Chapter 1 :- Current Conveyor

1.1 Introduction

Recently, current mode circuits have been receiving significant attention in analog signal
processing. A useful function block for high freqency current mode application is a current
conveyor. The current conveyor is a three terminal device performing many useful analog signal
processing functions when the device is connected with other electronic elements in specific
circuit configuration. The current conveyor has evolved from first generation to second
generation. The first generation current conveyor (CCI) was proposed by Smith and Sedra in
1968 and the more versatile second generation current conveyor (CCII) was introduced by the
same two authors in 1970, as an extension of their first generation conveyor.

Figure 1.1.1 Block diagram of current conveyor

In may cases, the current conveyor simplifies circuit design in much the same way as the
conventional op-amp, but it presents an alternative method of implementing analog system
which traditionally has been based on op-amp. This alternative approach leads to new method of
implementing analog transfer functions, and in many cases the conveyor-based implementation
offers improved performance to the voltage op-amp based implementation in terms of accuracy,
bandwidth and convenience. Circuit based on voltage op-amps are generally easy to design since
the behaviour of a current conveyor. Several hundred papers have been published on the the
theory and application of current conveyor. Some of these applications are shown in figure.
The second generation current controlled conveyor (CCCII) which implimented with BJT and
BiCMOS technology by Febre, etc in 1995 and 1997 respectively. One of the reasons we use the
CCCII is that it allows implementation of electronic functions usable at high frequency. The

other reason to use the CCCII is its parasitic resistance at terminal X is controllable. The
controllable resistance is usable for the application for the applications of tunable circuits, such
as filters.
In order to obtain a small-size low weight handheld system, a single technology scheme is
preffered for maximum integration level. To realize this scheme, the low-cost high-integration all
CMOS implementation is one of the most attractive solutions.

Figure 1.1.2 Applications of current conveyor

1.2 Basic theory of current conveyors

Current conveyors are four terminal devices. It is Open-loop current-mode amplifier with low
and fixed current gain. The gain is set by transistor aspects or by controlling the impedance
levels at the output or input. It is Capable to convey current between two terminals (X and Z)
with very different impedance levels. Some advantages of current conveyors compared to opamp is it can provide a higher voltage gain over a larger signal bandwidth than corresponding opamp and better CMRR in instrumentation amplifiers.

1.3 First generation current conveyor CCI

Figure 1.3.1 first generation current conveyor

The above figure shows a first generation current conveyor CCI. The operation of this current
conveyor may be explained as

If a voltage is applied to terminal Y, an equal potential will appear on the input terminal
X
An input current I being forced into terminal X will result an equal amount of current
flowing into terminal Y
The current I will be conveyed to output terminal Z such that terminal Z has the
characteristics of a current source, of value I, with high output impedance
Potential of X being set by that of Y, is independent of the current being forced into port
X
Current through port Y being fixed by X is independent of the voltage applied to Y

1.4 Matrix representation of first generation current conveyor

1.5 MOS implementation of first generation current conveyor

NMOS transistors M1 and M2 form a current mirror that forces the drain currents of the PMOS
transistors M3 and M4 to be equal and hence the voltages at the terminals X and Y are forced to
be equal

Figure 1.5.1 MOS representation of first generation current conveyor

1.6 Second generation current conveyors CCII

It is published by Sedra in 1970. The basic mechanism can be explained as below:

If a voltage is applied to terminal Y, an equal potential will appear on the input terminal
X
The current in node Y=0
The current I will be conveyed to output terminal Z such that terminal Z has the
characteristics of a current source, of value I, with high output impedance
Potential of X being set by that of Y, is independent of the current being forced into port
X
Terminal Y exhibits an infinite input impedance

Figure1.6.1 second generation current conveyor CCII

1.7 Matrix representation of second generation current conveyor CCII

1.8 Application of current conveyors

1. Current amplifiers (CCCS)

2. V to I converter

3. Current buffer or current follower

4. Voltage amplifier

5. Differential V to I converter

6. Instrumentation amplifier

7. Current integrator

8. Current differentiator