05-12-2024: Design of application-specific multi-stage negative feedback CMOS amplifiers#
Lecture: EE4109-8
Location: Pulse-Technology (33.A0.400)
Time: 08:45 - 10:30
A palette with stages#
In the previous lectures we discussed:
CS stage
Balanced stages
Feedback stages
Balanced feedback stages
We have seen that properties of balanced stages, negative feedback stages, and balanced feedback stages can easily be derived from those of the CS stage. We hereto to consider the effect design techniques (balancing and negative feedback) have on the performance aspects such as noise, drive capability, power efficiency, accuracy, bandwidth and weak nonlinearity.
Design considerations#
Controller Design
Presentation
The presentation "Controller Design" discusses the stage type, the most relevant performance aspects and the design parameters of the input stage and the output stage. It also briefly motivates the use of multiple stages.
Preferred controller stages
Presentation
The presentation "Preferred Controller Stages" presents two preferred controller stages
The inverting CS-CG cascode stage
The noninverting CD-CG stage
These stages show approximate unilateral behavior and maximally contribute to the LP product of a negative feedback amplifier.
Stages' contribution to LP product
Presentation
The presentation "Contribution of Stages to LP product" discusses the contribution of various amplifier stages to the loop gain-poles product of a negative feedback amplifier.
It also shows a way to calculate the absolute minimum number of stages in the controller of a negative feedback amplifier that are required to fullfill the bandwidth requirements of the amplifier.
Miller Effect and Cascode Stages
Presentation
The presentation "Pole-splitting and Cascode stages" discusses the pole-splitting in RC-loaded CS stages. If such stages are applied in the controller of a feedback amplifier, pole-splitting may result in a reduction of the loop gain-poles product of the amplifier. Pole-splitting can be eliminated by cascading the CS stage with a current follower (e.g. CG stage). The cascade connection of the CS stage and a CG stage is usually referred to as a cascode stage.
Study
Chapter 5.3, Chapter 13.2.3, Chapter 14.2.6
Design approach#
The design approach for application-specific negative feedback amplifiers will be elucidated with the aid of the poster Design of application-specific multi-stage feedback CMOS amplifiers </posters/SED-CMOS-order.pdf>`_.
Poster#
Group exercise#
Sketch multiple architectures for the signal path of the hearing-loop receive amplifier A1, using two-stage and three-stage controller architectures and discuss pros and cons of the different structures in the goup and with the instructors.