Low Noise Low Power Analog IC Design

Low Noise Low Power Analog IC Design

The reduction of channel lengths leads to lower supply voltages, allowing considerable reduction of power consumption. Lower supply voltages lead to lower signal levels however. Moreover lower power leads to more noise, even more decreasing signal-to-noise ratios. This course discusses the compromises of low power versus low noise towards increased signal-to-noise ratios. Both technologies, standard CMOS and BiCMOS are used in parallel.

Course Aims

In this three day course, all aspects of analog design are covered with emphasis on low power and low noise at the same time. Exercises with numerical results are embedded in the lectures. Analog designs are discussed ranging from full operational amplifiers to fully-differential ones. Considerable attention is paid to the noise matching for both resistive as capacitive source impedances. Also the design of oscillators is included and also of low-power Sigma-delta AD Converters. Finally coupling effects are discussed between the digital and analog subblocks.

Course Method

This course will consist of four 90 minute presentations per day. All lectures are in PowerPoint format. Participants will receive a complementary copy of Professor Sansen's recent textbook "Analog Design Essentials" by Springer. It includes all PowerPoint slides, in addition to the explanatory notes and a CD-ROM with the slides. The exercises are taken from existing and future designs which allow participants to develop their own understanding and insight.

Course Content
Day 1: Topics

• Comparison of MOST and bipolar-transistor models.

• Single-transistor amplifiers.

• Differential voltage and current amplifiers.

• Noise matching.

Day 2: Topics

• Stability of multi-stage operational amplifiers.

• Low-power design of operational amplifiers.

• Often used op-amp configurations.

• Fully differential operational amplifiers.

Day 3: Topics

• Offset and CMRR; random and systematic.

• Low-power Sigma-Delta converters.

• Design of low-power oscillators.

• Coupling effects in low-power mixed-signal circuits.