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Chapter 7
Building Blocks
of Integrated
Circuit Amplifiers:

Current Mirrors
and Biasing

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Operational Amplifier Circuit Components

1. Ch 7: Current Mirrors and Biasing

2. Ch 9: Frequency Response
3. Ch 8: Active-Loaded Differential Pair
4. Ch 10: Feedback and Compensation
5. Ch 11: Output Stages

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Current Mirror
Two Stage
Op Amp
(MOSFET)

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Discrete Amplifier Design: Gain Resistor
CS (Common Source) Amplifier

Resistor RD provides the gain

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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IC Amplifier Design: Current Source
CS (Common Source) CE (Common Emitter)
gain cell gain cell
Constant current source to provide gain and bias
the transistor

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.2 The Basic Gain Cell
▪ Two types of basic gain cells on IC:
▪ Common-source (CS)
▪ Common-emitter (CE)

▪ Both are loaded with constant-current source

▪ Resistor-on-chip is difficult to fabricate (tolerance and area)
▪ Current source provides higher output resistance than
discrete resistor and will increase the gain
Av=-gmro||RD for resistor-loaded CS amplifier
Av=-gmro||ro_currentsource for active-loaded CS amplifier

▪ These circuits are referred to as current-source loaded or

active-loaded
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Part A: Cascode Amplifiers

Goals:
1) Learn how it is implemented in IC using an active
load

2) Use these lessons to learn about Current Mirrors (CM)

both in IC and discrete design

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Current Source in IC
Current-source of the CS amplifier can be implemented
using a PMOS transistor biased in the saturation

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.2.3 Effect of Active Load
The current source, which is implemented by the active load,
will decrease the output resistance and voltage gain

Av=-gmro1||ro2

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.3 Cascode Amplifier
The gain of the basic gain cell can be increased by cascoding

How do you increase gain?

▪ A: Increase output resistance
How do you increase output resistance?
▪ A: Current buffer
What does a current buffer do?
▪ A: it passes the current through and increases the
output resistance
How do you make a current buffer?
▪ A: Place CG (CB) stage on top of the CS (CE) stage
▪ Also called Cascoding

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
Cascode Amplifier (1) CS amp gain, Avo=-gm1 Ro
with CS-CG where, Ro=total output resistance
configuration =(gm2 ro2 ) ro1
CS amp gain, Avo=-gm1 (gm2 ro2 ) ro1

(2) If identical transistors then,

CS amp gain=
Avo=-(gm ro)2 …(eq7.27)
Total output resistance
Ro=(gm2 ro2 ) ro1=gm ro2 …(eq7.25)

Cascode-stage gain

With an ideal current source load, total gain = -(gm ro)2

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
Cascode Amplifier (1) CS amp gain, Avo=-gm1 Ro
with CS-CG where, Ro=total output resistance
configuration =(gm2 ro2 ) ro1
CS amp gain, Avo=-gm1 (gm2 ro2 ) ro1

(2) If identical transistors then,

CS amp gain=
Avo=-(gm ro)2 …(eq7.27)
Total output resistance
Ro=(gm2 ro2 ) ro1=gm ro2 …(eq7.25)

Cascode-stage gain

With an ideal current source load, total gain = -(gm ro)2

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
Cascode Amplifier with CS-CG configuration and Active load

Ro = Rop || Ron= ro3 || ((gm2 ro2 ) ro1)

Av = - gm1 Ro= - gm1 (ro3 || ((gm2 ro2 ) ro1))
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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7.3 Cascode Amplifier
Cascode Amplifier with Cascode Current Source
Q3 (CG stage) raises the output resistance of
the current source Q4 (CS Stage)

Q2 (CG stage) raises the output resistance of

the amplifier Q1 (CS Stage)

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
Double Cascoding

Q: What are the

limitations to
Cascoding?

With an ideal current source load,

total gain = ? total output resistance = ?
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
CS Amplifier Cascode CS Amplifier Cascode CS Amplifier
with Active-load with Active-load with Cascode Active-
load
Circuit

Rin

Ro

Av

Av
(identical
transistors)
What is the impact of active load on each circuit?
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
BJT Cascode

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
BiCMOS (Bipolar + CMOS) Cascode

(a) MOS as amplifier, BJT as cascade stage:

Infinite input impedance and increased output resistance
(b) MOS for double-cascoding the BJT amplifier:
Why? Limitation of BJT: max possible Ro with BJT cascode is β2 ro2
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Cascoding: Improving gain and output resistance
Folded Cascode Amplifier

What is the advantage?

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Cascoding: What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Advantages

Disadvantages

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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In Class Practice Problems

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

p7.24: MOS cascode amplifier 22

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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p7.26: MOS cascode amplifier

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Part B:
Biasing and Current Mirrors
Goals:
1) Learn what current mirror does
2) Learn the effect on the amplifier
3) Learn how to analyze a current mirror
and how it is implemented

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4 IC Biasing
Current Sources, Current Mirrors, and Current-Steering
Circuits
▪ Biasing in Integrated-Circuit (IC) design is based on the
use of constant-current sources
▪ Goal: create stable constant-current source
▪ On an IC chip with a number of amplifier stages, a
constant dc current (reference current) is generated at
one location and is then replicated at various other
locations for biasing
▪ This is known as current steering

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.1 The Basic MOSFET Current Source

Diode-connected
transistor

Q1 is always in saturation!
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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7.4.1 The Basic MOSFET Current Source

1 W 
(7.52) ID1  kn   VGS  Vtn 
2

2  L 1
V V
(7.53) ID1  IREF  DD GS
R
1 W 
(7.54) IO  ID 2  kn   VGS  Vtn 
2

2  L 2
IO (W / L)2
(7.55) 
IREF (W / L)1

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.1 The Basic MOSFET Current Source

(7.56) VO  VGS  Vtn

(7.57) VO  VOV
VO VA2
(7.58) Ro   ro2 
IO IO
(W / L)2  VO  VGS 
(7.58) Io  IREF  1  
(W / L)1  VA2 

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.1 The Basic MOSFET Current Source

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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expl7.5: MOS Current Mirror

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.2 MOS Current-Steering Circuits

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.2 MOS Current-Steering Circuits
▪ Once a constant current (W / L)2
(7.60) I2  IREF
has been generated, it can (W / L)1
be replicated to provide (W / L)3
dc bias or load current (7.61) I3  IREF
(W / L)1
for the various stages of
(7.62) VD2 ,VD 3  VSS  VGS 1  Vtn
the amplifier in an IC
(7.63) VD2 ,VD 3  VSS  VOV 1
(W / L)5
▪ Current mirrors can be (7.64) I5  I4
used to achieve this goal (W / L)4
(7.65) VD 5  VDD  VOV 5

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.2 MOS Current-Steering Circuits

Source Follower Common Source

(Unity gain amplifier) Amplifier

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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How do you make Current Mirror on an IC?
Single Gate Layout Circuit
Active Region Drain
Source
Gate

Parallel Gate Layout

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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7.4.3 BJT Current Mirrors
Very similar to the MOS
mirror. However, with two
important differences:
▪ The non-zero bias current
causes an error in current
mirroring (magnitude of
current conducted)
▪ The current transfer ratio
is determined by the
relative areas of the
emitter-based junctions of
Q1 and Q2

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

 Application: Common Emitter Amplifier with Current Mirror 36

PNP-based
Common Emitter Amplifier

NPN/PNP (NMOS/PMOS) work as complimentary pair: e.g. if PNP

is used as amplifier, the current source is provided by NPN based
current mirror
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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ex7.18: BJT Current Mirror

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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In Class Practice Problems

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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p7.49: MOS Current Mirror

Simulate

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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p7.58: BJT Current Mirror

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Part C:
Advanced Current Mirror Circuits

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

 7.5 Current-Mirror Circuits with Improved Performance 42

Cascode MOS Mirror

▪ Cascoding of transistors
can be used to increase gain
and acquire better
performance
▪ Very popular biasing
circuit in IC design

Q4 and Q1 are always in

saturation

Design Equations?
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
 7.5 Current-Mirror Circuits with Improved Performance 43

Wilson Current Mirror (BJT based)

▪ Addition of a diode-connected transistor in series with Q2
can reduce the effect of β on output resistance
Basic Current Mirror Wilson Current Mirror

Design Equations?
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
 7.5 Current-Mirror Circuits with Improved Performance 44

Wilson Current Mirror (MOSFET based)

▪ Wilson current mirror can be used to increase output
resistance and gain

Design Equations?
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
 7.5 Current-Mirror Circuits with Improved Performance 45

Widlar Current Mirror

▪ A resistor RE is included in the emitter lead of Q2

Design Equations?
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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In Class Practice Problems

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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p7.65: MOS Cascode Current Mirror

Also calculate change in current given change in Vo=10V

Q: How to provide Iref?

A: Iref=(VDD-2VBE)/R

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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p7.70: Wilson Current Mirror

Find R if VCC=VEE=2.5 V. Compare change in current with 7.58 and 7.65.

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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expl7.6 & ex7.22: Widlar Current Mirror

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Summary

▪ An overriding concern for IC designers is the minimization of

chip area or “silicon real estate.” As a result, large-valued
resistors and capacitors are virtually absent.

▪ We can use an active load instead of passive resistors.

▪ The basic gain cell of IC amplifier is the CS (CE) amplifier

with a current-source load. For an ideal current-source load
(i.e. one with infinite output resistance), the transistor
operates in an open-circuit fashion and thus provides the
maximum gain possible: Avo = -gmro = -A0.

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Summary
▪ The intrinsic gain A0 is given by A0 = VA / VT for a BJT and A0
= VA/(VOV/2) for a MOSFET. For a BJT, A0 is constant
independent of bias current and device dimensions. For a
MOSFET, A0 is inversely proportional to ID1/2. See equation
7.15

▪ Simple current-source loads reduce the gain realized in the

basic gain cell because of their finite resistance (usually
comparable to the value of ro of the amplifying transistor)

▪ To raise the output resistance of the CS or CE transistor, we

stack a CG or CB transistor on top. This is called cascoding.
The CG or CB transistor in the cascode passes the current
gm1vi provided by the CS or CE transistor.
ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik
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Summary
▪ A MOS cascode amplifier operating with an ideal current
source load achieves a gain of (gmro)2 = A02

▪ To realize the full advantage of cascoding, the load current-

source must also be cascoded, in which case a gain as high as
1/2A02 can be obtained

▪ Double cascoding is possible in the MOS case only. However,

the large number of transistors in the stack between the power-
supply rails results in the disadvantages of a severely limited
output-signal swing. The folded-cascode configuration helps
to resolve this issue.

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Summary
▪ A CS amplifier with a resistance Rs in its source lead has an
output resistance Ro = (1+gmRS)ro. The corresponding
formula for the BJT case is Ro = [1+gm(Re||rp)]ro

▪ Biasing in integrated circuits utilizes current sources. As

well, current sources are used as load devices. Typically an
accurate and stable reference current is generated and then
replicated to provide bias current for the various amplifier
stages on the chip. The heart of the current-steering circuitry
utilized to perform this function is the current mirror

▪ The MOS current mirror has a current transfer ratio of

(W/L)2/(W/L)1. For a bipolar mirror, the ratio is IS2/IS1.

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik

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Summary
▪ Bipolar mirrors suffer from the finite β, which reduces the
accuracy of the current transfer ratio

▪ Both bipolar and MOS mirrors of the basic type have a finite
output resistance equal to ro of the output device. Also, for
proper operation, a voltage of at least 0.3V is required across
the output transistor of a simple bipolar mirror (|VOV| for the
MOS case)

▪ Cascoding can be applied to current mirrors to increase their

output resistances. An alternative that also solves the b
problem is the bipolar case is the Wilson circuit.

ECE 3120 Microelectronics II Dr. Suketu Naik