For stabilizing the common-mode output voltage of fully differential operational amplifiers, switched-capacitor (SC) type of common-mode feedback (CMFB) is a familiar technique. This is appropriate for implementing high-gain wide-swing low-power op-amps due to its benefits of minimum power consumption, superior linearity across a large amplifier output swing range, and improved feedback loop stability in comparison to continuous-time CMFB. However, the usage of SC-CMFB requires careful attention to some realistic aspects, details of many of which are available in literature. Nonetheless, its adverse effect on the op-amp’s differential-mode gain has not been investigated much. The explanation for this effect is the SC-CMFB-induced equivalent resistive loading, and this is particularly significant in amplifiers like folded cascode which are intended to provide a high gain. This issue of drop in op-amp dc gain because of SC-CMFB, and the consequence on the realization of continuous-time and discrete-time forms of integrators utilizing such amplifiers is the topic of discussion in this paper. Relevant analytical derivations and circuit simulations at the transistor level are provided. A couple of design guidelines and circuit topologies for minimizing the loading-induced gain reduction are also presented.
