Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

Cascode Amplifier
PART 1: Sizing Chart
3) An OP analysis was conducted to print out operating points, among which was V TH, required
in final value for DC sweep for VGS. VTH turned out to be ~ 442 mV.

And thus our parameters, to generate a sizing chart are as follows:

6) A DC sweep for VGS from 0 to ~ 0.85 (VTH + 0.4) was performed, and overlaid curves for
VOV and V* vs VGS were obtained.

7) At V* = 200 mV, corresponding V ovQ = 202 mV and VGSQ = 644 mV

8) ID, gm and gds vs VGS are plotted as follows, taking note of their values at VGSQ.

1
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

ID 97.1 µA
gm 970 µS
gds 9.83 µS

9) W at IDQ is obtained through cross-multiplication

W (µm) ID (µA)
10 97.1
2.06 20
10) Likewise for gmQ and gdsQ
W (µm) gm (µS)
10 970
2.06 200

W (µm) gds (µS)

10 9.83
2.06 2.02

2
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

PART 2: Cascode for Gain

1. OP Analysis
1) Circuit setup is as follows:

2) A preliminary (inaccurate) approximation for VB is chosen to be ~ 944 mV (VGSQ + V* +

100 mV), just to prepare for a VB DC sweep to choose proper value.

3
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

Setting horizontal cursor to 300 mV to ensure we get a 100 mV ‘safety margin’ into
saturation for VDS, VB = 1.03 V is determined to be a good value.

4) Below is an Operating Points Report for all NMOS devices in CS and cascode amplifier

To be obtain CSB and CDB, we use the following approximations:

CSB ~ CStot - CGS

CDB ~ CDtot - CGD
Thus, we have:
CSB (fF) CDB (fF)
M0 2.69401 1.767554
M1 2.67731 1.958434
M2 2.33135 1.797160

Also, DC node voltages are annotated in schematic editor:

5) All devices operate in saturation (region 2) as annotated by red box.

6) Devices do not have same values for VTH. M2 noticeably has VTH higher by roughly ~
0.09 V than M0 and M1’s, due to body effect; not having its S terminal grounded.
7) It is noted that for all devices, gm >> gds.
8) It is noted that for all devices, gm >> gmb.
9) It is noted that for all devices, CGS > CGD.
10) It is noted that for all devices, CSB > CDB.

4
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

2. AC Analysis
2) Calculator expressions to calculate DC gain, BW, GBW and UGF of both amplifier
topologies were as follows:

3) Below is Bode plot for frequency magnitude response for CS (red) and cascode
(magenta) amplifiers respectively.

4) CS amplifier:
𝑔𝑚 0.199765𝑚
𝐴𝑣 = 𝑔𝑚 𝑟𝑜 = = = 88.7 = 39.0 𝑑𝐵
𝑔𝑑𝑠 2.25277µ
𝑔𝑑𝑠 2.25277µ
𝐵𝑊 = =
1 1
𝐶𝐿 + 𝐶𝐷𝐵 + 𝐶𝐺𝐷 (1 + 𝐴 ) 1𝑝 + 1.767554f + 0.972616f(1 + 88.7)
𝑣
𝑀𝑅𝑎𝑑
= 2.25 = 358 𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝑠
𝑔𝑚 0.199765𝑚
𝐺𝐵𝑊 ~ 𝑈𝐺𝐹~ =
1 1
𝐶𝐿 + 𝐶𝐷𝐵 + 𝐶𝐺𝐷 (1 + 𝐴 ) 1𝑝 + 1.767554f + 0.972616f(1 + 88.7)
𝑣
= 31.7 𝑀𝐻𝑧
Cascode amplifier:
𝑔𝑚,𝑀1 (𝑔𝑚,𝑀2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏,𝑀2 ) 48.8𝑛
𝐴𝑣 = = = 3070 = 69.7 𝑑𝐵
𝑔𝑑𝑠,𝑀1 𝑔𝑑𝑠,𝑀2 15.9𝑝

𝑔𝑑𝑠,𝑀1 𝑔𝑑𝑠,𝑀2 15.9𝑝 𝐾𝑅𝑎𝑑

𝐵𝑊 = = = 64.1
(𝑔𝑚,𝑀2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏,𝑀2 )(𝐶𝐿 + 𝐶𝐷𝐵2 + 𝐶𝐺𝐷2 ) (248µ)(1.00𝑝) 𝑠
= 10.2 𝑘𝐻𝑧

5
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

𝑔𝑚,𝑀1 0.196467𝑚 𝑀𝑅𝑎𝑑

𝐺𝐵𝑊 ~ 𝑈𝐺𝐹~ = = 196 = 31.3 𝑀𝐻𝑧
(𝐶𝐿 + 𝐶𝐷𝐵2 + 𝐶𝐺𝐷2 ) 1.00𝑝 𝑠
5) Below is a comparison of hand analysis and simulation calculations:
Hand Analysis Simulation
CS Cascode CS Cascode
Av (dB) 39.0 69.7 38.9561 69.8699
BW (Hz) 358 k 10.2 k 356.7 k 9.81336 k
GBW (Hz) 31.7 M 31.3 M 31.6305 M 30.5712 M
fu (Hz) 31.7 M 31.3 M 31.7257 M 30.8224 M
6) Both hand and simulation calculation show that cascode offers much higher gain, at
expense of BW. BWs derived by hand analysis tends to be slightly higher than when
derived by simulations for both topologies, as f = 1/(2πRC) offers approximation of pole
frequency at intersection of asymptotes. In reality, roll-off happens more gradually
starting before pole frequency, hence BW is bound to be lower in simulations. This
carries over to GBW, explaining discrepancy between hand-calculated GBWs and
simulated ones.

PART 3 [Optional]: Cascode for BW

1. OP Analysis
1) A new cellview was set up with necessary amendments

𝑉𝐷𝐷⁄
2 0.9
2) 𝑅𝐷 = = 20µ = 45 𝑘𝛺
𝐼𝐷

6
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

4) Below is an Operating Points Report for all NMOS devices in CS and cascode amplifier

And CSB and CDB values calculated using established approximations:

CSB (fF) CDB (fF)
M0 2.69842 1.69199
M1 2.67827 1.954269
M2 2.34622 1.67807
DC node voltages are annotated in schematic view to show the following:

5) All devices are confirmed to be working in region 2 (saturation), as annotated by red box.

7
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

2. AC Analysis
2) Calculator expressions to calculate DC gain, BW, GBW and UGF of both amplifier
topologies were as follows:

3) Below is Bode plot for frequency magnitude response for CS (magenta) and cascode
(green) amplifiers respectively.

4) CS amplifier:
1
𝐴𝑣 = 𝑔𝑚 (𝑟𝑜 ||𝑅𝐷 ) = 0.201321𝑚( ||45𝑘) = 8.28 = 18.4 𝑑𝐵
2.08360µ
1 1
𝐵𝑊 = =
𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑔 (𝐶𝐺𝑆 + 𝐶𝐺𝐷 (1 + 𝐴𝑣 )) (10𝑀)(7.41598f + 0.97126f(1 + 8.28))
𝑀𝑅𝑎𝑑
= 6.09 = 969 𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝑠
𝐺𝐵𝑊 ~ 𝑈𝐺𝐹~ 8.28 ∗ 969𝑘 = 8.02 𝑀𝐻𝑧
Cascode amplifier:
(𝑔𝑚,𝑀2 + 𝑔𝑚𝑏,𝑀2 )
𝐴𝑣 = 𝑔𝑚,𝑀1 (𝑅_𝐷|| = 0.190476𝑚 ∗ 44.9𝑘 = 8.56 = 18.6 𝑑𝐵
𝑔𝑑𝑠,𝑀1 𝑔𝑑𝑠,𝑀2

1 1 𝐾𝑅𝑎𝑑
𝐵𝑊 ~ = = 10.6
𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑔 (𝐶𝐺𝑆,𝑀1 + 2𝐶𝐺𝐷,𝑀1 ) (10𝑀)(7.42363𝑓 + 2(0.997211𝑓)) 𝑠
= 1.69 𝑀𝐻𝑧
𝐺𝐵𝑊 ~ 𝑈𝐺𝐹~ 8.56 ∗ 1.69𝑀 = 14.5 𝑀𝐻𝑧

8
Si-Vision Academy Analog Labs Lab 03

5) Below is a comparison of hand analysis and simulation calculations:

Hand Analysis Simulation
CS Cascode CS Cascode
Av (dB) 18.4 18.6 18.3636 18.5055
BW (Hz) 969 k 1.69 M 940.762 k 1.64012 M
GBW (Hz) 8.02 M 14.5 M 7.79218 M 13.8086 M
fu (Hz) 8.02 M 14.5 Ms 7.78925 M 13.9124 M