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MOSFET Biasing Using A Current Mirror

We now know how to implement this bias design with MOSFETs—we use the current mirror to construct the current source!

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Sandeep Pandey
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272 views

MOSFET Biasing Using A Current Mirror

We now know how to implement this bias design with MOSFETs—we use the current mirror to construct the current source!

Uploaded by

Sandeep Pandey
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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11/10/2003 MOSFET Biasing using a Current Mirror 1/5

MOSFET Biasing using a


Current Mirror

Just as with BJT amplifiers, we can likewise bias a MOSFET
amplifier using a current source:

1
R
2
R
D
R
DD
V
DD
V
D
I
DS
V
GS
V
,
t
K V
I
+

-
+



-




It is evident that the DC drain
current I
D
, is equal to the
current source I, regardless
of the MOSFET values K or V
t
!

Thus, this bias design
maximizes drain current
stability!





We now know how to implement this bias design with
MOSFETswe use the current mirror to construct the current
source!
11/10/2003 MOSFET Biasing using a Current Mirror 2/5
D
I I =
GS
V
t GS
I
V V
K
= +
2
1 2
G DD
R
V V
R R

=

+

S
V

DD
V
1
R
2
R
D
R
DD
V
D
I
DS
V
GS
V
,
t
K V
Q
2

Q
1

+
V
GS2

-
+
V
GS1

-
I
R
V
DD

+

-
+



-
















Since , it is evident that must be equal to:



and since the DC gate voltage is:



It is evident that the DC source voltage is thus:
11/10/2003 MOSFET Biasing using a Current Mirror 3/5
2
1 2
S G GS
t DD
V V V
R I
V V
R R K
=

= +

+

D
I I =
D D
I R
DS
V
S
V
2 D
V
2 DS
V
2 S DS
V V =
( )
2 2 1 1
1
GS t GS t
t DD ref
V V V V
V I R V
=
=



Since we are biasing with a current source, we do not need to
worry about drain current stabilitythe current source will
determine the DC drain current for all conditions (i.e., ).

We might conclude therefore, that we should make DC source
voltage V
S
as small as possible. After all, this would allow us to
maximize the output voltage swing (i.e., maximize and ).

Note however, that the source voltage of the MOSFET is
numerically equal to the drain voltage (and thus ) of the
second MOSFET of the current mirror.

Q: So what?!

A: The voltage must be greater than:



in order for the second MOSFET to remain in saturation.

There is a minimum voltage across the current source in
order for the current source to properly operate!
11/10/2003 MOSFET Biasing using a Current Mirror 4/5
1 1 S GS t
V V V =
S
V
S
V
G
V
GS
V
t GS
I
V V
K
= +
1 2
and R R
2
1 2
G DD
R
V V
R R

=

+


1
R
2
R
D
R
DD
V
DD
V
D
I
DS
V
GS
V

+
V > V
GS1
-V
t1
-

I
+

-
+



-

Thus, to maximize output
swing, we might wish to set:



(although to be practical, we
should make slightly
greater than this to allow for
some design margin).

Q: How do we set the DC
source voltage ??

A: By setting the DC gate
voltage !!

Recall that the DC voltage is determined by the DC current
source value I:


and the DC gate voltage is determined by the two resistors
:


11/10/2003 MOSFET Biasing using a Current Mirror 5/5
( )
1 1
S G GS
t GS t
V V V
I
V V V
K
= +

= + +


D
R
D
V
t G
V V
( )
2
t G DD
D
V V V
V
+
=
D
R
( )
t G DD DD D
D
D D
V V V V V
R
I I

= =
Thus, we should select these resistors such that:



Q: So what should the value of resistor be?

A: Recall that we should set the DC drain voltage :

a) much less than V
DD
to avoid cutoff.

b) much greater than to avoid triode.

Thus, we compromise by setting the DC drain voltage to a point
halfway in between!



To achieve this, we must select the drain resistor so that:

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