Continuous-time filters

Willy Sansen
KULeuven, ESAT-MICAS
Leuven, Belgium
[Link]@[Link]

Willy Sansen 10-05 191

Applications and problems

• Applications
• Anti-aliasing filters
• Video and HF filters : hard-disk drives
• Channel select filters
• Low-power filters
• Problems:
• Tuning for high precision: mismatch < 5 %
• Distortion : THD < -60 dB
• Low power supply voltages
• High quality factors : Q > 50 ?

Willy Sansen 10-05 192

Table of contents

‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‹ Comparison

Ref.: Tsividis, Voorman, Integrated Cont.-time filters, IEEE Press 1993

J. Silva-Martinez, Kluwer 1993,
W. Dehaene, JSSC, July 1997, 977-988

Willy Sansen 10-05 193

Active RC filters

Opamps and passive components (R, C)

Cn Advantages :
S/N up to 100 dB
THD very low < - 90 dB
C2

C1 Disadvantages :
vIN R1 Opamps :
- vOUT
only for low frequencies
+ Errors on R, C ≈ 20 %
>> tune C’s

Willy Sansen 10-05 194

Table of contents

‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‹ Comparison

Ref.: Silva-Martinez, Dehaene, ..

Willy Sansen 10-05 195

MOST resistors
IDS
linear
VDS > VGS-VT
saturation
On-resistance :
Ron =
1
β (VGS-VT) HD2
0 VGS-VT VDS
W
β = KP W vDS2
L
iDS = KP [(vGS-vT)vDS - ]
L 2
Willy Sansen 10-05 196
Examples of differential MOST-R’s

cancellation of even
partial cancellation of even nonlin and odd nonlinearities
Ref. Tsividis JSSC Feb.86, 15-30; Ma.94, 166-176
Willy Sansen 10-05 197
From active RC to MOSFET-C filter

Ref. Tsividis JSSC Feb.86, 15-30

Willy Sansen 10-05 198

Large RON values at high frequencies

For low-frequency low-pass filter with f-3dB

1 KP W/L (VGS-VT)
f-3dB = ≈
2π RonC 2π C

For f-3dB = 4 kHz; KP= 60 µA/V2; VGS-VT = 1 V; W = 2 µm; C = 10 pF

Ron= 4 MΩ. For matching W = 2 µm: L ≈ 500 µm ! The area is 10-5 cm2

For Cox = 5.10-7 F/cm2 (0.35 µm); CGS = 5 pF;

High-frequency limit at ≈ 8 kHz or fT ≈ 8 kHz !!!!!!

Willy Sansen 10-05 199

LC ladder filter

Ref. Banu
JSSC Dec.85,
1114-1121

Willy Sansen 10-05 1910

Fifth-order low-pass filter

-vIN
vIN

v Ref. Tsividis, JSSC Feb.86, 15-30

Willy Sansen 10-05 1911

Fifth-order elliptic low-pass filter

Ref. Tsividis
JSSC Feb.86,
15-30

Willy Sansen 10-05 1912

PLL tuning

Problems:
Master/slave for
each pole/zero
VCO + PLL at fc
Signal feedthrough
at fc

Ref.
Banu JSSC Dec.85,
1114-1121
Krummenacher, JS
SC June 88, 750-758
Khoury, JSSC
Dec.91, 1988-1997
Filter

Willy Sansen 10-05 1913

Table of contents

‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
• Transconductors
• Tuning
‹ Comparison

Ref.: Silva-Martinez, Dehaene, ..

Willy Sansen 10-05 1914

Some GmC filters

Single-ended GmC filters

Fully-differential ...

Willy Sansen 10-05 1915

GmC filter definition

Opamp OTA Ag or Gm (Ibias)

vIN iOUT v
Operational Operational - OUT
amplifier Transconduct. +
amplifier C

- - Ibias
+ +
vOUT iOUT Adv.: High freq. operation
Av = Ag = Easy tuning
vIN vIN
Disadv.: Distortion
Av = = Ag RL Mismatch errors
Parasitic C’s (low Q)

Willy Sansen 10-05 1916

Simple GmC filters

vOUT
ZIN vIN1 -
- vIN2 +
+ C
gm vOUT gm
=
vIN1- vIN2 sC

vIN - vOUT
+ vOUT gmR
C R =
vIN 1+ sRC

Willy Sansen 10-05 1917

Simple GmC filters

vIN - vOUT
+ -
C +
gm1 gm2
gm1 gm2
gm2 2πC
vOUT gm1 gm1
= f
vIN gm2 + sC 2πC

Willy Sansen 10-05 1918

Simple fully-differential GmC filters
Integrator Resistor Lossy integrator
Cp
+ + Sensitive to
vIN Gm1 CL Gm2 vOUT parasitic capacitances
- -
Cp
Biquadratic cell
+
+
vIN Gm1 C1 Gm1 C2 Gm2 vOUT Gm1
-
-
Willy Sansen 10-05 1919
Voltage-mode & current-mode filters

Willy Sansen 10-05 1920

 A differential pair as a transconductor

3
IM3 = 3HD3 = U2
iout -iout 32
VId
U=
Vid/2 -Vid/2 VGS - VT
M1 M1 U is the relative current swing

Max. Vidptp ≈ 2 √2 (VGS - VT)

Ibias IP3 ≈ 3.3 (VGS - VT)
HD3 = - 60 dB for Vid = 1 V requires VGS-VT = 6 V !!!

Willy Sansen 10-05 1921

Amplifier or transconductor ?

vod
bipolar MOST transconductor
RLIB

slope gm
vind
0
√2 (VGS -VT)
-RLIB

Transconductor :
Wide input range : low distortion
Small gain gm

Willy Sansen 10-05 1922

Table of contents
‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‰ Transconductors
• use of transconductors
• local feedback
• parallel differential pairs
• others
‰ Tuning
‹ Comparison

Willy Sansen 10-05 1923

Increasing the IP3 by feedback
iout -iout iout -iout

Vid/2 -Vid/2 Vid/2 -Vid/2

M1 M1 M1 M1

R R 2R
2Ibias Ibias Ibias

IP3 ≈ 3.3 (VGS-VT)(1+gm1R)2 HD3/n2 n= 1+gm1R

HD3 = - 60 dB for Vid = 1 V requires VGS-VT = 0.38 V and gm1R = 3 !!!
Willy Sansen 10-05 1924
Increasing the IP3 by FB and high loop gain

2R 2R

Additional local FB More FB with opamps

Willy Sansen 10-05 1925

Tuneable resistances

Willy Sansen 10-05 1926

 By tuneable feedback

iout ~ 2Ibias -iout

Vid/2 -Vid/2
M1 M2 HD3
n2
Ibias Ibias gm1
n= 1+
gm2
IP3 ≈ 3.3 (VGS - VT)n2
[Link] etal CAS Nov.85, 1097-1104

Willy Sansen 10-05 1927

 By nonlinear feedback (input)
Ibias
iout -iout gmtot =
n (VGS1 - VT)

β1 HD3
Vid/2 M2 -Vid/2 n = 1+
4β2 n2
M1
IP3 ≈ 3.3 (VGS1 - VT) n2
Ibias Ibias No extra current
No extra CM node !
But limited VGS-VT !
Ref. Krummenacher JSSC June 88, 750-758

Willy Sansen 10-05 1928

 By nonlinear feedback (as load)
2n
2Rind ≈
Voutd
gm1

M2

Vid/2 -Vid/2 n gm3

M1 M3 Av =
gm1

β3
n = 1+
4β2
Ref. Menolfi JSSC July 97, 968-976

Willy Sansen 10-05 1929

 Low-distortion combination : power !

iout -iout

Vid/2 M2 M2 -Vid/2

M1 M1

Ibias Ibias Ibias

Willy Sansen 10-05 1930

 Reduced distortion by cross-coupling

iout 2Ibias -iout

Vid/2 M2 M3 -Vid/2

M1

Ibias Ibias
Ibias
Ref. Silva-Martinez JSSC July 91,946-955

Willy Sansen 10-05 1931

Comparison (simulations)

Willy Sansen 10-05 1932

Measured THD for transconductor

THD ≈
- 60 dB
2.4 Vptp
Input Voltage

Ref. Silva-Martinez JSSC July 91,946-955

Willy Sansen 10-05 1933

Linear transconductor with opamps

Ref. Chang JSSC March 97,388-397

Willy Sansen 10-05 1934

Table of contents
‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‰ Transconductors
• use of transconductors
• local feedback
• parallel differential pairs
• others
‰ Tuning
‹ Comparison

Willy Sansen 10-05 1935

Parallel differential pairs with offset Voltages

iout -iout

M1a M2a M2b M1b

vid/2 + - - + -vid/2

VGG VGG VGG ≈ 1.3 kT/q

≈ 34 mV

IB IB
Ref. Gilbert, JSSC
Dec. 82, 1179-1191
Voorman ECCTD 83
Tanimoto, .. JSSC
July 91, 937-945

Willy Sansen 10-05 1936

Transfer characteristics of parallel diff. pairs

iCE
IB
1 0.8
iCE1a IB
iCE2a iCE =
0.5 1 + exp(-qvId /kT)
0.2
0
0 vId

VGG = 34 mV

Willy Sansen 10-05 1937

Parallel [Link] with different transistor sizes

iout -iout

M1a M2a M2b M1b

vid/2 -vid/2

n:1 1:n Ref. in bipolar :

Gilbert, JSSC, Dec. 82,
1179-1191
Voorman, ECCTD 83
IB IB ESSCIRC 85
JSSC, Aug.00, 1097-1108
Tanimoto, .. JSSC
July 91, 937-945
Bipolar : n ≈ 4 De Veirman, JSSC
March 92, 324-331

Willy Sansen 10-05 1938

Paralleling four differential pairs

5th order filter

… 9 kHz

Input range 160 mVptp (1% THD)

Ref. Tanimoto,.. JSSC July 91, 937-945

Willy Sansen 10-05 1939

Dual-input transconductor

7th order filter

2 … 10 MHz

Input range
96 mVptp (1% THD)
Ref. De Veirman, JSSC, March 92, 324-331

Willy Sansen 10-05 1940

Parallel [Link] with different transistor sizes

iout -iout
Parameters :
M1a M2a M1b M2b α = IB2 / IB1
vid/2 -vid/2 v = V
GST1 / VGST2
VGST = VGS-VT
n:1 1:n

n = α v2
IB1 IB2 Ref. in CMOS :
Nedungadi, CAS
Oct 84, 891-894
Voorman, JSSC
MOST : n ≈ 5 Aug.00, 1097-1108
Luh, ESSCIRC 00

Willy Sansen 10-05 1941

Cross-coupling for linearity and swing

Ref. Luh, USC, ESSCIRC 2000, 72-75

Willy Sansen 10-05 1942

 Multiplier or Amp. with distortion cancellation

iout iout
Parameters :
M1 M1 α = IB2 / IB1
M2
vid/2 -vid/2
v = VGST1 / VGST2

VGST = VGS-VT
IB1 IB2

Ref. Gilbert, JSSC Dec. 68, 365-373

Willy Sansen 10-05 1943

Cross-coupling and source resistors

iout -iout
vid/2 -vid/2
M1 M1

M3 M3
M2 M2

Ibias

Ref. Prodanov, ESSCIRC 2001, 488-491

Willy Sansen 10-05 1944

Cross-coupling and source followers

iout -iout
vid/2 -vid/2
M1 M1

M3 M3 vg 1
=
M2 M2 vid gm2
1-
Vg/2 -Vg/2 gm1

iout gm3
=
Ibias vid gm2
1-
gm1
Ref. Van Engelen, JSSC Dec.99, 1753-1764
Willy Sansen 10-05 1945
Table of contents
‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‰ Transconductors
• use of transconductors
• local feedback
• parallel differential pairs
• others
‰ Tuning
‹ Comparison

Willy Sansen 10-05 1946

 Linearity CMOS amplifier
VDD vout
VDD
IDS
very linear !
M2 VDD/2
vout Q
vin
M1
CL vin
0 VDD/2 VDD
VTn VTp

Wn Wp VDD
if K’n = K’p Vin = Vout =
Ln Lp 2

Willy Sansen 10-05 1947

Linearized transconductors

CMFB

Ref. Voorman, JSSC, Aug.2000, 1097-1108

Willy Sansen 10-05 1948

Transconductor for High Frequencies (2 nodes)

Tuning with Vdd Iod = Io1 - Io2 = gmd Vid

1
RDM1 =
gm5-gm6
1
RDM2 =
gm4-gm3

1
RCM1 =
gm5+gm6

1
RCM2 =
gm4+gm3

Ref. Nauta JSSC Febr.92,142-146

Willy Sansen 10-05 1949

Transconductors with linear MOSTs

VDS1 = RDID ≈ 0.2 V

IDS1 = β1VDS1(VGS1-VT)

gm1 = β1VDS1 is constant

over wide range !

Ref. Alini, JSSC, Dec.92, pp.1905-1915

Willy Sansen 10-05 1950

Alternative solutions

Vtuning VIN

VIN Vtuning

Larger tuning range Smaller tuning range

Controls VDS Controls VGS -VT
VDSmin ≈ 0 VGSTmin limited by linearity
Vtuning down to 0 Vtuning from VT up

Willy Sansen 10-05 1951

Pseudodifferential transc. with linear MOSTs

Biasing
imposed by
previous circuit !

No rejection of
CM signals
(CMRR = 0 dB)

Ref. Alini, JSSC, Dec.92, pp.1905-1915

Willy Sansen 10-05 1952

Transconductors with linear MOSTs

gm1 = β1VDS1
is constant
over wide range !
Ref. Laber, JSSC, April 93, 462-470

Willy Sansen 10-05 1953

Table of contents

‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
• Transconductors
• Tuning
‹ Comparison

Ref.: Silva-Martinez, Dehaene, ..

Willy Sansen 10-05 1954

Gm-R-C versus Gm-C filters

Cp Cp
+ + + +
vIN Gm CL Gm vOUT vIN Gm CL R vOUT
- - - -
Cp Cp

fo Q fo Q

Willy Sansen 10-05 1955

Gm-R-C filters

1 gm1gm2
fo ≈
2π C1C2

if fo << fpar

gm2
Q≈
g2+go2

if g1 ≈ 0 (cascodes)

Ref. Silva-Martinez JSSC July 91,946-955

Willy Sansen 10-05 1956

Tunable R to tune Q

ROUT

1
ROUT ≈
W1
KP1 (VC-VGS2)
L1
Willy Sansen 10-05 1957
Tuning systems : transconductance tuning

R
Cint

Vref Iref
vOUT = vtune
-g -
m
- + +
+

Iref = Vref / R
gm = 1/ R
Iref = gmVref

Willy Sansen 10-05 1958

Tuning systems : frequency tuning
φ φ R = 1/ Cfc

fc Cint
C
Vref vOUT vtune
-g -
m
- + +
+

Iref = Cfc Vref

gm = Cfc
Iref = gmVref Ref. Viswanathan, JSSC Aug.82, 775-778
Silva, JSSC Dec. 92, 1843-1853

Willy Sansen 10-05 1959

Fully-differential tuning system realization

Ref. Chang, JSSC March 1997, 388-397

Willy Sansen 10-05 1960
Tuning systems : frequency tuning with low fc
Charge
IB IB/N balancing :
Cint No crosstalk
vOUT
φ φ vtune
-g -
m
+ fc +
C

vOUT Qgm = C IB/gm gm

= Nfc
Tc t QIBN = IB/N Tc C
Ref. Silva

Willy Sansen 10-05 1961

Fully-differential frequency tuning system

IB NIB
C

OTA OTA
Vf
C
IB NIB

gm
= Nfc
C
Ref. Silva, JSSC Dec. 92, 1843-1853
Willy Sansen 10-05 1962
Tuning systems : Q tuning
Unity-pulse response Biquad :
1 [Link] 1
H(t) = exp( - ) sin( 1- ωot + θ)
1 2 4Q 2
1-
4Q2

Envelop

Average

No HF PLL
or VCO !
Detection
at fc !

Willy Sansen 10-05 1963

Q tuning with active resistor
Rtune

AMP

LPF

Willy Sansen 10-05 1964

Comparison of 10.7 MHz filters

SC OTA-C Gm-RC

fc (BW = 250 kHz) 10.7 MHz 12.5 MHz 10.7 MHz

Order filter 6 4 4

Vin @ IM3= 1% 0.24 VRMS 0.32 VRMS 0.71 VRMS

DR @ IM3= 1% 34 dB 51 dB 68 dB

Power (± V) 500 mW(± 5) 360 mW(± 6) 220 mW(± 2.5)

Chip area 2 mm2 7.8 mm2 6 mm2

Willy Sansen 10-05 1965

Biquad for 7th-order Filter at 50 MHz

C = ΣCparasitic
gm2* = gm2 + Σgo

C
C

gm3 (γ2+1)
Av = Q=
gm1 (γ2+1) 2γ

Biquad with matched nodes 1 (γ2+1) C gm2*

fo = τ= γ=
Ref. Dehaene JSSC July 97, 977-988 2π τ γ gm2* gm1

Willy Sansen 10-05 1966

Tuning system for Q : conductance ratio γ

gOTA gOTA

gm2*
Φ1 closed : γ tuning mode γ = g Φ1 closed :
m1 offset calibration
gm1 1 mode for all OTA’s
Vn+,n- = g * gOTA Vref = kVref gOTA γ= (Vref set to 0)
m2 k

Ref. Dehaene JSSC July 97, 977-988

Willy Sansen 10-05 1967

Tuning system for the ratio of time constants

γ1
k12

γ2

Charge balancing : Vref gm Vref gm γ2

τ2
V1,int = V2,int or τ1 = τ2 = k12
γ1 Cint γ2 k12Cint τ1 γ1

Willy Sansen 10-05 1968

Table of contents

‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‹ Comparison

Ref.: Tsividis, Voorman, Integrated Cont.-time filters, IEEE Press 1993

J. Silva-Martinez, Kluwer 1993,
W. Dehaene, JSSC, July 1997, 977-988

Willy Sansen 10-05 1969

Signal to Noise + Distortion ratio
dB RC (GBW) + Disto - Tuning
100

MOST-C (GBW) + Tuning - Disto

80
SC (settling) + Tuning - HiFr
+ Power, Disto
gmC (linearity) + Tuning - Disto
60
gmC + HiFr
SI (mismatch)
+HiFr - DR
40

20
10 k 100 k 1M 10 M 100 M 1 GHz f
Willy Sansen 10-05 1970
Table of contents

‹ Active RC filters
‹ MOSFET-C filters
‹ GmC filters
‹ Comparison

Ref.: Tsividis, Voorman, Integrated Cont.-time filters, IEEE Press 1993

J. Silva-Martinez, Kluwer 1993,
W. Dehaene, JSSC, July 1997, 977-988

Willy Sansen 10-05 1971