Voltage-clamping device and operational amplifier and design method thereof

• US 20080252375A1
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
• Inventors: Tso, Ko-Yang, Chao, Chin-Chieh, Liang, Yann-Hsiung, Lin, Keh-La
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 330/253
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/30015 An input signal dependent control signal controls the bias of an output stage in the SEPP
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/30084 the pull circuit of the SEPP amplifier being a cascode circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/30117 the push circuit of the SEPP amplifier being a cascode circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45134 the whole differential amplifier together with other coupled stages being fully differential realised
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45626 the LC comprising biasing means controlled by the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45636 the LC comprising clamping means, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/3022 CMOS common source output SEPP amplifiers H03F3/3008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45183 Long tailed pairs H03F3/4521, H03F3/45237 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45219 Folded cascode stages

Abstract

A voltage-clamping device used in an operational amplifier is provided. The operational amplifier comprises a first transistor. The cross-voltage between the gate and the source of the first transistor is near to a specific voltage and the cross-voltage between the drain and the source of the first transistor is not equal to zero, so as to generate a big substrate current. The voltage-clamping device comprises a second transistor whose source and gate are respectively coupled to the drain of the first transistor and used for receiving a bias signal, so that the second transistor is biased in saturation region, and the voltage at the source of the second transistor is made equal to the difference between the bias signal and the threshold voltage of the second transistor. Thus, the cross-voltage between the drain and the source of the first transistor is reduced and the substrate current is reduced accordingly.

Claims

1. A voltage-clamping device used in an operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier comprises a first transistor, a cross-voltage between a gate and a source of the first transistor is near to a specific voltage and a cross-voltage between a drain and the source of the first transistor is not equal to zero so as to generate a substrate current, the voltage-clamping device comprises:

a second transistor, wherein a source of the second transistor is coupled to the drain of the first transistor, a gate of the second transistor receives a bias signal so that the second transistor is biased in saturation region, and the voltage at the source of the second transistor is made equal to the difference between the bias signal and the threshold voltage of the second transistor, thereby reducing the cross-voltage between the drain and the source of the first transistor, so as to reduce the substrate current accordingly.

2. The voltage-clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are both N-type metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors.

3. The voltage-clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are both P-type MOS transistors.

4. An operational amplifier, comprising:

an input stage circuit for receiving a differential signal, and accordingly generating an intermediate signal; and

an output stage circuit for generating an output signal in response to the intermediate signal, wherein the output stage circuit comprises;

a first transistor, wherein when the operational amplifier functions, a cross-voltage between a gate and a source of the first transistor is near to a specific voltage and a cross-voltage between a drain and the source of the first transistor is not equal to zero, so as to generate a big substrate current; and

a second transistor, wherein a source of the second transistor is coupled to the drain of the first transistor, a gate of the second transistor receives a bias signal so that the second transistor is biased in saturation region, and the voltage at the source of the second transistor is made equal to the difference between the bias signal and the threshold voltage of the second transistor, thereby reducing the cross-voltage between the drain and the source of the first transistor, so as to reduce the substrate current of the first transistor.

5. The operational amplifier according to claim 4, wherein the output stage circuit is a class AB output circuit.

6. A design method of an operational amplifier, the method comprising:

providing an operational amplifier comprising an output circuit, wherein the operational amplifier has a first transistor, a cross-voltage between a gate and a source of the first transistor is near to a specific voltage, a cross-voltage between a drain and the source of the first transistor is not equal to zero so as to generate a substrate current;

disposing a second transistor in the operational amplifier, wherein a source of the second transistor is coupled to the drain of the first transistor; and

providing a bias signal to a gate of the second transistor so that the second transistor is biased in the saturation region, and a voltage at the source of the second transistor is made equal to a difference between the bias signal and a threshold voltage of the second transistor, thereby a cross-voltage between the drain and the source of the first transistor is clamped, so as to clamp the substrate current of the first transistor.