FRITZ-HUETTINGER CHAIR OF MICROELECTRONICS

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Yiannos Manoli

ALBERT-LUDWIGSUNIVERSITT FREIBURG

Microelectronics WS 2011/2012
Exercise 3 Biasing and Current Sources
The transistor parameters for this exercise are: 0n = 360 A/V, UTn = 0.193 V, n = 0.088 1/V, 0p = 63.5 A/V, UTp = 0.215 V, p = 0.023 1/V, L = 2 m. Task 1: Basic current mirror UDD TR

IREF T2 T1 UGS12

IOUT UOUT

Figure 1: Basic Current Mirror with current sink output.

Fig. 1 shows a basic current mirror. Given are: UDD = 1.2 V, UGS12 = 0.35 V, IREF = 50 A, IOUT = 50 A. a) Dimension the current mirror shown in Figure : 1. Calculate the widths of TR and T1. 2. What is the optimal value of UOUT in order to get an exact 1:1 copy of IREF flowing through T2? From that, calculate the width of T2. b) Draw the small signal equivalent circuit of the basic current mirror and give an expression for the output resistance. Calculate the numerical value. c) What is the output swing of the current mirror? d) Simulate the circuit shown in Fig. 1 with the calculated dimensions: 1. By a bias point simulation, check whether the voltages and currents match the given values. 2. Perform a DC sweep with UOUT = 0 V 1.2 V and check whether the output resistance and the output swing match your calculated values.

Task 2: Widlar current source UDD

IREF T2 T1

IOUT

UOUT UGS1 UGS2

Figure 2: Widlar current source.

Figure 2 shows a Widlar current source. Given are: UDD = 1.2 V, UGS1 = 0.35 V, UGS2 = 0.25 V, IREF = 10 A, IOUT = 10 A, UOUT = 1 V. b) Briefly describe how the introduction of R increases the output resistance compared to the basic current mirror. c) Dimension the transistors T1 and T2 and the resistor R. d) Draw the small signal equivalent circuit. e) Calculate the output resistance (equation and value). Compare it to the output resistance of the basic current mirror. f) Calculate the output swing. g) Simulation: a. Run a bias point simulation and check if the voltages and currents match your calculations. b. Run a DC sweep simulation with UOUT = 0 V 1.2 V and extract the output resistance and the output swing. Compare to the calculated values.

Task 3: Cascode current mirror UDD

IREF IOUT T4 T3

UX

UGS4

UGS3

UY

UOUT

T1 UGS12

T2

Figure 3: Cascode Current Mirror

Figure 3 shows a cascode current mirror. Given are: UDD = 1.2 V, UGS12 = 0.35 V, UGS4 = 0.35 V, IREF = 10 A, IOUT = 10 A, UOUT = 1 V. a) Why should UX and UY be made equal? b) Derive an equation for dimensioning the transistors. Calculate the widths of all transistors. Assume that the bulks of T3 and T4 are connected to their individual sources. c) Draw the small signal equivalent circuit d) Determine the output resistance. Calculate the numerical value and compare it to the value of the basic current mirror and the Widlar current source. e) Calculate the output swing so that T2 and T3 are in saturation. Hint: It is sufficient to take into account the saturation condition for T3 only since T3 enters linear region first when UOUT is decreased (why?). f) Simulation: a. Run a bias point simulation and check if the voltages and currents match your calculations. b. Run a DC sweep simulation with UOUT = 0 V 1.2 V and extract the output resistance and the output swing. Compare to the calculated values. Why is IOUT somehow stable even below UOUT,MIN?