Skip to main content
Log in

Low-noise monolithic amplifier design: Bipolar versus CMOS

  • Published:
Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Design of monolithic low-noise amplifiers in bipolar and CMOS technologies for matching a given signal source is presented. Noise matching conditions are derived for three different types of source impedance, i.e., resistive, capacitive, and inductive. Emphasis is put on the comparison of the best noise performance obtainable by the use of bipolar and CMOS approaches. It is shown that for a resistive source, low-noise amplifiers can easily be designed in both bipolar and CMOS technologies. While for capacitive and inductive sources, a CMOS approach yields better noise performance than a bipolar one. Measurement and simulation results on some amplifiers are presented which confirm the theoretical considerations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. Bilotti and E. Mariani, “Noise characteristics of current mirror sinks/sources,”IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-10, December 1975, pp. 516–524.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Z.Y. Chang and W. Sansen, “Stability and noise performance of constant transimpedance amplifier with inductive source,”IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst., vol. CAS-35, 1989, pp. 264–271.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Z.Y. Chang and W. Sansen, “Low noise, low distortion AM wide band amplifiers with capacitive sources,”IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-20, June 1990, pp. 833–840.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G. Erdi, “Amplifier techniques for combining low noise, precision, and high-speed performance,”IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-16, December 1981, pp. 653–661.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Y. Netzer, “The design of low-noise amplifiers,”Proc. IEEE, vol. 69, no. 6, June 1981, pp. 728–741.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Netzer, “A new interpretation of noise reduction by matching,”Proc. IEEE, vol. 62, March. 1974, pp. 404–406.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A.G. Jordan and N.A. Jordan, “Theory of noise in metal oxide semiconductor devices,”IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices, vol. ED-12, no. 3 March 1965, pp. 148–156.

    Google Scholar 

  8. C.T. Sah, S.Y. Wu, and F.H. Hielscher, “The effects of fixed bulk charge on the thermal noise in metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors,”IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices, vol. ED-13, no. 4, April. 1966, pp. 410–414.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Z.Y. Chang, and W. Sansen,Low-Noise Wide-Band Amplifiers in Bipolar and CMOS Technologies, Norwell, MA, Kluwer Academic Publishers, December 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  10. H.A. Haus et al., “Representation of noise in linear twoports,”Proc. IRE, vol. 48, January 1960, pp. 69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Robert G. Meyer and Robert A. Blauschild, “A wide band low noise monolithic transimpedance amplifier,”IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-21, no. 4, August 1986, pp. 530–533.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kiichi Yamashita et al., “A variable transimpedance preamplifier for use in wide-dynamic range optical receiver,”IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-21, no. 2, April 1986, pp. 324–329.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ernst H. Nordolt, Henk C. Nauta, and Corlex A. Boon, “A highdynamic range front end for an upconversion car-radio receiver,”IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits vol. SC-20, no. 3, June 1985, pp. 688–696.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Steyaert, M., Chang, Z.Y. & Sansen, W. Low-noise monolithic amplifier design: Bipolar versus CMOS. Analog Integr Circ Sig Process 1, 9–19 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02151022

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02151022

Keywords

Navigation