Operational transconductance amplifier

Operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) is a monolithic direct

coupled differential voltage controlled current source. They have a
differential input and an output that is single-ended.

OTA are described by transconductance gain gm instead of voltage-gain.
They are very suitable for a broad variety of applications because they are
similar to op-amp.

As opposed to the operational amplifier, OTA has an ability to change gain
which provides greater flexibility in design of analog circuits. The
transconductance of an OTA can be linearly controlled by changing bias
current (Ib) or voltage (Vb) through an extra control terminal.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier
Differences between OTA and operational amplifier:

OTA has an adjustable gain in contrast to the OP-amp. Network

equations of the OTA circuits contain besides the values of passive
elements, transconductance gm as an additional unknown.

The output impedance of an OTA is very high in contrast to the

operational amplifier. Consequently, OTA behaves as a current
source at the output.

As opposed to the linear OP-amp circuits, linear OTA circuits does

not necessary use external negative feedback

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Characteristics of an ideal OTA

Infinite input resistance Rin→∞

Infinite output resistance Ro→∞

Infinite frequency bandwidth ω0→∞

The amplifier is ideally balanced: I0=0 when V1=V2

Transconductance gm is finite and controllable with the bias
current IB

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Characteristics of a real OTA

Finite input resistance Rin

Finite output resistance RO

Offset voltage

Amplifies common mode signal

Finite bandwidth
g m0 ⋅ ω a
g m (s ) =
s + ωa

Open loop transconductance is

constant at lower frequencies.
and monotonically decrease
after a roll off frequency ωa.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Characteristics of a real OTA

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Bipolar OTA

Single device: LM3080, CA3080

Dual OTA on a chip: LM13600, CA3280

Triple OTA on a chip: CA3060

Improved OTA with buffers and linearizing diods: LM13600,
LM13700. Diodes are used to extend the dynamic range of the device.
Buffers are used as an additional stage for the realization of a
differential voltage controlled voltage source.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

The current mirrors

The current mirrors are subcircuits particularly useful for the
distribution of bias currents in larger circuits.

The performance requirements for current mirrors are similar as for

current sources:
• The output resistance must be as large as possible in order to
reduce the dependence of the output;
• The input resistance must be as small as possible;
• The minimum allowed output voltage and minimum input
voltage must be as small as possible;
• The current gain must be precisely defined, constant with the
supply voltage and temperature.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

The simple MOS current mirror

• The simple current mirror can be obtained by using a transistor in

diode connection M1 (its drain is shorted to its gate) and an output
transistor in common source configuration, M2. The gate source voltage
of the both transistors is set by the injected input or reference current,
Iin.

vt
rout = = r02
it

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

The simple MOS current mirror

• Under assumption that both transistor operate in saturation mode we

can determine the relationship between reference current and output
current. The output current Iout is related to the reference current Iref by
the ratio of the aspect ratios of the transistors.
1 ' W 
 (VGS − Vtn )
2
I D1 = ⋅ kn 
2 L 1
1 ' W 
I D2 = ⋅ k n   (VGS − Vtn )2
2  L 2
V − VGS
I D1 = I REF = DD
R

I0 (W L )1
I D1 = =
I REF (W L )2
ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA
 Operational transconductance amplifier

A current steering circuit

Once a constant current is generated it can
be replicated to provide DC bias currents for
the various stages. This function realized by
the current steering subcircuit. Q2 pulls its
current from load and Q5 pushes its current
I5 into a load. Thus, Q5 is called current
source and Q2 is called current sink.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier
Cascode current mirror

The cascode configuration is

v x = rDS 2 ⋅ i x + rDS 3 ⋅ (i x − g m3 ⋅ vGS 3 )
used to increase the output
vGS 3 = −v S 3 = −rDS 2 ⋅ i x
resistance of the current
sink/source. vx
rout = = rDS 2 + rDS 3 + g m3 ⋅ rDS 3 ⋅ rDS 2 ≈ g m3 ⋅ rDS 3 ⋅ rDS 2
ix

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA11KOLA
 Operational transconductance amplifier

The simple bipolar current mirror

The current that flows through the diode connected transistor Q1
establishes a base-emitter voltage. This voltage is than applied
between base and emitter of Q2. If both transistor have the same
emitter-base junction area then the collector current of Q2 will be
equal to that of Q1. VBE

I C = I S ⋅ e VT
I C1 I S 1
=
IC2 I S 2

I0 Area of BEJ of Q 2
=
I REF Area of BEJ of Q1

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier
Problem 6.1
For the circuit shown in figure, let VDD= Vss = 15 V, Vtn= 0.6 V, Vtp = -0.6 V,
all channel lengths L=1 µV, kn’ = 200 µA/V2 , kp' = 80 µA/V2 , and λ = 0. For
lREF =100 µA, find the widths of all transistors to obtain l2 = 60 µA, I3 = 20 µA
and I5 = 80 µA. The minimum voltaga at the drain of Q2 is VSS+0.2 V and the
maximal voltage at the drain of Q5 is VDD-0.2V.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Problem 6.2

For the basic current-source circuit

shown in figure determine the value of R
for generating current of 10 µA. Assume
that VBE is 0.7 V at a current of 1 mA and
neglect the effect of finite β.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

Differential pair: Q1, Q2

I T = I E1 + I E 2
I E1 ≈ I C1 = I S ⋅ exp(VBE1 / VT )
I E 2 ≈ I C 2 = I S ⋅ exp(VBE 2 / VT )
IT IT
I E1 = =
1 + E 2 1 + exp VBE 2 − VBE1 
I
I E1  VT 
 
IT IT
I E2 = =
1 + E1 1 + exp VBE1 − VBE 2 
I
 
I E2  VT 

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

V − VBE1 Vin
x = BE 2 =
VT VT

IT e
(x )
2
(
e 2
x )
I E1 = ⋅ = IT
1+ e −x
e
(x )
2 e
(x )
2 +e 2
− (x )

− (x ) − (x )
IT e 2 e 2
I E2 = ⋅ = IT
1 + e e −( 2 )
x x
e
− (x )
2 +e 2
(x )

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

Current mirrors:(Q3,Q11),(Q5,Q6),(Q4,Q12),(Q13,Q14)
I C1 = I C11 = I C14
I C 2 = I C12
I out = I C14 − I C12 = I C1 − I C 2

(e x 2 ) − e −(x 2 )
I o = I C1 − I C 2 = I T
(e x 2 ) + e −(x 2 )
 x  Vin 
I o = I T ⋅ tanh  = I T ⋅ tanh  
2  2 ⋅ VT 
dI 0 IT 2  Vin 

gm = = ⋅ sec h 
dVin 2 ⋅ VT  2 ⋅ VT 
dI 0 I
gm = ≈ T ≈ 19.2 ⋅ I T [ A]
dVin 2 ⋅ VT
dI C1
g m = g m (Q1 ) = g m (Q2 ) =
dVBE1
ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA
Operational transconductance amplifier
Onestage OTA (Milerov OTA)

i D1 = k n (vGS1 − vtn )2 i D1 + i D 2 = I 0
i D 2 = k n (vGS 2 − vtn )2

DC transfer characteristic for

MOSFET differential pair
Transconductance is the slope of the
DC transfer characteristic. Maximum of
gm occurs at vd=0:

di kn I 0 gm
g m (max) = D1 = =
dvd vd = 0 2 2

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier
Onestage OTA (Milerov OTA)

Rules for transistor sizing:

M3 M4 • M1 and M2 choose large W for
high gain
OUT • M3 and M4 choose large L for
M1 M2 high gain and low offset

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Twostage OTA (Miler OTA)

In order to use 2-stage OTA in a circuit with feedback it is necessary

to add a compensation capacitor CC or compensation network R+C

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier
Onestage OTA (Milerov OTA)

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier
Outpu stage of an OTA
• Common source amplifier
• Cascode amplifier has a high output resistance and high gain R0 ≈ r01 ⋅ r01 ⋅ g m 2

• Folded cascode amplifier has an identical topology as cascode amplifier with

respect to the AC current. The advantage of this circuit is a larger dynamic range
which is achieved by an additional voltage supply VB.

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

Cascode OTA

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

Foulded cascode OTA

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

Operational transconductance amplifier

An inverting amplifier realized with one OTA

V0 1 − g m ⋅ R2
=
Vin 1 + g m ⋅ R1

R1 + R2
R0 =
1 + g m ⋅ R1

In the case when gmR1>>1 follows:

V0 R
≈− 2
Vin R1

R1 + R2
R0 ≈
g m ⋅ R1

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Inverting amplifier realized with two OTAs

This circuit does not contain passive components.

Voltage gain and output resistance can be adjusted
with bias currents of the OTAs.
V0 g
= − m1
Vin g m2

1
R0 =
g m2

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier

Active filter realized by OTA

Many different active filter configurations can be realized by using OTA.

These filters have ability to adjust critical frequencies, gain or both these parameters at
the same time.

In a first order filter section OTA denoted as Gm2 is connected in such a way that
it represents a resistor controlled by the voltage, R=1/gm2.

V0 g m1
=−
Vin g m 2 + sC

g m2
f 3dB = −
2 ⋅π ⋅ C

ANALOGNA ELEKTRONSKA KOLA

 Operational transconductance amplifier
6.3. Problem
The figure below shows a biquad filter section realized with two OTAs.
Determine the types of the filter functions, corner frequency ωo and Q-
factor of the poles in the case when:
a) Vin =Va, Vb=Vc=0;
b) Vin =Vb, Va=Vc=0;
c) Vin =Vc, Va=Vb=0.

ANALOG ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS