Diode-connected BJT

Lecture 17-1

Current Mirrors
Current sources are created by mirroring currents
Example: with infinite , Io = IREF

Diff Amp
VCC

IREF

Io

Lecture 17-2

Current Mirrors
Example: with finite

Diff Amp
VCC

IREF

Io

What is the other reason for IREF Io?

Lecture 17-3

Output Resistance of Current Source, R

What is the small signal output resistance of this current source, and why do

we care?

Diff Amp
VCC

IREF

Io

Lecture 17-4

Simple IREF Model

Select R to establish the required reference current

Diff Amp
VCC
R

IREF

Io

Lecture 17-5

Widlar current source

For a given Vcc, you need large resistor R values to obtain small current!
Lagre resistors are expensive, Widlar current source uses smaller resistor in

emitter to reduce achive the same current?

IoRE =VBE1- VBE2

VCC
R

IREF

Io

VBE1=VT ln(IREF/Is)
VBE2=VT ln(Io/Is)

Q1

Q2
VBE1- VBE2=VT ln(IREF/Io)
RE

IoRE =VT ln(IREF/Io)

Lecture 17-6

Widlar current source vs. ordinary current mirror

Let us say we need Io = 10A
Assume that for I - 1mA VBE = 0.7
VCC
R

IREF

Io

VCC
R1

Q1

IREF

Io

Q2

Q1

Q2

RE

IoRE =VT ln(IREF/Io)

Lecture 17-7

Widlar current source - output resistance

If we neglect R || re1 , base of Q2 is on ac ground
VCC

vox
IREF

Io

+
R

Q1

Q2

RE

r e1 v
-

gm v

ro

RE

Presence of RE is increases output resistance to (1+gm RE||r)ro.

(Read Sec. 6.4 in the textbook!)

Lecture 17-8

Current Steering
With an IREF established, steer and/or scale the reference value
V+

Io
R

IREF

Io

2Io

Lecture 17-9

Reading IC circuit schematics

Find a path between + power supply and - power supply which sets the reference

current (very often there is only one even in a large circuit): Only VBE and resistors
are in this path.
Type of transistor will tell you the expected direction of current: npn - current sink,
pnp - current source.
Identify current mirror configurations (Widlar, Wilson, etc.) and respective emitter

areas.
Proceed from the reference current branch an calculate subsequent currents

independently
V+

V+

V+

V+
R1

IREF

R2
V+

Lecture 17-10

Beta Dependence
When steered to several points, the Io dependence on can be a problem
VCC

IREF

VCC

Io

Lecture 17-11

Simple Opamp Example

First stage is used to reject common mode voltages
The 2nd diff amp and level shifting stage provide the gain
The input diff amp also provides the large input resistance
Why is Q6 designed to be 4x larger than Q3?

R4
2300

VCC
15V

R3
3E3
R1
20E3

R2
20E3

VEE
-15V

Q7

Q4

Q2

Q1

Q5

VI
SIN

Q8

R7
28600

Q9

Q3

4x
Q6

R5
157E2

R6
3E3

Lecture 17-12

Differential Amplifiers: Active Loads

IC resistors are impractical
Active loads provide current-source-like loads, hence large small signal gains
VCC

VCC

vout
+

vd
_

VEE

Lecture 17-13

Differential Amplifiers: Active Loads

The output in this example is single-sided, but behaves sort of differentially
The output is a current, proportional to vd --- transconductance amplifier
VCC

VCC

iout

vout
_

vd
+

iout
Gm

vd
_

VEE

Assuming infinite , what is the output current when vd = 0 ?

Lecture 17-14

Common Mode Gain

If all of the parameter values are exactly matched to one another, and =100,

will there be any common mode gain?

VCC

VCC

iout

vout

VEE

Will there be any dc offset?

Lecture 17-15

Small Signal Gain, Gm

VCC

VCC

iout
+

vd
_

VEE

Lecture 17-16

Small Signal Gain, Gm

Lecture 17-17

Transconductance Stage of Opamp Model

The voltage gain of stage 1 depends on the output impedance of stage 1 and

the input impedance of stage 2

vd

Gm

stage 1
+
vd
_

+1

+
vo
_

stage 2
+

Gmvd

Ro1

Ri2

v o2
_

Lecture 17-18

Transconductance Amplifier Voltage Gain

Active loads are often designed to maximize Ro

stage 1
+
vd
_

stage 2
+

Gmvd

Ro1

Ri2

v o2
_

Lecture 17-19