A 1.2V 0.2mW 27MHz CMOS limiting amplifier using cross-coupled active load structure

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a 1.2 V 0.2 mW CMOS limiting amplifier (LiA) designed in both schematic and layout levels using 130 nm CMOS technology. A cross-coupled active load structure is used to provide high differential gain and low common mode gain for the design. A common mode logic (CML) to CMOS level conversion topology is used to convert the differential input signal into a single-ended output signal for the proposed design. The designed circuit generates clock signal and behaves effectively up to modulation index variation ≤0.3 for input signal variation up to 40mVp-p. A bandwidth of 27 MHz is chosen for the amplifier design and the measurement shows a differential gain of 60 dB with a power consumption of about 0.2 mW excluding power consumption in buffer stage.

KEYWORDS:

• Limiting amplifier
• cross-coupled active load structure
• modulation index
• differential gain

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. Saddam Hossain Khan

M. Saddam Hossain Khan received his Master’s degree in Information Technology with a major in Micro & Optoelectronics from the University of Stuttgart, Germany in 2016. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from East West University, Bangladesh in 2011. Currently, he is working as a Lecturer at East West University, Bangladesh in Computer Science & Engineering department. Previously, he worked as a lecturer at Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology for almost 2 years under the Faculty of Science & Technology. His research interests include Analog Circuit Design, Optoelectronics, Internet of Things etc.

Surajit Das Barman

Surajit Das Barman received the M. Eng. Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya in 2016, and B.Sc. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET), Bangladesh, in 2009. He is currently working as a senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, East West University, Bangladesh. His research interests include wireless power transfer, Internet of Things etc.

Ahmed Wasif Reza

Ahmed Wasif Reza is currently working as an Associate Professor and Chairperson in East West University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Previously, he was attached to the University of Malaya, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Malaysia for almost 8 years where his last position was Senior Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor). His research interest includes radio frequency identification (RFID), radio wave propagation, internet of things, wireless sensor network, wireless communications, biomedical image processing, and cognitive radio and electromagnetic research, both in industrial exposure and academic research valued work. He has authored and co-authored a number of Science Citation Index (SCI) journals and conference papers (about 131 papers; h-index: 14; citations: 614). Besides, he is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), UK as well as a professional member of IEEE, US and IET, UK. He has a research collaboration with leading international companies/industries, like Motorola, Silterra, Hexamatics, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Keysight, Agilent, Huawei, etc.