I.

INTRODUCTION
The operation principle of Operational Transconductance Amplifier(OTA) is the
conversion of differential voltage to a current at the output. Thus, it is a voltage controlled
current source (VCCS). In this amplifier, to control its transconductance, provision of an
additional input for a current is there. The structure of OTA is different from other
amplifiers because it's output is current and not the voltage [1,2]. For linear application,
OTA is used in open loop configuration without any negative feedback. In many
applications, local feedback is used with self cascode technique at input so as to improve
performance of the conventional OTA structure [3,4]. The performance criteria consist of
amplitude of output signal and slew rate, without increasing chip area and power
consumption. The main attractive feature of local feedback technique and self cascode
technique is that these can be used in both single ended or differential input OTA
structures. The idea behind these techniques is that the application of local feedback will
improve slew rate and self cascode technique will increase amplitude of output signal.

II. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

In Figure 1 we have an OTA with input pair which is differential and three current
mirrors. The transistors M1, M2 here is for differential input pair, which is biased by
MB1, MB2 . Two generated in the differential pair are reflected to the output mirrors are
here formed by M3-M5 and M4-M6 , the currents which are generated in the differential
pair are reflected to the output through these mirrors. The mirror of M3, M5 generates the
currents, this current will replicated to the output as the property of mirror to reflect via
mirror formed due to M7, 8. The mirrors which are formed by M3, 5 and M4, 6 and have
the relation as shown β5=Kβ3, β6=Kβ4 where β is equal to (KP/2)(W/L) will generate a
gain factor which is actually named as mirror gain factor and K here is representing that
gain factor. At output M9, -M10 are cascaded transistors and are biased by Vcasn/Vcasp
and they provide increased gain.

Continuous research is going on to increase speed while reducing power requirement.

For this there is requirement of amplifiers having low bias currents and can produce
large dynamic currents. When Local Feedback technique is applied to the conventional
OTA architecture this produces an improved class AB amplifier with increased slew
rate. The described OTA structure, with local feedback, provided by R1, R2, is shown in
Figure.
The transistors M3-M4 as shown in fig are connected to have a common gate also
matched resistors R1, R2 are used here to connect the drain and gate terminals of M3-M4.
 Figure 1. Conventional OTA

technique

Figure 2. Proposed OTA using local feedback