Session 3
Session 3
Exercise 1
In Fig. 1 a differential pair with resistive load is given. Assume for simplicity
that in this circuit the bulks of M1 and M2 are connected to their source con-
nections thanks to triple-well-technology. Moreover, assume for VD = 0V that
M1 and M2 are in strong inversion and assume VDsat = VOV .
vout,− vout,+
a) Give the equation of the small signal voltage gain vD , vD and the
differential voltage gain, when VD = 0?
b) Draw on Fig. 2 the voltages Vout,+ , Vout,− and V0 and on Fig. 3 (Vout,+ −
Vout,− ) qualitatively. Moreover, indicate on both figures:
√
(i) VOV and 2VOV ,
(ii) AV ,
(iii) range, where M1 and M2 are in strong inversion,
(iv) range, where M1 is in weak inversion, but M2 in strong inversion,
(v) range, where M1 is in strong inversion, but M2 in weak inversion.
Now the considered circuit is extended with a current mirror (Fig. 3) and
your employer mandates the following specifications:
• Pdiss = 1.2mW ;
• Vswing = 0.8Vpp ;
• AV = 0dB;
• VDD = 1.1V ;
• Vth,n = 0.4V ;
• Ibias = 100µA.
Moreover, assume for simplicity that that VDsat = VOV in this exercise.
Exercise 2
Now an OTA is considered (Fig. 7) and it is assumed again for simplicity that
in this circuit the bulks of M1 and M2 are connected to their source connections
thanks to triple-well-technology. Moreover, assume following specifications:
• VDD = 1.1V
• Vth,n = 0.4V , Vth,p = −0.22V
• fGBW = 716M Hz
• CL = 500f F
Figure 7: OTA
a) Give the small signal voltage gain equation of this circuit including the
capacitances and indicate
(i) dominant pole,
(ii) non-dominant pole,
(iii) zero.
b) Assume the pole-zero-doublet to be far away from the dominant pole.
Draw the bode- and phase plot and indicate location of the dominant pole
and GBW.
c) What happens to the pole-zero-doublet, if one increases/decreases the VOV
of M5 and M6 assuming that the current flowing through M4 is fixed as
well as the lengths are fixed?
d) Assume VOV,3,4 = 0.2V , VDsat,5,6 = −0.25V and VOV < −0.1V for the
remaining devices. With aid of Fig. 9, calculate the maximum/minimum
possible output common mode voltage Vcm,max,out and Vcm,min,out , where
all transistors are still in saturation.
e) The designer decides to set the output common mode voltage for vD = 0
to the midpoint between Vcm,max,out and Vcm,min,out . Explain how and
calculate for that the required VOV .
Hint: Examine the PMOS pair for vD = 0.
f) Find and explain a suitable simplification of the equation from ”a)” such
that Fig. 8 becomes useful for designing the OTA. Then, calculate the
required VOV and Vin,cm,min for M1 and M2 to achieve AV > 8.
g) Calculate Vin,cm,max .
gm
Figure 8: gds as a function of VDS