Scribd
Upload
1K views1 page

Beta Ratio Effects: Skewed Inverters (Sutherland99) - If R Unskewed

This document discusses how the beta ratio, which is the ratio of the pMOS and nMOS transistor gains, affects the threshold voltage of an inverter. A beta ratio greater than 1 results in a high-skewed inverter with a higher threshold voltage, while a ratio less than 1 creates a low-skewed inverter with a lower threshold voltage. The document presents equations to calculate the inverter threshold voltage based on the beta ratio and includes a figure showing transfer characteristics of skewed inverters. Velocity saturated inverters are more sensitive to skewing due to less sharp transfer characteristics.

Uploaded by

Carlos Saavedra
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
1K views1 page

Beta Ratio Effects: Skewed Inverters (Sutherland99) - If R Unskewed

This document discusses how the beta ratio, which is the ratio of the pMOS and nMOS transistor gains, affects the threshold voltage of an inverter. A beta ratio greater than 1 results in a high-skewed inverter with a higher threshold voltage, while a ratio less than 1 creates a low-skewed inverter with a lower threshold voltage. The document presents equations to calculate the inverter threshold voltage based on the beta ratio and includes a figure showing transfer characteristics of skewed inverters. Velocity saturated inverters are more sensitive to skewing due to less sharp transfer characteristics.

Uploaded by

Carlos Saavedra
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
You are on page 1/ 1

90 Chapter 2 MOS Transistor Theory

2.5.2 Beta Ratio Effects


We have seen that for Gp = Gn, the inverter threshold voltage Vinv is VDD /2. This may be
desirable because it maximizes noise margins (see Section 2.5.3) and allows a capacitive
load to charge and discharge in equal times by providing equal current source and sink
capabilities (see Section 4.2). Inverters with different beta ratios r = Gp /Gn are called
skewed inverters [Sutherland99]. If r > 1, the inverter is HI-skewed. If r < 1,
the inverter is LO-skewed. If r = 1, the inverter has normal skew or is
unskewed.
VDD
A HI-skew inverter has a stronger pMOS transistor. Therefore, if the
`p
`n = 10
input is VDD /2, we would expect the output will be greater than VDD /2. In
other words, the input threshold must be higher than for an unskewed
2
Vout inverter. Similarly, a LO-skew inverter has a weaker pMOS transistor and
1
0.5 thus a lower switching threshold.
`p
= 0.1 Figure 2.28 explores the impact of skewing the beta ratio on the DC
`n
transfer characteristics. As the beta ratio is changed, the switching thresh-
0 old moves. However, the output voltage transition remains sharp. Gates are
VDD
usually skewed by adjusting the widths of transistors while maintaining
Vin
minimum length for speed.
FIGURE 2.28 Transfer characteristics of
skewed inverters The inverter threshold can also be computed analytically. If the long-
channel models of EQ (2.10) for saturated transistors are valid:
Gn
(V inv  Vtn )
2
I dn =
2
(2.54)

( )
Gp 2
I dp = V  V DD  Vtp
2 inv
By setting the currents to be equal and opposite, we can solve for Vinv as a function of r :

1
VDD + Vtp + Vtn
V inv = r
(2.55)
1
1+
r
In the limit that the transistors are fully velocity saturated, EQ (2.29) shows
I dn = WnC ox vsat n (V inv  Vtn )
(2.56)
I dp = W pC ox vsat  p (V inv  V DD  Vtp )

Redefining r = Wpvsat-p / Wnvsat-n, we can again find the inverter threshold


1
V DD + Vtp + Vtn
V inv = r (2.57)
1
1+
r
In either case, if Vtn = –Vtp and r = 1, Vinv = VDD /2 as expected. However, velocity sat-
urated inverters are more sensitive to skewing because their DC transfer characteristics are
not as sharp.
DC transfer characteristics of other static CMOS gates can be understood by collaps-
ing the gates into an equivalent inverter. Series transistors can be viewed as a single tran-
sistor of greater length. If only one of several parallel transistors is ON, the other

You might also like