Skip to main content
Log in

Low-Voltage CMOS Nonlinear Transconductors and Their Application to Companding Current-Mode Filters

  • Published:
Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two novel nonlinear CMOS transconductors that can be employed for building CMOS current-mode filters are presented and their performances compared to formerly proposed topologies aimed at the same goal. The first one is based on a previous topology proposed by the authors, where a new biasing procedure leads to an improved performance for low supply voltages. The second one follows a novel approach, based on cascading a transresistor and a transconductor. The analysis is complemented with a more general approach based on the identification of translinear loops present in the circuit. Both nonlinear transconductors can operate at supply voltages as low as one V GS plus two V DS of a saturated MOSFET. CMOS current-mode filters based on these blocks are built following companding techniques, and their correct operation is validated by simulation and experimental results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. C. Toumazou, F.J. Lidgey, and D.G. Haigh, Analogue IC Design: The Current-Mode Approach. Peter Peregrinus: London, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Y. Tsividis, “Externally linear, time-invariant systems and their application to companding signal processors.” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 65–85, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. Frey, “Log-domain filtering: An approach to current-mode filtering.” IEE Proc. Pt. G, vol. 140, pp. 406–416, Dec. 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  4. J. Mulder, A.C. van der Woerd, W.A. Serdijn, and A.H.M. van Roermund, “A current-mode companding vx domain integrator.” Electron. Lett., vol. 32, pp. 198–199, Feb. 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  5. A.J. López-Martín and A. Carlosena, “Synthesis of internally nonlinear systems from LTI systems by component-tocomponent substitution and its application to companding,” in Proc. IEEE MWSCAS, Las Cruces, NM Aug. 1999.

  6. A.J. López-Martín and A. Carlosena, “Systematic design of companding systems by component substitution.” Analog Integrated Circ. and Signal Proc., vol. 28, pp. 91–106, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  7. B. Gilbert, “Translinear circuits:Anhistorical overview.” Analog Integrated Circ. and Signal Proc., vol. 9, pp. 95–118, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  8. E. Seevinck and R.J.Wiegerink, “Generalized translinear circuit principle.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits,vol. 26, no. 8, pp. 1098–1102, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. Eskiyerli and A.J. Payne, “Square root domain filter design and performance.” Analog Integrated Circ. and Signal Proc., vol. 22, pp. 231–243, March. 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  10. A.J. López-Martín and A. Carlosena, “Low voltage CMOS companding filters based on the MOS translinear principle,” in Proc. 2001 Southwest Symposium on Mixed-Signal Design.Austin, TX, USA, 2001.

  11. R.J. Wiegerink, Analysis and Synthesis of MOS Translinear Circuits, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1993.

  12. A.J. López-Martín and A. Carlosena, “Current-mode multiplier/ divider circuits based on the MOS translinear principle.” Analog Integrated Circ. and Signal Proc., vol. 28, pp. 265–278, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. Mulder, A.C. van der Woerd, W.A. Serdijn, and A.H. M. van Roermund, “A 3.3 V current-controlled vxdomain oscillator.” Analog Integrated Circ. and Signal Proc., vol. 16, pp. 17–28, April 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  14. A.J. López-Martín and A. Carlosena, “A 3.3 V tunable currentmode square-root domain biquad,” in Proc. 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, Geneva, Switzerland, 2000.

  15. F. Serra-Graells, “All-MOS subthreshold log filters,” in Proc. 2001 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, Sydney, Australia, 2001.

  16. J. Ramírez-Angulo, R.G. Carvajal, A. Torralba, J. Galán, A.P. Vega-Leal, and J. Tombs, “The flipped voltage follower: A useful cell for low-voltage low-power circuit design,” in Proc. 2002 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA, 2002.

  17. E. Sánchez-Sinencio and J. Silva-Martínez, “CMOS transconductance amplifiers, architectures and active filters: A tutorial.” IEE Proceedings Circuits, Devices and Systems, vol. 147, pp. 3–12, Feb. 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  18. G. Han and E. Sánchez-Sinencio, “CMOS transconductance multipliers: A tutorial.” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II, vol. 45, no. 12, pp. 1550–1563, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  19. A. Nedungadi and T.R. Viswanathan, “Design of linear CMOS transconductance elements.” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst., vol. CAS-31, no. 10, pp. 891–894, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  20. E. Seevinck and R.F. Wassenaar, “A versatile CMOS linear transconductor/square-law function circuit.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits,vol. SC-22, no. 3 pp. 366–377, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  21. S.R. Zarabadi, M. Ismail, and C. Hung, “High performance analog VLSI computational circuits.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits,vol. 33, no. 4 pp. 644–649, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  22. R.Vargas-Bernal, A. Sarmiento-Reyes, and W.A. Serdijn, “Identifying translinear loops in the circuit topology,” in Proc. 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, Geneva, Switzerland, 2000.

  23. A.J. López-Martín, “Companding in analog signal processing,” Ph.D. Thesis, Public Univ. of Navarra, Pamplona (Spain), 1999.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De La Cruz-Blas, C.A., López-Martín, A.J. & Carlosena, A. Low-Voltage CMOS Nonlinear Transconductors and Their Application to Companding Current-Mode Filters. Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing 38, 137–147 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ALOG.0000011164.33380.76

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ALOG.0000011164.33380.76

Navigation