Seminar: Moderne Methoden der analogen MOS-Schaltungstechnik

5. Noise in low-voltage circuits

Eugenio Di Gioia
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Noise in MOS Transistors

Flicker (1/f) Noise
Vg2 ( f ) !

Modeled as voltage source in series with the gate Inversely proportional to the frequency (important al low frequencies) Inversely proportional to the MOS area (large transistors have less Flicker noise) Inversely proportional to the specific capacitance COX It is caused from charge carriers trapped at the interface between silicon and oxide or fluctuation in the mobility of the charge carriers k is process-depending (about 10-25 V2F)+
COX ! I OX tOX [ F/m 2 ]
2

k V 2 / Hz WLCox f

Design of Analog CMOS ICs B. Razavi

Noise in MOS Transistors

Thermal Noise
I ( f ) ! 4kTKg m
2 n

?A

/ Hz

Modeled as current source in parallel between drain and source It is due to the resistive channel Its spectrum is white (the same at all frequencies) is about 2/3 2 I n ( f ) ! 4kTKg dso The exact formula is but for long-channel transistors it is: g m $ g dso
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Noisy MOS
k V ! WLCox f
2 g 2 I n ( f ) ! 4kTKg m

Thermal

Flicker

2 kg m I ( f ) ! 4kTKg m  WLCox f 2 n

Output-referred

Vn2 ( f ) !

4kTK k  gm WLCox f

Input-referred
The input-equivalent noise current source was neglected
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Noisy Common Source (passive load)

RL Vin Vout
Vin RL
2 I RL ( f ) ! 4kT / RL

Vout
2 kg m 2 I n ( f ) ! 4kTKg m  WLCox f

Total output voltage noise

2 2 Vn2,out ( f ) ! I n2 ( f )  I RL Rout

2 kg m 4kT 2 Rout ! 4kTKg m   WLCox f RL

?V /HzA
2

Total input voltage noise

Vn2,in ( f ) !

Vn2,out ( f ) g R
2 m 2 out

4kTK k 4kT !   2 V 2 /Hz g WLCox f g m RL m

Rout ! RL // r0
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Noisy Common Source (active load)

Vbias Vin M1 M2
2 kg m 2 2 I n 2 ( f ) ! 4kTKg m 2  WLCox f Vout 2 kg m1 2 I n1 ( f ) ! 4kTKg m1  WLC ox f

r0 ! r0 p // r0 n

Total output voltage noise

2 2 k g m1  g m 2 2 Vn2,out ( f ) ! I n21 ( f )  I n 2 ( f ) ro2 ! 4kTK g m1  g m 2  WLCox f

r ?V /HzA

2 o 2

Total input voltage noise

Vn2,in ( f ) !

Vn2,out ( f ) g r
2 2 m1 o

2 2 1 g m 2 k 1  g m 2 / g m1 2 ! 4kTK  2  V /Hz g g m1 WLCox f m1

Noisy Common Source (active load)

Considering only the thermal noise: v
2 n ,in

4kTK (f)! g m1

gm2 g 2 1  ! vn1,in ( f )1  m 2 g m1 g m1

Small gm2 reduces the total noise

2 In saturation g m 2 ! k (W2 / L2 )Vov 2 and I D 2 ! ( k / 2)(W2 / L2 )Vov 2

W 2/L2 should be small. By keeping the current constant this increases Vov2 (reduction of the output swing)

If gm1=gm2

2 n ,in

( f ) ! 2v

2 n1,in

(f)
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Cascode amplifier
Vbias Vin
2 vn1 2 vn 2

I0 Vout
M2

4kTK M2 is source degenerated through ro1 v (f)! g m 2 Gain form G2 to output: AV2=-ROUT/r01
2 n2

r01
M1
2 vn1 ( f ) !

4kTK g m1

Gain from G1 to output: AV=-gm1ROUT

Output-referred voltage noise:

4kTK ROUT 2 vn,out ( f ) ! g m 2 r01

Input-referred voltage noise:

4kTK 2 2  g m1ROUT g m1

2 n ,in

2 vn ,out ( f ) 4kTK 4kTK 4kTK (f)! 2 2 !  ! 2 g m1 ROUT g m 2 g m1r01 g m1 g m1

1 1  g g r2 m 2 m1 01

Cascode amplifier
Vbias Vin
2 vn1 2 vn 2

I0 Vout
M2

r01
M1

2 in ,out

4kTK (f)$ [ V 2 /Hz] g m1

The noise contribution of M2 can be neglected 2 2 vn ,in ( f ) ! vn1,in ( f )

Only M1 is noisy

Cascode amplifier with passive load

RL Vbias Vin
2 vn1
2 I nRL ( f ) !

2 vn 2

4kT RL

M2

Vout

2 n ,in

(f)!

2 vn ,out ( f ) 2 2 g m1 ROUT

4kTK ! g m1
M1

4kT 1 1  g g r2  R g2 m 2 m1 01 L m1

M1

M2

RL

If RL is large its noise contribution can be neglected

2 n ,in

4kT (f)! g m1

K 1 2 K  $ vn1,in ( f )  2 2 g m 2 g m1r01 RL g m1
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Active Cascode
RL
M2
2 I nRL ( f ) !

v Vin

2 n2

4kT RL

2 ROUT 2 2 v3,out ( f ) ! vn 3 A32 2 r01

Vout A3
2 vn 3

Gain G2/output Input-referred:

2 v3,in ( f ) ! 2 v3,out ( f ) 2 2 g m1 ROUT 2 vn 3 A32 ! 2 2 g m1r01

M1

2 n1

2 n ,in

4kT (f)! g m1

K A32 1 2 K    K 2 2 $ vn1,in ( f ) 2 2 g m 2 g m1r01 RL g m1 g m1r01

Can be neglected if A3<<gm1r01
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Folded Cascode
2 vn 3

M3 v
2 n1
2 vn 2

4kTK v (f)! g mi
2 ni

M1

M2

Output-referred voltage noise:

4kT / RL

RL

2 n ,out

(f)!v g R
2 n1 2 m1

2 out

2 Rout 2 2 2 v  vn 3 g m 3 Rout r01 // r03 2 2 n2

Gain G1/output

Gain G2/output

Gain G3/output

Input-referred voltage noise:

2 vn,in ( f ) !

(f) v v g 2 ! vn1  2  2 2 g R g m1 g m1 r01 // r03

M1 M2 M3

2 n ,out 2 2 m1 out

2 n2

2 n3

2 m3

More noise than cascode because of the M3-term!

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Differential pair with passive loads

g m1 ! g m 2 R1 ! R2

R1
 vin

R2 vout
M2
 vin

Noise analysis:
The noise contribution of M3 can be neglected (symmetry) For noise analysis node X is not virtual ground! (uncorrelated sources)

M1

VBIAS

M3

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Differential pair with passive loads

Noise equivalent circuit

R1
M1

2 iR1

2 iR 2

R2
2 vn 2

v
2 in1

2 n ,out 2 in 2

M2

2 n1

 f ! 4kTKg m1

2 n2

 f ! 4kTKg m 2 ! i  f
2 n1

4kT i  f ! R1
2 R1

2 iR 2  f !

4kT 2 ! i R1  f R2

Superposition principle: all uncorrelated noise sources are considered separately. The output noise power will be added.
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Differential pair with passive loads

Noise of Transistor M1

R1
M1

in1 / 2

in1 / 2

R2
M2

vn ,out
in1 / 2

in1
1/ gm

1/ gm
in1 i R1  n1 R2 ! in1 R1 2 2

vn1,out  f ! 

2 2 vn1,out  f ! in1 R12 ! 4kTKg m1 R12

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Differential pair with passive loads

Noise of Resistor R1
Annahme: R1 ! R2
r01 ! r02

R1
M1

inR1
ix $ 0

inR1
2 vn ,out

R2
M2

vnR1,out ! inR1 R1

2 vnR1,out ! 4kTR1

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Differential pair with passive loads

Noise of Transistor M2
Because of the symmetry:
2 2 vn 2,out ! vn1,out ! 4kTKg m1 R12

Noise of Resistor R2
Because of the symmetry:
2 2 vnR 2,out ! vnR1,out ! 4kTR1

2 2 2 2 Total output noise vn ,out ! 2vnR1,out  2vn1,out ! 8kTR1  8kTKg m1 R1

Total input referred noise

2 vn ,in

2 vn ,out 8kT 8kTK ! 2 2 ! 2  g m1 R1 g m1 R1 g m1

Input-referred noise power is doubled compared to single ended Common-Source Input signal power is four times larger SNR is improved by +3 dB
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OTA circuits (1): Two-Stage

2 vn 2

M2
2 vn1

Two-stage OTA
M3

Total transconductance:

IN

M1

2 vn 3

Gm ! g m1 r01 // r02 g m3

2 2 2 vn ,in ( f ) ! vn1  vn 2

2 gm2 1 2  vn 3 2 2 g m1 g m1 r01 // r02

M1

M2
2 2 vn ,in ( f ) $ 2vn1

M3

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OTA circuits (2): OTA with current gain

One-stage solution: only the output node has a high impedance The current mirror has a gain B
M2

M3

Mirror pole sp2gm2/(Cgs2+Cgs3) (high frequency) The PM is high only if sp2>>su

IB
IN
M1

1: B

OUT

Low-voltage suitable Transconductance (but not voltage gain) is larger than standard single stage but smaller than two-stage OTA: Gm ! g m1 B

1 r0 w ID

r01 AV !  g m1 Br03 $  g m1 B !  g m1r01 B Same voltage gain

as 1-stage!

B =2 to 4

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OTA circuits (2): OTA with current gain

2 vn 2 2 vn 3

M2
2 vn1

M3

2 2 2 vn ,in ( f ) ! vn1  vn 2

2 2 gm2 gm2 2  vn 3 2 2 g m1 g m1

OUT
M1

IN

1: B

v
g m1 $ g m 2 g m 3 ! Bg m 2

2 n ,in

1 gm2 gm2 gm2 ( f ) ! 4kTK  2  2 g m1 g m1 g m1 g m 3

1/ B

2 n ,in

4kTK 1 (f)! 1  1  g m1 B

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OTA circuits (3): current starving

1  A I B
One-stage solution: only the output node has a high impedance M 3   A BI B 1 Mirror pole sp2gm2/(Cgs2+Cgs3) M2 has less current than M1 This reduces gm2 and thus sp2

AI B

M2

IB
IN
M1

1: B

OUT

Compromise between singlestage and two-stage Low-voltage suitable Transconductance and voltage gain are larger than single stage

Gm ! g m1 B

r01 g m1r01 AV !  g m1 Br03 $  g m1 B ! 1  A B 1  A

r0 w 1 ID
B =2 to 4 A = 0.5 to 0.9
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A 0.8-V, 8- W, CMOS OTA with 50-dB Gain and 1.2-MHz GBWin 18-pF Load L. Yao, M. Steyaert and W. Sansen

OTA circuits (3): current starving

g mi w I Di
VB
2 vn 4

1  A I B
AI B
M2

2 vn 2

2 vn3

M3

g m 2 ! g m1   A 1 g m3 ! Bg m 2 ! B  A g m1 1 g m 4 ! g m1 A

1: B IN

2 n1

IB
M1

OUT

4kTK 4kTK g m1 1 2 v ! ! ! vn1 gm2 g m1 g m 2 1 A

2 n2

4kTK 1 v (f)! w g mi g mi
2 ni

4kTK 4kTK g m1 1 2 ! ! vn1 v ! g m3 g m1 g m3 1  A B

2 n3

4kTK 4kTK g m1 2 1 ! ! vn1 v ! gm4 g m1 g m 4 A

2 n4 22

OTA circuits (3): current starving

VB v
2 n4

1  A I B
AI B
M2

2 n2

2 n3

Gain G4/Input

M3

2 2 2 2 vn ,in ( f ) ! vn1  vn 2  vn 3

2 2 g m2 gm4 2  vn 4 2 2 g m1 g m1

1: B IN

2 n1

IB
M1

OUT

Gain G2/input

2 2 2 2 2 vn ,in ( f ) ! vn1  vn 2  vn 3   A  vn 4 A2 1

1 1 A2 2 2 2 2 1  A  vn21  vn ,in ( f ) ! vn1  vn1 1  A   A B 1 A v

2 n ,in

1 A ( f ) ! v 1    A  1  A B
2 n1 23

OTA circuits (3): current starving

v
2 n ,in

1 A ( f ) ! v 1    A  1  A B
2 n1

2 n ,in

1 A ( f ) ! v 2  B
2 n1

2 vn ,in ( f ) !

4kTK g m1

1 A 2  B
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Example: noise analysis

Cf

Cf
I n1

I nf

I n

Vin

Rf Vout

Rf Vout I n

Vin R1 Vn

R2

Vn 2 R2

Active-RC Low pass filter

Equivalent noise model

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Output noise voltage (1)

Assumption: all equivalent noise sources are uncorrelated Principle of superposition Effect of In1, Inf and In- (opamp -Terminal)
Rf j[C f Rf ! Z f  f ! 1 R f j[C f  1 Rf  j[C f V
2 no1

Integration impedance

! I

2 n1

 f  I  f  I  f AZ f  f
2 nf 2 n

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Output noise voltage (1)

V
2 no1

! I

2 n1

 f  I  f  I  f AZ f  f
2 nf 2 n

! I

2 n1

 f  I  f  I  f A
2 nf 2 n

Rf

R f j[C f  1

Low pass behavior

3-dB frequency

f 3dB !

1 2TR f C f

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Output noise voltage (2)

Effect of In+, Vn2 and Vn (opamp +Terminal)
V
2 no 2

! I

2 n

 f R

2 2

V

2 n2

 f  V  f AA f
2 n

A f ! 1 

Zf R1 R f / R1 !

Gain of the opamp in non-inverting configuration

A f ! 1 

1  j[R f C f  R f / R1 1  j[R f C f
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1  j[R f C f

Output noise voltage (2)

As ! 1  sR f C f  R f / R1 1  sR f C f 1  sR f C f  R f / R1 ! 0 1  R f / R1 Rf C f

1 sP !  Rf C f

sN ! 

2 no 2

! I

2 n

 f R

2 2

V

2 n2

 f  V  f A  1
2 n

R f / R1 1  j[R f C f

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2 2 2 Vno  f ! Vno1  f  Vno 2  f

Total output noise

Bode diagram of the noise transfer functions

Bode Diagr am 100 Z (f ) dBOhm 90 80 70 M agnitu de ( dB) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 3 10 A (f )

10

10

10

10

10

30

Frequenc y (r ad/s ec )

Calculation of the noise sources

Passive elements Rf=100 k Cf=160 pF R1=10 k R2=9.1 k
I nf  f ! I n1  f ! 4kT ! 0,407pA/ Hz Rf 4kT ! 1,28 pA/ Hz R1

Vn 2  f ! 4kTR2 ! 12,2 nV/ Hz

opamp equivalent noise sources

I n   f ! I n   f ! 0.6pA/ Hz Vn  f ! 20nV/ Hz

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Output noise voltage (2)

2 2 2 2 Vno1 ! I n1  f  I nf  f  I n   f

AR

Rf
f

j[C f  1

Seite 27

fr f=0
2 2 2 2 Vno1 ! I n1  f  I nf  f  I n   f R f ! 147 nV/ Hz

Vno1 ! 147nV/ Hz
2 2 2 Vno 2 ! I n   f R2  Vn22  f  Vn2  f 1 

R f / R1 1  j[R f C f Rf R1
2

Seite 29

fr f=0

2 no 2

! I

2 n

 f R

2 2

V

2 n2

 f  V  f A  1
2 n

! 265nV/ Hz

Vno 2 ! 265nV/ Hz

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The End

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