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MOSFET Biasing using a

Current Mirror
Just as with BJT amplifiers, we can likewise bias a MOSFET
amplifier using a current source:

VDD

VDD

RD

R1

K , Vt
+

R2

ID
+

VDS
VGS

It is evident that the DC drain

current ID, is equal to the
current source I, regardless
of the MOSFET values K or Vt!
Thus, this bias design
maximizes drain current
stability!

We now know how to implement this bias design with MOSFETs

we use the current mirror to construct the current source!

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VDD

VDD

RD

R1 K , V
t

ID

VDD

I
+

R2

Q1

Q2
+

VGS2

VGS1

Since ID I , it is evident that VGS must be equal to:

I
Vt
K

VGS
and since the DC gate voltage is:

R2

R
1
2

VG VDD

It is evident that the DC source voltage VS is thus:

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VS VG VGS

R2

R1 R2

VDD

I
Vt
K

Since we are biasing with a current source, we do not need to

worry about drain current stabilitythe current source will
determine the DC drain current for all conditions (i.e., ID I ).
We might conclude therefore, that we should make DC source
voltage VS as small as possible. After all, this would allow us to
maximize the output voltage swing (i.e., maximize ID RD and VDS ).
Note however, that the source voltage VS of the MOSFET is
numerically equal to the drain voltage VD 2 (and thus VDS 2 ) of the
second MOSFET of the current mirror.
Q: So what?!
A: The voltage VDS 2 VS must be greater than:

VGS 2 Vt 2 VGS 1 Vt 1

VDD I ref R Vt 1

in order for the second MOSFET to remain in saturation.

There is a minimum voltage across the current source in order
for the current source to properly operate!

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VDD

VDD

ID

VS VGS 1 Vt 1

+
+

R2

Thus, to maximize output

swing, we might wish to set:

RD

R1

(although to be practical, we
should make VS slightly
greater than this to allow for
some design margin).

VDS
VGS
-

4/5

+
V > VGS1-Vt1
-

Q: How do we set the DC

source voltage VS ??
A: By setting the DC gate
voltage VG !!

Recall that the DC voltage VGS is determined by the DC current

source value I:
I
VGS
Vt
K
and the DC gate voltage is determined by the two resistors
R1 and R2 :

R2

R1 R2

VG VDD

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Thus, we should select these resistors such that:

VG VGS VS

I
Vt VGS 1 Vt 1
K

Q: So what should the value of resistor RD be?

A: Recall that we should set the DC drain voltage VD :
a) much less than VDD to avoid cutoff.
b) much greater than VG Vt to avoid triode.
Thus, we compromise by setting the DC drain voltage to a point
halfway in between!

VD

VDD VG Vt
2

To achieve this, we must select the drain resistor RD so that:

RD

VDD VD VDD VG Vt

ID
ID