06-01-2026: Design of biasing

06-01-2026: Design of biasing#

Lecture: EE4109-13

Location: Hall Ampere (36.HB.01.670)

Time: 15:45 - 17:30

color coded resistors

Recap hearing-loop receive-coil amplifier#

Please download the updated design project archive.

You will find the following notebooks; please run them in the order as listed (some require user input):

  1. specifications.ipynb Functional model of the amplifier with specifications

  2. feedbackConfig.ipynb Design of feedback network, considering transfer, noise, and power dissipation

  3. feedbackConfigSimple.ipynb As above, using a simplified design approach

  4. firstStageDesign.ipynb Design and verification of CS input stage

  5. DIN_A.ipynb Design of a NGspice DIN A weighting filter

  6. singleStage.ipynb design of a single-stage receive-coil amplifier

  7. dualStage.ipynb design of a dual-stage receive-coil amplifier

  8. dualStageFrequencyCompensation.ipynb design of the frequency compensation

Biasing design considerations#

Biasing proceeds in two steps:

  1. Design of the biasing with ideal voltage and current sources; this comprises the following actions:

    1. Biasing sources will be added to the transistors: four per transistor, as discussed in Chapter 3

    2. The power supply is added to the circuit

    3. Amplifier ports that should be referenced to the power supply are connected to one terminal of the power supply (called: signal reference)

    4. Bias current sources are redirected via the power supply, such that they can be impelemnted with passive elements

    5. The number of voltage sources in series with the signal path is minimized, by choosing N or P devices, by replacing CS with CD stages, or by changing the drain-source operating voltages

  2. Design of the bias current and voltage sources

    1. A sufficiently accurate, stable and low-noise voltage or current reference (can be the power supply) is used as starting point for the design

    2. All other sources are derived from this reference, and their design procedure resembles that of an amplifier.

      1. Define the requirements

        1. Architecture

          • Floating current source

          • Current source (connected to positive supply)

          • Current sink (connected to negative supply)

          • Floating voltage source

          • Voltage source connected to positive supply

          • Voltage source connected to negative supply

        2. Static V-I characterisics

          • Current source: current to be deliverd and voltage handling capability

          • Voltage source: voltage to be delivered and current handling capability

          • Accuracy, temperature stability

        3. Noise

          Associated current noise or voltage noise in case of a current source or voltage source, respectively.

        4. Impedance

          • Small-signal source impedance

          • Parasitic impedances from floating terminals to signal reference (substrate)

      2. Find an operating principle

        • Voltage source character

        • Current source character

      3. Apply design techniques to improve performance/cost ratio

        • Negative Feedback

        • Compensation/Balancing

        • Filtering

        • etc.

Guided group exersise#

Design biasing concept(s) for the dual-stage solution of the hearing-loop receive-coil amplifier.

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