Cascode amplifier

The present invention describes a cascode amplifier.

Amplifiers of the cascode type are often used to obtain high gain and high output impedance and present good characteristics of linearity of the output signal.

A typical configuration of a cascode circuit stage, shown in Figure 1, is constituted by a common source MOS transistor M1 and by a common gate MOS transistor having the source terminal in common with the drain terminal of the transistor M1. The input terminal IN is the gate terminal of the transistor M1 while the output terminal OUT is the drain terminal of the transistor M2. The polarisation voltages V1-V3 are connected respectively with the drain terminal of the transistor M2, with the gate terminal of the transistor M2 and with the gate terminal of the transistor M1. Normally a minimisation of the Miller effect on the capacitance present between the drain and the gate terminals of the transistor M1 is obtained with this type of amplifier considering that the voltage on the drain terminal of the transistor M1 is set by the voltage on the source terminal of the transistor M2. Nevertheless, above all in the case of wide variations of voltage on the input terminal and in the case in which the equivalent resistance on the source terminal of the transistor M2 is high, there is an increase of the Miller effect; this causes high distortion of the output signal from the amplifier.

The increase of the Miller effect is still more remarkable in the case in which the cascode amplifier has to have a wide field of variation of the voltage. In that case in fact the cascode amplifier presents a circuit structure with feedback by means of a passive element.

A circuit type of a cascode amplifier with feedback used is shown in Figure 2 where a MOS transistor M11 with common gate is positioned in the place of the MOS transistor M1 having as input terminal the source terminal; a resistance Rf is placed between the gate terminal of the transistor M11 and the output terminal OUT of the cascode amplifier.

In view of the state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide a cascode amplifier that has better characteristics of linearity than those of known cascode amplifiers.

In accordance with the present invention this object is achieved by means of a cascode amplifier suitable for amplifying a voltage signal present on the input terminal, said amplifier comprising at least one first transistor comprising a non-drivable input terminal that coincides with the input terminal of the amplifier, a non-drivable output terminal and a drivable terminal connected to a first polarisation voltage, at least one second transistor comprising a non-drivable input terminal in common with the output terminal of the first transistor, a non-drivable output terminal connected to a second polarisation voltage and a drivable terminal, a feedback element placed between the output terminal of the second transistor and the drivable terminal of the first transistor, characterised in that the amplifier comprises circuit means coupled between the drivable terminals of the first and of the second transistor and suitable for making the voltage values on the drivable terminal and on the output terminal of the first transistor substantially the same.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear evident from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, illustrated as non-limiting example in the enclosed drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a known cascode amplifier;</li><li>Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a known cascode amplifier with feedback;</li><li>Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of the cascode amplifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the cascode amplifier according to a variant to the first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Figures 4b-4f show equivalent circuits for the calculation of the open-loop gain of the circuit of Figure 4;</li><li>Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the cascode amplifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Figure 6 is a diagram of the numeric gain available in function of the output power available of the circuit of Figure 2;</li><li>Figure 7 is a diagram of the numeric gain available in function of the output power available of the circuit of Figure 4.</li></ul>

With reference to Figure 3 a circuit diagram of a cascode amplifier according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown; the elements that are the same as those present in the circuit diagram of Figure 2 will be indicated with the same numeric references.

The cascode amplifier of Figure 3 comprises at least a first transistor M11, preferably a MOS transistor, having a non-drivable input terminal IN (the source terminal), a non-drivable output terminal (the drain terminal), and a drivable terminal (the gate terminal) connected to a polarisation voltage V3. The cascode amplifier comprises at least a second transistor M2, preferably a MOS transistor, having a non-drivable input terminal (the source terminal) in common with the output terminal of the first transistor M11, a non-drivable output terminal OUT (the drain terminal) connected to another polarisation voltage V1 and a drivable terminal (the gate terminal) connected to a polarisation voltage V2. The amplifier also comprises a feedback element, preferably a resistance Rf, placed between the output terminal OUT and the drivable terminal of the first transistor M11. The cascode amplifier comprises circuit means coupled between the drivable terminals of the first and of the second transistor and suitable for making the voltage values on the drivable terminal and on the output terminal of the first transistor substantially the same.

Said circuit means are represented in Figure 3 by a single capacitance Cff, placed between the drivable terminals of the transistor M11 and of the transistor M2 and suitable for constrain the voltage on the drivable terminal of the transistor M2 to the voltage present on the drivable terminal of the transistor M1. In particular if the value of the capacitance Cff is such that the voltage at its ends is nearly the same as the voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal of the transistor M2 the result is that the voltage on the source terminal of the transistor M2 is substantially the same as the voltage on the gate terminal of the transistor M11. In this manner the effect due to the intrinsic capacitance present between the drivable terminal and the output terminal of the transistor M11 is compensated, that is the capacitance between gate and drain. The capacitance Cff generally assumes a value in the order of ten-odd Pico farad.

In Figure 4 is shown a circuit diagram of a cascode amplifier according to a variant to the first embodiment of the invention; the elements the same as those present in the circuit diagram of Figure 3 will be indicated with the same numeric references. In relation to the cascode amplifier of Figure 3, two inductances L1 and L2 are present; the first of which is connected between the source terminal of the transistor M11 by means of a resistance R5 and ground and the second is connected between the output terminal OUT and the voltage reference V1. A capacitance C2 is placed in feedback between the output terminal OUT and the gate terminal of the transistor M11. Another capacitance C1 is placed between the gate terminal of the transistor M11 and ground; a voltage Vf is present at the ends of said capacitance. The polarisation voltages V2 and V3 are not present but the polarisation of the MOS transistors M11 and M2 is obtained through the current generator I, the MOS transistors M3 and M4 connected to diode and the resistances Rg1, Rg2 and R5. A voltage signal Vin is connected to the source terminal of the transistor M11 by means of a capacitance Cin and the output voltage Vout is present on the inductance L2.

The gain in voltage Vout/Vin of the amplifier of Figure 4 can be calculated not considering initially the transistor M2, which in the analysis for small signals only enables an increase of the output resistance of the amplifier. The open-loop gain is given by the product of two factors; a first factor is given by the open-loop gain of the amplifier of Figure 4 without the transistor M2 and considered as equivalent to a common gate transistor and the second factor is given by the open-loop gain of the same amplifier considered as equivalent to a common source transistor.

In regard to the calculation of the first factor, considering the amplifier as a common gate transistor, the feedback mainly acts varying the input impedance. If we consider that the capacitive impedance due to the feedback capacitance C2 is greater than the impedance Zl due to the inductance L2 the result is that the current that flows in the transistor M11 will cross the majority of inductance L2. Making an analysis for small signals of the equivalent circuit shown in Figure 4b where Zs is the capacitive impedance due to the input capacitance Cin and Zs 1 is the impedance due to the series of the inductance L1 and of the resistance R5, the result is that the gain of voltage Av1 corresponding to the above-mentioned first factor is:<maths id="math0001" num=""><math display="block"><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Av</mtext><mtext>1 = </mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Vo</mtext><mtext>1</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Vin</mtext><mtext>1</mtext></mrow></mfrac><mtext> = </mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zs</mtext><mtext>+</mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext>1 </mtext></mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">g</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">m</mtext></mrow></msub></mrow></mfrac></mrow></mfrac></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0001.tif" /></maths> where g_m is the gain of transconductance of the MOS transistor M11. To obtain this gain the value of the impedance Zs1 has to be much greater than the value of the converse of the transconductance g_m. If Zs=1/g_m that is in the case of matching of the input impedance the result is:<maths id="math0002" num=""><math display="block"><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Av</mtext><mtext>1 = </mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext>2*</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zs</mtext></mrow></mfrac><mtext>.</mtext></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0002.tif" /></maths>

To determine the second factor of the open-loop gain, considering the amplifier like a common source transistor, that shown in Figure 4c is considered like an equivalent circuit to make an analysis for small signals. The voltage signal Vin2 bound to the voltage signal Vo1 by the ratio <i>Vin</i>2 = <maths id="math0003" num=""><math display="inline"><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zc</mtext><mtext>1</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zc</mtext><mtext>1 + </mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zc</mtext><mtext>2</mtext></mrow></mfrac></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0003.tif" /></maths><i>Vo</i>1 where Zc1 and Zc2 are the capacitive impedances of the capacitances C1 and C2. The circuit of Figure 4c is simplified with the circuit of Figure 4d and the gain of voltage Av2 corresponding to the above-mentioned second factor can be calculated: <i>Av</i>2 <i>=</i><maths id="math0004" num=""><math display="inline"><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Vo</mtext><mtext>2 </mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Vin</mtext><mtext>2 </mtext></mrow></mfrac></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0004.tif" /></maths>= <maths id="math0005" num=""><math display="inline"><mrow><mfrac><mrow><mtext>-µ</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl</mtext></mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">r</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">d</mtext></mrow></msub><mtext> + </mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl</mtext><mtext> + (1 + µ)</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zi</mtext></mrow></mfrac></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0005.tif" /></maths>where µ is given by the product of g_m and r_d where r_d is the drain resistance of the transistor M11, and Zi is the impedance due to the parallel of the impedances Zs and Zs1. Presuming that µ is much greater than 1 the result is that the total gain of the open loop amplifier is:<maths id="math0006" num=""><math display="block"><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Aol =</mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Vout</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Vin</mtext></mrow></mfrac><mtext></mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">=Av</mtext><mtext>1 * </mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Av</mtext><mtext>2 = </mtext><mfrac><mrow><msub><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">g</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">m</mtext></mrow></msub><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext>2</mtext></mrow></mfrac><mtext>* </mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">-µZl</mtext></mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">r</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">d</mtext></mrow></msub><mtext mathvariant="italic">+Zl+µZi</mtext></mrow></mfrac><mtext></mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zc</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">+Zc</mtext><mtext>2</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zc</mtext><mtext>1</mtext></mrow></mfrac></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0006.tif" /></maths> where    Vin=Vin1 and Vout=Vo2.

If the capacitance Cgd between gate and drain of the transistor M11 is not irrelevant the result is a current partition between the inductance L2 and the above-mentioned capacitance.

Wanting to calculate the contribution of said capacitance Cgd for the circuit of Figure 4, it is sufficient to calculate its contribution for the calculation of the gain of the second factor Av2. The circuit equivalent is now that of Figure 4e. Considering that with the contribution of the transistor M2 the terminal A, in common between the source terminal of the transistor M2 and the drain terminal of the transistor M11, is a point at low impedance the result is that the current Icgd that circulates on the capacitance between gate and drain of the transistor M11 is Icgd=-Vin/Zgd11 where Zgd11 is the capacitive impedance given by the capacitance Cgd between gate terminal and drain terminal of the transistor M11. Considering this contribution for the calculation of the gain Av2 by means of the circuit equivalent of Figure 4f (in which the contribution of the transistor M2 is disregarded), considering that the total current Id that circulates on the drain terminal of the transistor M11 is given by Id=IL+Icgd where IL is the current that circulates in the inductance L, the result is:<maths id="math0007" num=""><math display="block"><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Av</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">=</mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">-</mtext><mtext>µ</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl+</mtext><mfrac><mrow><msup><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">(Zl)</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">2</mtext></mrow></msup></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zgd</mtext><mtext>11</mtext></mrow></mfrac></mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">r</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">d</mtext></mrow></msub><mtext mathvariant="italic">+Zl+</mtext><mtext>(1</mtext><mtext mathvariant="italic">+µ)Zi</mtext></mrow></mfrac><mtext mathvariant="italic">-</mtext><mfrac><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zl</mtext></mrow><mrow><mtext mathvariant="italic">Zgd</mtext><mtext>11</mtext></mrow></mfrac></mrow></math><img file="EP1598932A1_D0007.tif" /></maths>

Therefore there is a decrease of the gain Av2 and a consequent decrease of the total gain of the open loop amplifier Aol.

Considering the transistor M2 and the presence of the capacitance Cff a compensation of the capacitance between the gate and the drain terminal of the transistor M11 is obtained. In fact by means of the capacitance Cff the voltage on the gate terminal of the transistor M2 is bound to the voltage Vf which is the voltage between the gate terminal of the transistor M11 and ground. Therefore if the value of the capacitance Cff is such that the voltage at its ends is nearly the same as the voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal of the transistor M2 the result is that the voltage Vsm2, that is the voltage on the source terminal of the transistor M2, is substantially the same as the voltage Vf. In this manner the Miller effect on the capacitance Cgd is negligible given that the current Icgd that crosses the impedance Cgd11 is substantially nil.

The capacitance Cff generally assumes a value in the order of ten-odd Pico faraday.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, shown in the circuit of Figure 5, the result is that, in a different manner from the circuit of Figure 3, a buffer 100 is placed instead of the capacitance Cff, in this case a transistor PMOS M12. A current generator I100 is placed between the source terminal of the transistor M12 and the voltage V1. The voltage on the source terminal of the transistor M2 is made substantially the same as the voltage on the gate terminal of the transistor M11 given that the voltages between the gate and source terminals of the transistors M2 and M12 are substantially the same. In this manner the Miller effect on the capacitance Cgd is negligible.

The improvement that is obtained with the circuit of Figure 4 according to the invention in comparison to the known circuit of Figure 2 is visible with the diagrams of Figures 6 and 7 that show the varying of the numerical gain available G (expressed in decibels) in function of the output power available Pout (in decibels). The numerical gain available G is defined as the ratio between the output power available Pout and the input power available Pin: G=Pout/Pin. The diagram of Figure 6 concerns the known circuit of Figure 2 while the diagram of Figure 7 concerns the circuit of Figure 4. The points of compression of the gain G at 1 decibel CP1 and CP2 are visible in the diagrams, that is the points in which the output power available Pout of each circuit is less than 1 decibel compared to the output power available of an ideal two-port circuit; this is due to the distortion that the output signal from the circuit receives from the circuit itself. From the diagrams of Figures 6 and 7 it can be noted that the point of compression CP1 is lower than the point of compression CP2, that is the circuit of Figure 4 presents a better linearity compared to the circuit of Figure 2.

The cascode amplifier shown of the above-mentioned embodiments is an integrated device.