
2
kn (VGS Vtn )
2 L 2

IO
(R can be outside the IC chip)
Current mirror

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I REF
Limitation on Vo?

(W / L ) 2
=
(W / L )1
VO VGS Vt n

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Mismatches between IREF and IO

Channel-length modulation
For two identical Q1 and Q2
IO = IREF when V0=VGS
As VO increased, IO increases from IREF
I O = I REF +

Since r0 

I O = I REF +

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VO VGS
r0

VA
I REF

V VGS
VO VGS
I REF = I REF 1 + O

VA
V

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Example 6.5
VDD=3V, Q1 and Q2 are identical with
L= 1m, W=100m, Vt=0.7V, kn=200A/V2,
VA (Early voltage per L) =20V/m
1. Determine R for IO=100A.
2. What is the lowest value for VO?
3. How much IO changes when VO changes 1V?

I D1 = I REF =
100 =

1 ' W
kn (VGS Vt )2
2 L 1

1
200 10 (VGS Vt )2 ,
2

(VGS Vt ) = 0.316, VGS = 1.016

R=

VDD VGS 3 1.016

=
= 19.84k
I REF
0.1mA

VO min = VGS Vt = VOV = 0.316 V

VA = 20 1 = 20 V
ro 2 =

20V
= 0.2M
100 A

I O =

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

VO
1V
=
= 5 A
ro 2
0.2M

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

(W / L ) 2
I 2 = I REF
( W / L )1
(W / L ) 3
I 3 = I REF
( W / L )1
I3 = I4

(W / L ) 5
I5 = I4
(W / L ) 4
Current-steering circuits, current source (Q5), current sink (Q2)

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

CS amplifier
Where is RD ?

Current mirror as a resistor Active load

(Remember Q2 has rO)

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Large change in vO with vI change!
Large amplifier gain
Load-line analysis

Q1

Q2

v = VDD-vo

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Gain for CS amplifier with RD:

-gm (rO || RD || RL )

Gain for CS amplifier with PMOS current mirror

-gm (rO1 || rO2||RL)
PMOS current mirror provides
large Drain resistance (Active Load)
as well as bias current!
Good for IC!

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Example 6.8
VDD=3V, Vtn=|Vtp|=0.6V, kn=200A/V2, kp=65A/V2,
L=0.4m, W=4m, VAn=20V, |VAp|=10V, IREF=100A.
1. What is the small-signal voltage gain, vO/vI?
2. What is the maximum vO for which the above is valid?

1. A = gm 1 ( ro1 & ro 2 )
4
W
gm 1 = 2kn' I REF = 2 200
100 = 0.63mA/V
0.4
L 1
V
20V
ro1 = An =
= 200k
I D1 0.1mA
ro 2 =

| VAp |
I D2

10V
= 100k
0.1mA

A = 0.63(mA/V) (200 & 100)(k ) = 42

2. For Q 3 , I REF
100 =
VSG

1 W
= k 'p VSG Vtp
2 L 3

V
1 + SD ,3

VAp

V
1
2
4
65
VSG 0.6 ) 1 + SG
(

2
10
0.4

= 1.13V

For vO ,max , VSD 2,min = VSG | Vtp |= 1.13 0.6 = 0.53V

vO ,max = VDD VSD 2,min = 2.47V

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi

Lect. 22: MOSFET Current Mirror and CS Amplifier

Homework: Do your design project: Part 1 and 2 (No need to hand it in)

ITOTAL 150 A

Electronic Circuits 1 (06/2)

Prof. Woo-Young Choi