Single Stage Amplifiers (2)

Outline
Source Followers (Common Drain)
Common Gate
Cascode

Source Follower
You cant drive a low impedance load
with a common source amplifier
Can be used as a buffer to drive a
low impedance load
Can provide voltage level shift

Input/Output Characteristic

As Vin increases, ID1 increases leading to an increase of Vout.

Small Signal Gain

Can you derive a Av without explicitly using the

small signal model?

Source Follower Example

gm=2mS
gmbs=0.328 mS
Res=6K Ohm
Vout,pp=1.596
Vin, pp=2
Av=0.796 (from simulation)
Av=0.801 (from small signal calculation)

Vin=1mV

Vin=330 mV

More Distortion

Linearity as a function of Vin

Amplitude

Small Signal Gain as a function of

Vin

gm depends on ID. When Vin=0, gm=0.

gm will increase as Vin increases. Thus Av will approaches 1.
Notice that as you move the red vertical line horizontally,
Av changes quite about. So there is quite a bit of nonlinearity.

Source Follower using an NMOS

transistor as a current source

If we can stabilize the current through M1, then gm1 will be

stabilize against Vin.
Av is less sensitive to Vin.
The linearity of the circuit will improve.

Output Resistance of a Source

Follower

Have you seen this

before?

Alternative Approach to Rout

Av when RS is large

If RS is sufficiently large, then the small signal gain of the amplifier

can be obtained using thevenins equivalent circuit (see hand out)

SF with a NMOS CS Load

Design Example
SF with an NMOS Current Source

Vout, pp=1.705 mV
Vin,pp=2mV
Av=0.8525
Av=0.857 (Analytical)

Vin=1mV

Vin=330 mV

Vin=330 mV
Rs=6K

Vin=330 mV
Rs=CS

SF with a Diode Connected PMOS

Impedance into S of M2

Reduce sensitivity of Av due to g mb

gm1 is constant.
gmb1 is noticeable.

The NWELL of M1 is tied to its source.

Thus, body-source effect is negligible.

Extra Voltage Headroom Required

by SF

Without the SF, the minimum voltage of VX is VDSAT1.

If SF is used as a buffer, Vout must be greater than VDSAT3.
The minimum voltage at X is increased because we have to
maintain sufficient voltage for VGS2.
As a result the minimum voltage at X is raised.

Compare SF to CS

DC Level Shifter

By using a SF, Vin can go to a higher voltage without driving

M1 into the linear region.

Common Gate Amplifier

Direct Vs. Capacitive Coupling

(Direct Coupling)

(Capacitive Coupling)

Gain of CG

If RS=0 and channel length modulation is ignored, Av is

CS followed by a CG

Using formula
from the
previous slide

Input Resistance of CG

Special cases:
1. RD=infinity (current
source)
2. RD=0
Input resistance is approximately the drain resistance
divided by (gm+gmb)ro

Output Resistance of CG
Similar to CS

Cascode
Cascode=CS+CG

M1 generates a small signal

drain current proportional to Vin.
M2 simply routes the current to
RD.

DC Bias of a cascode

M1 and M2 must be kept in saturation.

VDS1>VDSAT1
VDS2>VDSAT2

Output Resistance of a Cascode

M2 boosts the output resistance of M1 by a factor

of (gm2+gmb2)ro2ro1

Triple Cascode

Advantage: higher output resistance

Disadvantage: the minimum output voltage is equal to
the sum of three overdrive voltages.

Voltage Gain

Exact Voltage Gain of Cascode with

a Current Source Load

Implementation of Current Source

Using Cascode

Shielding Property of a Cascode

Current Mismatch

Current Mismatch Using Cascode

Folded Cascode

Output Resistance

Choice of Device Model

Break the circuit down into a number
of familiar topologies
Use the simplest model
If the drain of a device is connected
to high impedance (i.e. drain of
another), then add ro to its model
Introduce a more sophisticated
circuit model if necessary