A low-voltage low-power instrumentation amplifier based on supply current sensing technique

In this paper a new low-voltage low-power instrumentation amplifier (IA) is presented. The proposed IA is based on supply current sensing technique where Op-Amps in traditional IA based on this technique are replaced with voltage buffers (VBs). This modification results in a very simplified circuit, robust performance against mismatches and high frequency performance. To reduce the required supply voltage, a low-voltage resistor-based current mirror is used to transfer the input current to the load. The input and output signals are of voltage kind and the proposed IA shows ideal infinite input impedance and a very low output one. PSPICE simulation results, using 0.18 μm TSMC CMOS technology and supply voltage of ±0.9 V, show a 71 dB CMRR and a 85 MHz constant −3 dB bandwidth for differential-mode gain (ranging from 0 dB to 18 dB). The output impedance of the proposed circuit is 1.7 Ω and its power consumption is 770 µW. The method introduced in this paper can also be applied to traditional circuits based on Op-Amp supply current sensing technique.     

Electronically tunable current-mode instrumentation amplifier with high CMRR and wide bandwidth

A current-mode instrumentation amplifier consists of only two current follower differential input transconductance amplifiers is proposed in this paper. The proposed circuit of instrumentation amplifier is realized without using any passive components. Thus, the proposed circuit structure is very simple and suitable to the integrated circuit technology. The input impedance is low and output impedance is high, therefore the proposed circuit is easily cascadable. The gain of the proposed instrumentation amplifier is electronically controllable. The proposed circuit also enjoys the features of high common mode rejection ratio, wide bandwidth and low power consumption. Additionally, performance of the proposed circuit is tested under process, supply voltage and temperature variations. Furthermore, another circuit of instrumentation amplifier, which is capable of providing higher differential mode gain is also shown. The non-ideal and parasitic studies are included. HSPICE simulations are performed to validate the proposed circuits of instrumentation amplifier.     

Novel low-voltage low-power high-precision CCII± based on bulk-driven folded cascode OTA

This paper presents possible approaches to the design of a novel low-voltage, low-power, and high-precision current conveyor of the second generation (CCII±) based on the bulk-driven folded cascode operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with extended input common-mode voltage range. This CCII± utilizes bulk-driven differential pairs to obtain a nearly rail-to-rail input stage at a low supply voltage. The proposed conveyor operates at a low supply voltage of ±400 mV with a reduced power consumption of only 64 μW. A current-mode multifunction filter is presented as an application of the CCII±. This filter provides five transfer functions simultaneously, namely low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, notch, and all-pass. The filter has the following properties and advantages: it employs three bulk-driven current conveyors BD-CCII±, three grounded resistors, and two grounded capacitors, which is suitable for integrated circuit implementation. Furthermore, the input signal is connected to the low-impedance X terminal of the BD-CCII± whereas the output signals are taken from the high-impedance output terminals Z+ and Z−. Finally, the pole frequency and quality factor of the designed filter are tunable independent of each other. PSpice simulation results using the 0.18 μm CMOS technology are included to prove the results.     

Electronically tunable high gain current-mode instrumentation amplifier

A new design for electronically tunable current mode (CM) instrumentation amplifier (IA) is presented in this paper. It employs Modified Z copy Current Differencing Transconductance Amplifier (MZC-CDTA) along with a resistor. The gain of the proposed CM IA is controlled by a single resistor and can theoretically approach infinite value. Electronic tuning feature is augmented by using a MOS based resistor. The functionality is verified through simulations on Cadence Virtuoso using TowerJazz’s 180 nm Technology Node and performance against PVT variations is also examined. Feasibility of on-chip implementation is confirmed by the post-layout simulations carried out.     

A novel COA-based electronically adjustable current-mode instrumentation amplifier topology

In this paper a new topology for implementing Current-Mode Instrumentation Amplifiers (CMIA) is presented. The proposed CMIA is based on two single input-multiple output (SI-MO) current operational amplifiers (COAs) as basic building blocks and 2 resistors. To electronically control the differential-mode gain, a transistor operating in triode region is used which acts as a variable resistor. The significant feature of the proposed CMIA is that the active building blocks operate in closed loop configuration. Therefore it exhibits numerous remarkable features such as improved frequency performance, low THD and very low input impedance. In addition, it has fully differential output which reduces the output noise and increases its application. The proposed CMIA is analyzed and simulated with SPICE program using parameters of 0.18 µm CMOS technology and supply voltage of ±0.9 V.     

Voltage/Current-Mode Universal Filter Using FTFN and CFA

A novel configuration for realizing voltage/current-mode (VM/CM) universal filter using a single four terminal floating nullor (FTFN), a single current feedback amplifier (CFA), two capacitors and three resistors is presented. The VM configuration has three inputs and a single output and implements all the five generic filtering functions through the selection of inputs. This topology enjoys cascadability and does not require any additional active element for facilitating the filter realizations. The same circuit in current-mode has a single input and four outputs and realizes LP, HP and two BP responses simultaneously from which AP and Notch can also be realized. This topology uses grounded resistors and capacitors which are ideal for monolithic integration. Both the topologies enjoy orthogonal control of natural frequency (ω₀) and quality factor (Q) by the grounded resistors. The topologies enjoy low active and passive sensitivity figures. Experimental and PSPICE simulation results are also included.     

Multiple-input single-output low-input and high-output impedance current-mode biquadratic filter employing five modified CFTAs and only two grounded capacitors

This paper presents a novel current-mode biquadratic filter with three inputs and a single output. The proposed circuit employs five modified current follower transconductance amplifiers (MCFTAs) and only two grounded capacitors. It can realize all five biquadratic filter functions namely: low-pass (LP), band-pass (BP), high-pass (HP), band-stop (BS) and all-pass (AP) at the output terminal by selecting different input current signals, without requiring any parameter-matching conditions or additional circuits. The filter has an orthogonal electronic adjustment of the natural angular frequency ω₀ and the quality factor Q, and it has very low element sensitivities of ω₀ and Q. Moreover, the proposed filter has the feature of high output impedance and low input impedance, and the use of only grounded capacitors makes it convenient for integrated circuit implementation. The performances of the proposed circuit are illustrated by PSPICE simulations, and the results are in good agreement with theoretical analysis.     

Transimpedance Type Fully Integrated Biquadratic Filters Using Operational Transresistance Amplifiers

Operational transresistance amplifier (OTRA) is an inherently suitable active building block for transimpedance type signal processing because of its current input/voltage output nature. It is due to the fact that both input and output terminals of OTRA are characterized by low impedance. In this paper, we present an OTRA based transimpedance type biquadratic filter configuration. It realizes all five different filtering functions, namely low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch and all-pass. The configuration can be made fully integrated based on MOS-C realization by making use of current differencing and internally grounded inputs of OTRA.     

A Novel Resistor-Free Electronically Adjustable Current-Mode Instrumentation Amplifier

In this paper, a novel topology for implementing resistor-free current-mode instrumentation amplifier (CMIA) is presented. Unlike the other previously reported instrumentation amplifiers (IAs), in which input and/or output signals are in voltage domain, the input and output signals in the proposed structure are current signals and signal processing is also completely done in current domain benefiting from the full advantages of current-mode signal processing. Interestingly the CMRR of the proposed topology is wholly determined by only five transistors. Compared to the most of the previously reported IAs in which at least two active elements are used to attain high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) resulting in a complicated circuit, the proposed structure enjoys from an extremely simple circuit. It also exhibits low input impedance employing negative feedback principal. Of more interest is that, using simple degenerate current mirrors, the differential-mode gain of the proposed CMIA can be electronically varied by control voltage. This property makes it completely free of resistors. The very low number of transistors used in the structure of the proposed CMIA grants it such desirable properties as low-voltage low-power operation, suitability for integration, wide bandwidth etc. SPICE simulation results using the TSMC 0.18-μm CMOS process model under supply voltage of ±0.8 V show a high CMRR of 91 dB and a low input impedance of 291.5 Ω for the proposed CMIA. Temperature simulation results are also provided, which prove low temperature sensitivity of the proposed CMIA.     

A high speed low input impedance current pulse amplifier cell

A high speed CMOS current pulse amplifier cell with low input impedance, devoted to nuclear multichannel detectors where crosstalk is a serious problem, is presented. The symmetry of the circuit achieved with complementary transistors yields both an input and an output with low offset voltage, opening a large field of applications such as transimpedance amplifiers and therefore transimpedance operational amplifiers.     

Low power DDA-based instrumentation amplifier for neural recording applications in 65 nm CMOS

The low power instrumentation amplifier (IA) presented in this paper has been designed to be the front-end of an integrated neural recording system, in which common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR), input referred noise and power consumption are critical requirements. The proposed IA topology exploits a differential-difference amplifier (DDA) whose differential output current drives a fully differential, high-resistance, transimpedance stage, with an embedded common-mode feedback loop to increase the CMRR. This stage is followed by a differential-to-single-ended output amplifier. Low-power operation has been achieved by exploiting sub-threshold operation of MOS transistors and adopting a supply voltage of 1 V. Simulation results in a commercial 65 nm CMOS technology show a 1 Hz to 5 kHz bandwidth, a CMRR higher than 120 dB, an input referred noise of 8.1 μVrms and a power consumption of 1.12 μW.     

Voltage-mode universal filter with one input and five outputs using DDCCTAs and all-grounded passive components

This paper presents a versatile voltage-mode universal active filter with one input and five output terminals. The proposed circuit is based on using the recently reported active building block, namely differential difference current conveyor transconductance amplifier (DDCCTA). It employs two DDCCTAs as active elements together with two resistors and two capacitors as passive elements, which are all grounded. The circuit simultaneously realizes all the five standard biquadratic filter functions; i.e., lowpass (LP), bandpass (BP), highpass (HP), bandstop (BS) and allpass (AP), without changing circuit topology. The proposed circuit also has the advantage of high-input impedance terminal, and exhibits electronic tunability of its important parameters through the bias current of the DDCCTA as well as low sensitivity performance. PSPICE simulations using 0.5 μm MIETEC CMOS process are used to validate the theoretical predictions.     

Analysis and design of a new COA-based current-mode instrumentation amplifier with robust performance against mismatches

In this paper, analysis and design of a new current-mode instrumentation amplifier (CMIA) circuit is presented. The proposed circuit employs two Current Operational Amplifiers (COA) as active building blocks, one resistor and two transistors operating as variable resistors to electronically control the differential-mode gain. The main feature of the proposed CMIA is that unlike most previously reported CMIAs, its CMRR has negligible sensitivity to mismatches. In addition, in the proposed circuit both active building blocks operate in negative feedback loop which results in an overall enhanced performance. SPICE simulation results using 0.18 μm TSMC CMOS parameters and supply voltage of ±0.9 V show a constant CMRR of about 51 dB regardless of mismatches and wide bandwidth ranging from 14.8 MHz to about 3 MHz for differential-mode gains between 3 and 18 dB, respectively.     

Novel universal current-mode filters using unity-gain cells

Two novel universal current-mode filters using unity-gain current followers (CFs) and voltage followers (VFs) are presented. The first one, employing three CFs, one VF, two grounded capacitors and two resistors, has two inputs and three outputs. The second one, employing only two CFs, one VF, two grounded capacitors and two resistors, has four inputs and a single output. Both proposed circuits oOEer the following advantageous features: universal current-mode filter realization from the same configuration, no requirements of component matching conditions, employment of two grounded capacitors ideal for integration, employment of two virtually grounded resistors good for voltage control, easy adjustment of ω₀/Q and ω₀ through separate virtually grounded resistors and low active and passive sensitivity performance.     

Low Voltage CMOS Power Amplifier with Rail-to-Rail Input and Output

This paper describes a CMOS power amplifier with rail-to-rail input and output, also suitable for low voltage applications. The amplifier uses Simple Miller Compensation with high bandwidth stage to robustly and power efficiently compensate the amplifier. Circuit also includes a common mode adapter block, based on resistive level shift network, to implement rail-to-rail input and optional adaptive biasing block, which can be used to extend bandwidth of the amplifier for large high frequency inputs in continuous-time applications. Measurement results show that the amplifier is capable of driving heavy resistive and capacitive loads having maximum output current exceeding 100 mA, when driving 1 nF ‖ 10 Ω load from 3.0 V supply. Without adaptive biasing the linear amplifier achieves 5.7 MHz unity gain frequency and 61^∘ phase margin when driving 1 nF ‖ 1 kΩ load, while drawing 2.4 mA from 1.5 V supply.     

Instrumentation amplifier and current injection circuit design for input impedance boosting in biopotential and bioimpedance measurements

This paper describes an instrumentation amplifier (IA) architecture with a mechanism that generates negative capacitances at its input. Two 8-bit programmable capacitors between the input stage and the current feedback loop of the IA allow adaptive cancellation of the input capacitances from the electrode cables and printed circuit board. The proposed negative capacitance generation technique can improve the input impedance from a few megaohms to above 500 MΩ without significant impact on performance parameters such as the common-mode rejection ratio, power supply rejection ratio, total harmonic distortion, and noise. Furthermore, a current injection circuit is introduced for on-chip input impedance estimation. An operational transconductance amplifier and associated key design concepts are presented in this paper that achieve a transconductance of 25 pS and an output impedance above 4 GΩ. The IA and the test current generator were designed and simulated using 0.13 µm CMOS technology.     

An inductorless wideband common-gate LNA with dual capacitor cross-coupled feedback and negative impedance techniques

A wideband common-gate (CG) low-noise amplifier (LNA) with dual capacitor cross-coupled (CCC) feedback and negative impedance techniques is presented for multimode multiband wireless communication applications. Double CCC technique boosts the input transconductance of the LNA, and low power consumption is obtained by using current-reuse technique. Negative impedance technique is employed to alleviate the correlation between the transconductance of the matching transistors and input impedance. Meanwhile, it also allows us to achieve a lower noise figure (NF). Moreover, current bleeding technique is adopted to allow the choice of a larger load resistor without sacrificing the voltage headroom. The proposed architecture achieves low noise, low power and high gain simultaneously without the use of bulky inductors. Simulation results of a 0.18-μm CMOS implementation show that the proposed LNA provides a maximum voltage gain of 25.02 dB and a minimum NF of 2.37 dB from 0.1 to 2.25 GHz. The input-referred third-order intercept point (IIP3) and input 1-dB compression point (IP_1dB) are better than –7.8 dBm and –19.2 dBm, respectively, across the operating bandwidth. The circuit dissipates 3.24 mW from 1.8 V DC supply with an active area of 0.03 mm².     

High-performance current differencing transconductance amplifier and its application in precision current-mode rectification

A CMOS-based circuit for realization of high-performance current differencing transconductance amplifier (CDTA) is demonstrated. The proposed circuit offers the advantages of a wide frequency bandwidth and very small input terminal impedance. The results of circuit simulations and an application example are given to illustrate the advantages of the proposed circuit for precise high-frequency signal rectification.     

Electronically tunable current-mode biquad filter employing CCCDTAs and grounded capacitors with low input and high output impedance

In this study, a single-input multiple-outputs current-mode analog biquadratic filter, based on current controlled current differencing transconductance amplifier (CCCDTA) is presented. The proposed filter uses two CCCDTAs and two grounded capacitors without any external resistors, which is well suited for integrated circuit implementation. The filter simultaneously gives 3 standard transfer functions, namely, lowpass, highpass and bandpass filters with independent control of quality factor and pole frequency by electronic method. By summing of I_HP and L_LP, the notch filter can be also achieved. Moreover, the circuit has low input and high output impedance which would be an ideal choice for cascading in current-mode circuit. The PSPICE simulation results are included verifying the workability of the proposed filter. The given results agree well with the theoretical anticipation.     

New CCII-based versatile structure for realizing PID controller and instrumentation amplifier

In this paper, a novel two-input two-output current-mode (CM) circuit for providing proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and instrumentation amplifier (IA) responses, depending on the passive component selection, is presented. The developed circuit uses only grounded capacitors (PID controller selection) and only grounded resistors (IA choice); accordingly, it is convenient for integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. The proposed new configuration can simultaneously realize both gain variable non-inverting and inverting responses without requiring extra additional components. The proposed topology for providing high output impedance currents can be easily cascaded with other CM structures. Finally, some time domain and frequency domain analysis with SPICE simulation program and experimental results are included to show workability and effectiveness of the proposed circuit.