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Current Mirror Circuit Analysis

The document discusses various types of current sources, particularly focusing on current mirrors used in amplifiers. It explains the operation of basic current mirrors, Wilson current mirrors, and Widlar current mirrors, highlighting their configurations, output currents, and advantages. The current mirror principle allows for a constant output current despite variations in voltage, making it essential in amplifier circuits.

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29 views4 pages

Current Mirror Circuit Analysis

The document discusses various types of current sources, particularly focusing on current mirrors used in amplifiers. It explains the operation of basic current mirrors, Wilson current mirrors, and Widlar current mirrors, highlighting their configurations, output currents, and advantages. The current mirror principle allows for a constant output current despite variations in voltage, making it essential in amplifier circuits.

Uploaded by

shyama.aacet
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

CURRENT MIRROR

A constant current source is used to bias amplifiers. The current source used in the differential
amplifier is an integral part of the circuit. A constant current source is a device which delivers
constant current to a load despite changes in voltage across the load. These circuits make use
of the fact that when the transistor operates in the active region, collector current is relatively
independent of collector voltage.

Dynamic output conductance

where ro is the dynamic output impedance of the current source.


Hence for an ideal current source, gm = 0 and ro = ∞

Since output current Io is a reflection or mirror of the reference


current Iref, the circuit is referred to as current mirror.
Most current sources work on the principle of the current
mirror.

The circuit consists of two identical transistor Q1 and Q2 with


their bases and emitters connected. Hence the two transistors have the same base-to-emitter
voltages VBE1 = VBE2. The collector of Q1 is shorted to its base and so VCB=0. Hence it is a
diode-connected transistor.
When a current IC1 is forced to pass Through collector of Q1, VBE becomes high and since
VCB=0, Q1 operates in the active region. Since VBE1 = VBE2, Q2 will also be in the active region
and IC2 = IC1. Thus, current flowing through left part of the circuit produces a mirror image of
the current in the right side. (Circuit fed by collector of Q2 should ensure active mode of
operation)
BASIC CURRENT SOURCE
Based on the current mirror concept discussed earlier,
(The mirror effect is valid only for large value of β)

β+2

The output current IC1 is almost same as Iref and differs by the factor 2/beta :
The resistance Ro the resistance at collector of Q2
𝑉𝐴
𝑅𝑜 =
𝐼𝐶2
VA is the early voltage.
EA is a parameter describing the variations of transistor collector current in the active region
VCE.

WILSON CURRENT MIRROR


This current source produces an o/p current IO which is very nearly equal to Iref .The Wilson
current mirror designed to achieve much higher output resistance than the simple current
mirror. Also, the effect of β on output current is reduced.
2
Hence output current IC3 differs from Iref due to factor 𝛽2 +2𝛽+2 . For the Wilson current mirror,
output resistance will be

which is β/2 times larger than output resistance of the simple current mirror circuit.
WIDLAR CURRENT MIRROR
The basic current mirror has a limitation, where as we weed a low value current source, the
value of the resistance R1 required as sufficiently high and cannot be fabricated economically

The current source is particularly suitable for how Value current source. The current differs
from the basic current mirror only in the resistance RE that is included in the emitter lead of Q2.
It can be seen that due to RE, the base emitter voltage VBE2 is less than VBE1 therefore Io is
smaller than IC1.

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