A low-voltage fully-differential current-mode analog CMOS integrator using floating-gate MOSFETs

Point-to-point parallel links are widly used in short-distance high-speed data communications. For these links, the design goal is not only to integrate a large number of I/Os in the systems, but also to increase the bit rate per I/O. The cost per I/O has to be kept low as performance improves. Voltage and timing error sources limit the performance of data links and affect its robustnest. These kinds of noise impose greater challenges in parallel data links, such as inter-signal timing skew and inter-signal cross-talk. The use of low-cost schemes, such as single-ended signaling, is effected signaficantly [sic] by the voltage and timging [sic] noise. Fully differential signaling schemes, two physical paths per signal channel, significantly increases the cost of system. Therefore, overcoming the voltage noise, keeping the cost low are two challenges in high-speed parallel links. In this thesis, we propose a new current-mode signaling scheme current-mode incremtnal [sic] signaling for high-speed parallel links. Also, the circuits of the receiver called current-integrating receiver are presented. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed signaling scheme, a 4-bit parallel link consisting of four bipolar current-mode drivers, five 10 cm microstrip lines with a FR4 substrate, and four proposed current-integrating receivers is implemented in UMC 0.13[micro]m, 1.2V CMOS technology and analyzed using SpectreRF from Cadence Design Systems with BSIM3V3 device models. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed current-mode incremental signaling scheme and the current-integrating receiver are capable of transmitting parallel data at 2.5 Gbyte/s.

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A low-voltage CMOS current-mode differential front-end for optical communications

10.32920/ryerson.14645463 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bendong Sun

Keyword(s):

Optical Communications ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

Low Voltage ◽

Supply Voltage ◽

Current Mode ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Switching Noise ◽

Current Feedback ◽

Fully Differential ◽

Digital Circuitry

This thesis deals with the design of a low-voltage fully-differential CMOS current-mode preamplifier for optical communications. An in-depth comparative analysis of the building blocks of low-voltage CMOS current-mode circuits is carried out. Two new bandwidth enhancement techniques, namely inductor series-peaking and current feedback, are introduced and implemented in the design. The feedback also reduces the value of the series-peaking inductor. The minimum supply voltage of the amplifier is only one threshold voltage plus one pinch-off voltage. The preamplifier has a balanced differential topology such that the effect of bias dependent mismatches is minimized and the amplifier is insensitive to the switching noise caused by the digital circuitry. Negative differential current feedbacks are implemented to boost the bandwidth and increase the dynamic range.

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