Circuit and method for dynamic current compensation

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/960,987, filed Oct. 24, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any purpose.

The present disclosure relates generally to circuits and methods for current compensation and, more particularly, to circuits and methods for dynamic current compensation.

Operational amplifiers (op-amps), are one of the most widely used electronic devices. Op-amps can be found in an array of commercial, consumer, and scientific devices. Op-amps may be used, for example, to perform logic operations, e.g., voltage comparisons, as well as mathematical calculations.

Typically, op-amps are direct current (DC) coupled electronic voltage amplifiers having a plurality of inputs and outputs, wherein only one of the outputs is used to drive a load. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a “+” input 100 and a “−” input 102 of an op-amp 104 may, respectively, receive a first alternating current (AC) voltage input S 1 with a given amplitude, and a second AC voltage input S 2 , wherein S 2 is an inverted signal of S 1 . Ideally, the output of the op-amp would be the amplification of the difference in voltage between the two inputs. This output is commonly referred to as the amplification of the “differential input voltage.”

In FIG. 1 , a “−” output 106 and a “+” output 108 of op-amp 104 provide output signals having the same polarity as signals S 2 and S 1 , respectively, received on “−” input 102 and “+” input 100 .

In its typical use, an op-amp's output is controlled by feeding a portion of the output back to an inverting one of its inputs (negative feedback). In addition, an op-amp may be composed of a plurality of parts (stages), wherein the number of stages in an op-amp is dependent upon the desired application. For example, an op-amp may be composed of input stages, frequency shaping stages, and output stages. Alternatively, an op-amp may be composed of only input and output stages.

Op-amps may be differentiated into several classes based on their input voltage and output current relationships, e.g., class A, class B, class AB, and the like. The class A op-amp has a fixed static load current, resulting in relatively high power consumption and relatively high small-signal linearity. Conversely, the class B op-amp has a zero static load current under average loads, resulting in relatively low power consumption and relatively low small-signal linearity. The class AB op-amp falls between the class A and class B op-amps with regard to power consumption and small-signal linearity. However, the class AB op-amp may be unable to properly control static current at its output stage, resulting in it being prone to various effects from, e.g., manufacturing process, operating voltages, and/or temperature. Additionally, because of fixed bias current, the class AB op-amp's average current consumption cannot be clearly defined, resulting in difficulty estimating the average power consumption.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for dynamic current compensation in an operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier includes a first stage and a second stage, the first stage for receiving two input signals and the second stage being coupled to the first stage, wherein the second stage includes a first part with a first output of the operational amplifier, and a second part with a second output of the operational amplifier. The method includes providing a first current to the first part of the second stage and providing a second current to the second part of the second stage. The method further includes adjusting the first current based on a current consumption of the first part of the second stage and adjusting the second current based on a current consumption of the second part of the second stage, wherein the sum of the first current and the second current is substantially constant.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an operational amplifier capable of dynamically compensating for varying current needs. The operational amplifier includes a first stage configured to receive two input signals and a second stage coupled to the first stage, wherein the second stage includes a first part with a first output of the operational amplifier, and a second part with a second output of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier further includes a first current source configured to provide a first bias current for biasing the first part of the second stage and a second current source configured to provide a second bias current for biasing the second part of the second stage.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary disclosed operational amplifier;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary disclosed operational amplifier using dynamic current compensation; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the operational amplifier of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary differential type operational amplifier (op-amp) 200 consistent with the present disclosure. As illustrated herein, op-amp 200 may be, for example, an integrated circuit that performs some type of operation associated with an application such as, for example, radio and television transmitters and receivers, high-fidelity stereo equipment, instrument amplifiers, microcomputers, and/or other electronic equipment. Exemplary op-amp 200 is illustrated as a differential operational amplifier, but may be representative of an op-amp configured to serve as a non-inverting amplifier, a voltage follower, a summing amplifier, an integrator, a differentiator, a comparator, etc.

An op-amp may have a characteristic such that the linearity in its output signal decreases when the amplitude of its output signal grows larger. For example, as the output signal amplitude increases, the amount of current consumed by a load coupled to the output stage of an op-amp also increases. At the same time, the output stage of the op-amp may also require higher bias current to match the current consumed by the load due to the increased output signal. A conventional op-amp may be unable to meet such increased current demands at an increased output signal amplitude and, as a result, the output signal may fail to reach a desired level. As a result, the linearity in the output signal may be degraded.

Op-amp 200 may be configured to dynamically compensate for the varying current needs at its output stages, referred to herein as second stages, while still maintaining total current consumption, thus resulting in relatively high large-signal linearity and relatively low average power consumption. The structure and operation of op-amp 200 are described in further detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2 , op-amp 200 includes, for example, an electrical connection 201 configured to receive electrical power from a power supply (V DD ) 202 ; an op-amp input 204 a and an op-amp input 204 b, collectively referred to herein as op-amp inputs 204 ; an op-amp output 206 a and an op-amp output 206 b, collectively referred to herein as op-amp outputs 206 ; and a transistor 212 a, a transistor 212 b, a transistor 212 c, a transistor 212 d, a transistor 212 e, and a transistor 212 f, collectively referred to herein as transistors 212 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , each of transistors 212 is an MOSFET. Op-amp 200 may further include a resistor 208 a and a resistor 208 b, collectively referred to herein as resistors 208 ; a capacitor 210 a and a capacitor 210 b, collectively referred to herein as capacitors 210 ; and a current source (CS) 214 a and a CS 214 b, collectively referred to herein as CSs 214 . The number and configuration of capacitors, resistors, current sources, and/or transistors are illustrative of one exemplary embodiment, it being contemplated that different quantities and configurations of capacitors, resistors, current sources, and/or transistors may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2 , op-amp 200 includes a differential input stage, referred to herein as a first stage, in which op-amp inputs 204 serve as a differential input, comprising the two p-type transistors 212 a and 212 b, and a current source I B0 coupled to the power supply V DD 202 for supplying current to the first stage. The source terminals of transistors 212 a and 212 b are coupled together and further coupled to receive current supplied by current source I B0 . The gate terminals of transistors 212 a and 212 b are configured for receiving two respective input signals S 1 and S 2 at op-amp inputs 204 a and 204 b, respectively, wherein S 2 is an inversion of S 1 . The drain terminals of transistors 212 a and 212 b provide output signals to the load of the first stage, which may be a common mode feedback loop including the two n-type transistors 212 c and 212 d. In FIG. 2 , the drain terminals of transistors 212 c and 212 d are respectively coupled to the drain terminals of transistors 212 a and 212 b, the source terminals of transistors 212 c and 212 d are coupled to a ground or reference potential 224 , and the gate terminals of transistors 212 c and 212 d are coupled together for receiving a common mode feedback signal (CMFB). A common mode feedback loop is well-known in the art and is not shown in detail in FIG. 2 and not described herein.

Op-amp 200 further includes a second stage for processing the output signals of the first stage, in which op-amp outputs 206 serve as a differential output. As shown in FIG. 2 , the second stage includes transistors 212 e and 212 f configured as common-source amplifiers. The gate terminals of transistors 212 e and 212 f are coupled to receive the output signals of the first stage from the drain terminals of transistors 212 a and 212 b, respectively. The source terminals of transistors 212 e and 212 f are coupled to ground or reference potential 224 . The second stage provides output signals of op-amp 200 at the drain terminals of transistors 212 e and 212 f, and the differential output provided by op-amp outputs 206 a and 206 b, respectively.

Op-amp 200 further includes feedback loops comprising resistors 208 and capacitors 210 to facilitate the stable operation of op-amp 200 . More specifically, resistor 208 a and capacitor 210 a are coupled between the drain terminal of transistor 212 e and the gate terminal of transistor 212 e for feeding back a portion of the output signal to the first stage of op-amp 200 . Resistor 208 b and capacitor 210 b are coupled between the drain terminal of transistor 212 f and the gate terminal of transistor 212 f for feeding back a portion of the output signal to the first stage of op-amp 200 . The feedback loops may facilitate stable operation by, for example, minimizing or preventing a phase margin and/or a gain margin.

The second stage of op-amp 200 also includes CSs 214 a, 214 b and I B1 . Current source I B1 provides current to CSs 214 a and 214 b, while CSs 214 a and 214 b respectively provide bias currents to, and act as the loads of, the two common-source amplifiers comprised of transistors 212 e and 212 f.

After initiation of V DD 202 , AC voltage signals may be applied to op-amp inputs 204 , which will result in signals at the drain terminals of transistors 212 a, 212 b (in the form of voltage signals), and an adjustment of the division of the I B0 current between transistors 212 a, 212 b. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the input signal at transistor 212 a may be an AC voltage signal (S 1 ), and the input signal at transistor 212 b may be an inverted voltage signal of S 1 (S 2 ), i.e., the phase shift between S 1 and S 2 is 180 degrees.

As input signals 204 a and 204 b vary, the currents flowing through transistors 212 a and 212 b correspondingly vary. Through the load of the first stage, i.e., the common mode feedback loop comprised of transistors 212 c and 212 d, the current variations are output as voltage signals to the second stage of op-amp 200 , i.e., transistors 212 e, and 212 f. The voltage signals provided to the common-source amplifiers comprised of transistors 212 e and 212 f, are amplified thereby to form output signals at op-amp outputs 206 .

When the output signals at op-amp outputs 206 are relatively small in amplitude, a load coupled to op-amp outputs 206 is driven according to the amplitude of the output signal at op-amp outputs 206 . When the output signals at op-amp outputs 206 are relatively large in amplitude, the load attempts to draw a correspondingly large amount of current. At the same time, the common-source amplifiers represented by transistors 212 e and 212 f also require relatively large amounts of currents. If CSs 214 a and 214 b cannot meet these current demands, the linearity of output signals at op-amp outputs 206 may be degraded.

Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, CSs 214 a and 214 b are configured such that when the amplitude of the output signals at op-amp outputs 206 increase, the amount of current provided by the respective CSs 214 a or 214 b also increases. As a result, the needs of increased current at the second stages of op-amp 200 are dynamically compensated corresponding to the input signals, thereby preserving the linearity of the output signals at op-amp outputs 206 . That is, the increase in amplitude of the input signals results in an increase in the amount of current required at the respective second stage of op-amp 200 . Additionally, the increase in amplitude of the input signals directs additional current to the output stage of op-amp 200 that requires additional current. In this way, CSs 214 a and 214 b dynamically compensate for the required current needs of op-amp 200 corresponding to the input signals, thereby preserving the linearity of the output signals at op-amp outputs 206 .

In addition, consistent with op-amp outputs 206 serving as a differential output, when the current on op-amp output 206 a increases, the current on op-amp output 206 b decreases. Likewise, when the current on op-amp output 206 b increases, the current on op-amp output 206 a decreases. As a result, the total current consumption of op-amp 200 is substantially constant.

Also consistent with embodiments of the present invention, CSs 214 a and 214 b together provide a substantially constant amount of current, thereby preserving the total amount of current consumption. In one aspect, CS I B1 provides a constant current output, and CSs 214 a and 214 b share the constant current from I B1 between each other. CSs 214 a and 214 b are configured such that the currents provided to the common-source amplifiers, represented by transistors 212 e and 212 f, are the respective currents drawn from current source I B1 multiplied by a constant. The currents provided to transistors 212 e and 212 f are described in greater detail below.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the op-amp 200 disclosed in FIG. 2 including an example of how current sources 214 a and 214 b may be configured.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , CS 214 a may include a resistor 302 a and a resistor 302 b, collectively referred to herein as resistors 302 ; and an MOS transistor 304 a, an MOS transistor 304 b, and an MOS transistor 304 c, collectively referred to herein as transistors 304 . Additionally and/or alternatively, CS 214 b may include a resistor 306 a and a resistor 306 b, collectively referred to herein as resistors 306 ; and an MOS transistor 308 a, an MOS transistor 308 b, and an MOS transistor 308 c, collectively referred to herein as transistors 308 .

Additionally, resistor 302 a is electrically coupled between the drain terminal of transistor 212 b and the gate terminal of transistor 304 c. Resistor 302 b is electrically coupled to resistors 302 a, 306 b, V DD 202 , and the source terminals of transistors 304 a, 304 b, 308 a, 308 b. Resistor 306 a is electrically coupled between the drain terminal of transistor 212 a and the gate terminal of transistor 308 c. Additionally, the gate terminals of transistors 304 a, 304 b are both coupled to the drain terminal of transistor 304 b.

The value of an I B1-1 current from the source to drain terminals of transistor 304 a depends on the gate-to-source voltage drop (V GS ) of transistor 304 a, which is equal to V GS of transistor 304 b. When both of transistors 304 a, 304 b operate in the saturation mode, the I B1-1 current from the source terminal to the drain terminal of transistor 304 a is related to an I B1-2 current from the source terminal to the drain terminal of transistor 304 b according to the following equation (1):

I B ⁢ ⁢ 1 - 1 = ( W / L ) Transistor ⁢ ⁢ 304 ⁢ a ( W / L ) Transistor ⁢ ⁢ 304 ⁢ b ⁢ I B ⁢ ⁢ 1 - 2 . ( 1 )

In the numerator of equation (1), W and L are the width and length, respectively, of a channel of MOS transistor 304 a. In the denominator of equation (1), W and L are the width and length, respectively, of a channel of MOS transistor 304 b.

Similarly, the value of an I B1-6 current from the source terminal to the drain terminal of transistor 308 a is related to an I B1-5 current from the source terminal to the drain terminal of transistor 308 b accordingly to the following equation (2):

In the numerator of equation (2), W and L are the width and length, respectively, of a channel of MOS transistor 308 a. In the denominator of equation (2), W and L are the width and length, respectively, of a channel of MOS transistor 308 b.

As shown in FIG. 3 , I B1-2 and I B1-5 are supplied by current source I B1 . The sum of I B1-2 and I B1-5 is equal to the current provided by current source I B1 . Therefore, if the ratio of the W/L value of transistor 304 a to the W/L value of transistor 304 b is the same as the ratio of the W/L value of transistor 308 a to the W/L value of transistor 308 b, the sum of currents I B1-1 and I B1-6 is a constant times the current provided by CS I B1 .

In addition, a change in voltage across resistors 302 , 306 results in a change in the potential at the gate terminals of transistors 304 c, 308 c. That is, the currents I B1-2 and I B1-5 are functions of the voltage drops across resistors 302 , 306 . Because the currents flowing through transistors 304 a and 308 a to op-amp outputs 206 are a function of the I B1-2 and I B1-5 currents, the I B1-1 and I B1-6 currents are also functions of the voltage drops across resistors 302 and 306 . Additionally, as noted above, the amount of I B1-1 and I B1-6 currents directed to op-amp outputs 206 will be substantially determined by the width and length ratios of the channels of the respective transistors 304 , 308 . As a result, the range of the I B1-1 and I B1-6 currents may be adjusted for desired applications by designing the sizes of the transistors 304 and 308 appropriately.

The operation of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 will now be described with reference to the embodiment in which transistors 212 are implemented as MOSFETs with specific channel dimensions. However, one familiar with the art will now appreciate that transistors 212 may be any device, or combination of devices, configured to operate as an electrically controlled switch, and/or convert a signal from one format to another, e.g., bipolar junction transistor, field effect transistors, and the like, in which operating characteristics can be predetermined by adjusting dimensional parameters of the devices. It is also understood that transistors 212 may have any suitable channel dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 3 , a plurality of currents within op-amp 200 are labeled, including current I B1-1 through transistor 304 a, current I B1-2 through transistors 304 b and 304 c, current I B1-3 through resistors 302 , current I B0 through transistors 212 a and 212 b, current I B1-4 through resistors 306 , current I B1-5 through transistors 308 b and 308 c, and current I B1-6 through transistor 308 a.

Consistent with the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , CSs 214 a and 214 b dynamically compensate for increased current needs of the load when the input signals are relatively large in amplitude, thereby preserving large-signal linearity.

When input signals S 1 and S 2 are relatively small in amplitude, the signals on respective op-amp outputs 206 are relatively small in amplitude as well. Therefore, the current fluctuation at the second stage is relatively small, and the linearity of the signals at op-amp outputs 206 is not a concern. As a result of negative feedback, when, for example, signal S 1 , i.e., the signal applied to op-amp input 204 a, is at a higher potential than S 2 , i.e., the signal applied to op-amp input 204 b, the signal at op-amp output 206 b is at a lower potential than the signal at op-amp output 206 a.

Under such conditions, the signal output of the first stage at the drain of transistor 212 a, which is applied across resistors 306 a and 306 b, is also lower than the signal at the drain of transistor 212 b which is applied across resistors 302 a and 302 b. As a result, a relatively low bias voltage is applied to the gate of transistor 308 c, resulting in the current through transistor 308 c, i.e., I B1-5 , being relatively low. Because I B1-6 is proportional to I B1-5 , I B1-6 is also relatively low. Therefore, the total current supplied to both the load at op-amp output 206 b and the common-source amplifier comprised of transistor 212 f is relatively low. Conversely, the current I B1-2 and I B1-3 are relatively large due to the relatively large gate voltage of transistor 304 c.

Also, continuing this example, when S 2 is at a lower potential than S 1 , the current provided by CS 214 a, i.e., I B1-1 , is larger than the current provided by CS 214 b, i.e., I B1-6 , because, as noted above, the sum of I B1-1 and I B1-6 remains constant. Additionally, the sum of the currents through transistors 304 c and 308 c, i.e., I B1-2 and I B1-5 , respectively, remains equal to I B1 . Therefore, as I B1-5 increases, I B1-2 correspondingly decreases. Because I B1-1 is proportional to I B1-2 , I B1-1 also decreases, resulting in a lower potential signal at op-amp output 206 a.

Therefore, the circuit shown in FIG. 3 compensates for the increased current needs of op-amp 200 for large signals, while preserving the total current consumption for op-amp 200 .

FIGS. 2 and 3 show each transistor to be of a certain type, i.e., either a p-type or n-type MOSFET. It is to be understood that op-amp 200 can as well be constructed with the opposite types of transistors, i.e., an n-type transistor in the place of a p-type transistor, and vice versa. It is further to be understood that op-amp 200 may also be constructed with other types transistors such as bipolar junction transistors.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed operational amplifier. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed apparatus and method. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.