On practical construction of electronically controllable compact current amplifier based on commercially available elements and its application

This paper presents a new concept of a current amplifier (CA) with electronically adjustable features (input resistance and current gain) implemented using commercially available devices. Several variations of basic structure are studied, described and the selected solutions verified by PSpice simulations and, moreover, also by lab experiments. Saving one discrete active device in comparison to already known similar topologies of single-input and single-output version (CA-SISO) is significant benefit whereas all other qualitative features remain very similar to previously reported ones. Simple modification of CA concept to multiple-output version (CA-SIMO), having independent adjustable current gain in each of output branches, is easily available. Experimental tests of features of discussed concepts yield adjustability range of input resistance from 100 Ω to more than 10 kΩ and current gain adjusting from 0.1 to 3.5 with bandwidth (−3 dB) of CA transfer response up to 16 MHz. As an example of application, proposed CA was successfully implemented in quadrature oscillator with a very wide tunability range from 29 kHz to 4.94 MHz. It was achieved by electronic control of several adjustable parameters of proposed CA.     

Design of Z-copy controlled-gain voltage differencing current conveyor based adjustable functional generator

This paper introduces interesting active element and its application in the field of square and triangular wave generators. Active element, so-called Z-Copy Controlled Gain Voltage Differencing Current Conveyor (ZC-CG-VDCC), has availability of three mutually independently and electronically adjustable parameters (transconductance, intrinsic resistance of the current input terminal and current gain between two terminals) that are very popular for control of applications today. In addition, a proposed device utilizes very useful z-copy (additional auxiliary terminal) features and two terminals providing voltage difference. All mentioned features are beneficial in mixed-mode circuit synthesis and design of adjustable applications (active filters, oscillators, generators, modulators, etc.). Electronically adjustable properties of the device are involved in the design of an adjustable generator. The generator provides voltage- and current-mode square wave outputs that can be also used for differential square wave output when very simply modified. Application of the generator in simple pulse width modulator (PWM) is also introduced. A detailed analysis and Spice simulation results are given and main features of the circuits are compared to electronically controllable solutions of recent development in this field.     

BiCMOS adjustable linear current mirror

Two novel BiCMOS adjustable gain linear current mirrors are presented. Variable gain is achieved by introducing a DC voltage into the control loop. Simulation and experimental results indicate that the gain is linear over several decades of signal current. The circuits are designed for maximum voltage swing with cascoded output to provide high output resistance     

Novel technique for the systematic measurement of gain, absoluterefractive index spectra, and other parameters of semiconductor lasers

To characterize semiconductor lasers, it is often required to measure parameters such as the quasi Fermi-level separation, intrinsic optical loss, the position of the gain peak, and gain and absolute refractive index spectra. For these measurements, there are many different techniques available, but they neglect to take into account the dispersion of refractive index and cannot be used to extract the absolute refractive index spectrum. A novel technique is proposed to systematically and accurately measure all these parameters of semiconductor lasers. Compared with techniques often used, which will be briefly reviewed in the paper, this novel technique has the following advantages: (1) the determination process uses only the measured spontaneous emission spectra, without the requirement for knowledge of such parameters as intrinsic optical loss, facet reflectivity, and waveguide confinement factor, which presently are difficult to check experimentally; (2) results are obtained for each given current (for example, this technique measures intrinsic optical loss for each given current, rather than the average one over the whole current range); (3) the dispersion of refractive index is taken into account; (4) both the absolute refractive index spectrum for a given current and its change with current can be accurately measured; (5) the gain spectra and refractive index can be measured as wide as one wants; (6) the measurement accuracy is improved; and (7) no adjustable parameter or recalibration is needed     

Current-controlled translinear impedance converter

A current-controlled impedance converter is described which is implemented using two translinear active devices: a current conveyor with unity gain and an adjustable differential current-mode amplifier. It has low parasitic input impedance and useful properties when the amplifier gain is near unity. To characterize the circuit, SPICE simulation results are given and discussed.     

卫星用高光谱红外焦平面读出电路设计

研制出一款高性能卫星用高光谱红外焦平面CMOS（complementary metal oxide semiconductor）读出电路ROIC（readout integrated circuit）芯片。读出电路设计包括任意行选择功能以及行增益单独调制功能,满足高光谱应用对读出电路提出的新要求。读出电路7档增益可选,适用于中波与短波碲镉汞HgCdTe（MCT）芯片;其他功能包括边积分边读出IWR（integration while reading）,抗晕,串口功能控制以及全芯片电注入测试功能。读出电路采用0.35 m曝光缝合工艺,电源电压5 V,测试结果表现出良好的性能:在77 K条件下,全帧频可达450 Hz,功耗可调且典型值为300 mW。本文介绍了在读出电路设计的基本架构,提出设计中遇到的问题以及相应的解决方法,在文末给出了电路的测试结果。     

A design criteria for the current gain in current-programmedregulators

The design of the inner loop for current-programmed regulators is discussed in this paper. The effect that current gain has on the quality factor Q of the LC filter is shown. A methodology is derived to reduce this value that, in most cases, can be very high. A high quality factor can produce drastic changes with undesirable effects on regulator stability. A low quality factor will produce two real poles with a consequent reduction in the current response. After the proper selection of the current gain is done, the design procedure for the proportional integral controller of the outer loop can be continued. The design-oriented analysis is applicable to the three basic switch-mode pulsewidth modulation converters, i.e. buck, boost and buck-boost. At the end, the procedure is applied to a 280 W boost regulator that shows the simplicity of this approach     

一种宽动态范围跨阻放大器的设计

针对光电探测器的光电流信号弱、变化范围大的特点,设计了一种全新的检测光电流信号的跨阻放大器(TIA)电路结构,其检测电流信号范围为1.6 μ上A～1.6 mA,动态电流检测范围达到60 dB.通过在电路内部设计出两个增益可调、增益段不同的TIA,分别处理光电流的小电流段(1.6～50 μA)和大电流段(50 μA～1.6 mA),增益可调范围为56～96 dBΩ;通过外置输出电压饱和检测信号,选择所需工作的TIA及其增益段.该电路采用0.18 μm标准CMOS工艺的PDK进行电路设计、版图设计和仿真验证等.测试结果表明:在检测电流为1.6 μA时,输出电压为95 mV;检测电流为1.6mA时,输出电压为915 mV,与仿真结果相一致.电路瞬态特性良好,上升时间为5～10 ns,3.3V电压下功耗小于2 mW,各指标满足设计要求.     

A wide dynamic range continuously adjustable CMOS current mirror

A novel circuit realization of a CMOS current mirror with wide input dynamic range and continuously adjustable gain is presented. The proposed current mirror is linear with respect to signal current in the strong inversion as well as in the subthreshold region of MOSFET operation. The gain is controlled by the same control signal in both regions. The circuit is analyzed using a numerical unified MOSFET model which covers both operating regions. The implemented current mirror is adjustable over more than eight decades of signal current     

Physically based comparison of hot-carrier-induced andionizing-radiation-induced degradation in BJTs

A physically based comparison between hot-carrier and ionizing radiation stress in BJTs is presented. Although both types of stress lead to qualitatively similar changes in the current gain of the device, the physical mechanisms responsible for the degradation are quite different. In the case of hot-carrier stress the damage is localized near the emitter-base junction, which causes the excess base current to have an ideality factor of two. For ionizing radiation stress, the damage occurs along all oxide-silicon interfaces, which causes the excess base current to have an ideality factor between one and two for low total doses of ionizing radiation, but an ideality factor of two for large total doses. The different physical mechanisms that apply for each type of stress imply that improvement in resistance to one type of stress does not necessarily imply improvement in resistance to the other type of stress. Based on the physical model, implications for correlating and comparing hot-carrier-induced and ionizing-radiation-induced damage are discussed     

电流可线行调整的BiCMOS镜像恒流源电路

本文提议了两种新颖的电流可线行调整的BICMOS镜像恒流源电路，通过在控制环中引入一个直流电压源来调整镜像恒流源电路的电流增益。     

Gain programmable current mirrors based on current steering

A new and compact scheme for a programmable current mirror is introduced. It features linear gain continuously adjustable in a wide range. In such a scheme differential pairs are used as current steering elements in order to provide gain programmability. All mirror transistors operate in strong inversion. Implementation of a linear OTA/multiplier is discussed. Experimental verification of the proposed scheme is provided.     

屏蔽壳结构高Q值混合谐振器集成带通滤波器

提出了一种基于混合谐振器的新型二阶带通滤波器,该混合谐振器由微带线和一个短路的铜柱线组 成,这可以利用射频收发系统的结构件空间,并方便与平面微带电路集成,以提高滤波器的品质因数,它的无载Q 值 为455,高于传统的微带谐振器。而且,通过源负载耦合和混合电磁耦合的方法,在通带两边分别有一个可调的传输 零点,提高滤波器带外抑制特性。实验结果表明,测试结果与仿真数据吻合良好。     

A sensorless torque control for Antagonistic Driven Compliant Joints

Antagonistic Driven Compliant Joints (ADCJs) are object of great interest in current robotics research, representing one of the most widely applied solutions to develop human-like and safe joints for human-robot interaction. Providing the joint with “actively” adjustable hardware compliance, ADCJs have two distinctive features: (1) the joint is powered by two independent “actuation units” and (2) each actuation unit works as a non-linear elastic element with an adjustable resting position. This paper proposes a sensorless torque control strategy suitable for ADCJs actuated robots. This method is based on two steps: (1) off-line characterization of the elasticity of the actuation units, defined by the force–elongation curve and (2) online estimation of the force exerted by each actuation unit, through a direct measure of the joint angle, and of the “resting position” of each actuation unit. The proposed force estimation method can be used to develop two independent force controllers, which can be then combined to regulate the resulting joint torque, with no need of additional torque sensors. The performance of the proposed torque control was evaluated over the shoulder and the elbow ADCJs of the 2-link 2-DOFs planar robotic arm NEURARM. The method proved to work effectively, achieving good performances on the test platform, and represents a suitable alternative to state-of-the-art sensor-based torque controls.     

薄膜电阻对微带均衡器的影响研究

为了使微带均衡器满足衰减特性与给定的误差曲线逐点拟和的要求,就必须使其频率可调、衰减可调、品质因数可调。因此,本文通过大量仿真和实验,研究了加载了薄膜电阻的微带谐振器及其在微带均衡器中的应用,研究分析了薄膜电阻对微带均衡器传输特性及驻波特性的影响。研究结果表明将薄膜电阻加载到微带谐振器上构造微带均衡器,可以通过改变谐振器的尺寸使其频率可调,通过改变电阻阻值及位置使其衰减可调、品质因数可调。大量HFSS仿真及实验证明这种方式很适合微带均衡器的设计制造。本文利用这种结构设计制作出了一个宽带微带均衡器,得到了很好的实验结果。     

A comprehensive,adjustable approach for linearizing and broadening the gain characteristic of variable gain amplifiers

In this paper a comprehensive approach is presented to linearize and adjust gain characteristic of variable gain amplifiers (VGAs). It is also capable of increasing the output linear dynamic range of VGAs and modifying variation range of control voltage. The approach is able to change the voltage gain characteristic of an amplifier, even after fabrication, to a desired one by means of a digital control signal and a digital to analog converter. Using this approach, the gain of basic differential amplifier is controlled by two different predistorters, and adjustable dB-linear characteristics in range of greater than 60 dB are achieved. The approach, also, is applied to two conventional VGAs, the gain characteristic of first VGA is linearized, and in the second VGA, the linear dynamic range is expanded about 26 dB. The controller uses 1.2 V voltage supply, and simulations are done using 0.13 µm CMOS process model. The other characteristics of each mode of control are reported completely.     

A high sensitive 66 dB linear dynamic range receiver for 3-D laser radar

This study presents a CMOS receiver chip realized in 0.18 μm standard CMOS technology and intended for high precision 3-D laser radar. The chip includes an adjustable gain transimpedance pre-amplifier, a post-amplifier and two timing comparators. An additional feedback is employed in the regulated cascode transimpedance amplifier to decrease the input impedance, and a variable gain transimpedance amplifier controlled by digital switches and analog multiplexer is utilized to realize four gain modes, extending the input dynamic range. The measurement shows that the highest transimpedance of the channel is 50 kΩ, the uncompensated walk error is 1.44 ns in a wide linear dynamic range of 66 dB (1:2000), and the input referred noise current is 2.3 pA/√Hz (rms), resulting in a very low detectable input current of 1 μ A with SNR=5.     

Nonlinear polarization rotation in semiconductor optical amplifiers: theory and application to all-optical flip-flop memories

We present a model for polarization-dependent gain saturation in strained bulk semiconductor optical amplifiers. We assume that the polarized optical field can be decomposed into transverse electric and transverse magnetic components that have indirect interaction with each other via the gain saturation. The gain anisotropy due to tensile strain in the amplifier is accounted for by a population imbalance factor. The model is applied to a nonlinear polarization switch, for which results are obtained, that are in excellent agreement with experimental data. Finally, we describe an all-optical flip-flop memory that is based on two coupled nonlinear polarization switches.     

12 GHz枝节匹配宽带微带均衡器

给出了一种匹配良好的宽带微带均衡器的设计。它由在枝节上加载了薄膜电阻的微带枝节谐振器构造而成。通过大量的试验和仿真研究了电阻值对谐振器的影响。当加载薄膜电阻在枝节谐振器上时，可以得到可调的品质因数。利用HFSS分析可以看到电阻加载的枝节谐振器不仅频率可调，而且衰减可调、品质因数可调。文中利用四个加载了不同阻值的枝节谐振器得到了一个12GHz带宽的微带均衡器，给出了结构图和特性曲线。结果表明这种加载电阻的谐振器结构很适合宽带微带均衡器设计。     

Optoelectronic feedback loop for relaxation oscillation intensitynoise suppression in Tm-Ho:YAG laser

An optoelectronic feedback loop that can be used to effectively reduce the intensity noise of a 2.1 μm Tm-Ho:YAG laser has been designed. The feedback circuit is based on a variable-gain biquadratic bandpass filter with adjustable central frequency and quality factor, providing a high loop gain around the relaxation oscillation frequency of the laser and a closed-loop phase margin larger than 50°. The relaxation oscillation peak in the intensity noise spectrum was completely suppressed in closed-loop operation, and a noise reduction of up to 24 dB was obtained