Limits to the dynamic range of low-power continuous-time integrators

The power consumption of active filters limits the achievable dynamic range. In this paper, we start by considering ideal electronic building blocks, and we derive the fundamental limits to the dynamic range of different topologies of continuous-time integrators, for a given power consumption. Then, by using simplified nonideal circuit models, we present design guidelines for the optimization of the dynamic range to power consumption ratio of the integrators. We, thus, obtain practical limits to the dynamic range, as functions of the transition frequency of the transistors. We demonstrate the possibility of approaching these limits by designing a practical CMOS circuit: an 8 MHz second-order bandpass filter with Miller integrators. The performance of the filter was evaluated by HSPICE simulations, using full device models; the resulting dynamic range to power consumption ratio is close to the theoretical limits.

[1]  Didier Rene Haspeslagh,et al.  A highly linear CMOS G/sub m/-C bandpass filter with on-chip frequency tuning , 1997 .

[2]  Bram Nauta,et al.  Linear CMOS transconductance element for VHF filters , 1989 .

[3]  Bram Nauta,et al.  Micro-Power Analog-Filter Design , 1995 .

[4]  Y. Tsividis,et al.  Analysis and compensation of high-frequency effects in integrated MOSFET-C continuous-time filters , 1987 .

[5]  G. Efthivoulidis,et al.  General results for resistive noise in active RC and MOSFET-C filters , 1995 .

[6]  J. O. Voorman,et al.  Integration of analog filters in a bipolar process , 1982 .

[7]  Johan H. Huijsing,et al.  Low-power low-voltage VLSI operational amplifier cells , 1995 .

[8]  John B. Hughes,et al.  Self-tuned RC-active filters for VLSI , 1986 .

[9]  I. Bezzam,et al.  A fully-integrated continuous-time programmable CCIR 601 video filter , 1995, Proceedings ISSCC '95 - International Solid-State Circuits Conference.

[10]  William Martin Snelgrove,et al.  A balanced 0.9- mu m CMOS transconductance-C filter tunable over the VHF range , 1992 .

[11]  J. v. d. Plas MOSFET-C Filter with Low Excess Noise and Accurate Automatic Tuning , 1990, ESSCIRC '90: Sixteenth European Solid-State Circuits Conference.

[12]  John B. Hughes,et al.  High-linearity continuous-time filter in 5-V VLSI CMOS , 1992 .

[13]  Yannis Tsividis,et al.  Fully differential operational amplifiers with accurate output balancing , 1988 .

[14]  David J. Allstot,et al.  CMOS continuous-time current-mode filters for high-frequency applications , 1993 .

[15]  Andrea Baschirotto,et al.  Low-voltage balanced transconductor with high input common-mode rejection , 1994 .

[16]  Kenneth W. Martin,et al.  Integrated video-frequency continuous-time filters : high-performance realizations in BiCMOS , 1995 .

[17]  Chris J. M. Verhoeven,et al.  Charge pump for optimal dynamic range filters , 1994, Proceedings of IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems - ISCAS '94.

[18]  K. W. Martin,et al.  A BiCMOS low-distortion 8-MHz low-pass filter , 1993 .

[19]  E. H. Nordholt Design of High-Performance Negative-Feedback Amplifiers , 1980 .

[20]  Didier Rene Haspeslagh,et al.  A Highly Linear CMOS - Bandpass Filter with On-Chip Frequency Tuning , 1997 .

[21]  Yannis Tsividis,et al.  Continuous-time MOSFET-C filters in VLSI , 1986 .

[22]  Fuji Yang,et al.  A low-distortion BiCMOS seventh-order Bessel filter operating at 2.5 V supply , 1996 .

[23]  Bram Nauta Analog CMOS Filters for Very High Frequencies , 1992 .

[24]  G. Groenewold Optimal dynamic range integrators , 1992 .

[25]  Johan H. Huijsing,et al.  Frequency Compensation Techniques for Low-Power Operational Amplifiers , 1995 .

[26]  D. Monticelli A quad CMOS single-supply op amp with rail-to-rail output swing , 1986 .

[27]  Remco J. Wiegerink Analysis and Synthesis of Mos Translinear Circuits , 1993 .

[28]  Robert G. Meyer,et al.  Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits , 1993 .

[29]  P. R. Gray,et al.  A 20-MHz sixth-order BiCMOS parasitic-insensitive continuous-time filter and second-order equalizer optimized for disk-drive read channels , 1993 .