Patent · US Expired

Folded cascode amplifier with rail-to-rail common-mode range

US4797631A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
1References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 24, 1987
Grant dateJan 10, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 24, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F2203/45631
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A folded cascode amplifier with rail-to-rail common-mode range utilizes a fully differential input with two sets of input common source amplifier devices to allow rail-to-rail common-mode range. The first set of devices utilizes N-channel transistors (28) and (32) to provide operation in one direction and P-channel transistors (38) and (42) to allow operation in the other direction. Two common gate amplifier output legs are provided for generating a differential voltage between an output node (50) and an output node (48) in a cascode configuration. A feedback circuit is provided for maintaining node (50) at analog ground over the full common-mode range of the input voltage. The feedback circuit utilizes a current source with transistors (88) and (90) and a differentially configured set of transistors (80) and (82) to control a feedback transistor (86). The feedback transistor (86) controls the current in both of the output legs to maintain the node (50) at analog ground by receiving at one of the differential inputs the voltage on the node (50) and comparing it with analog ground on the other differential input.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.