Operational amplifier circuit having stable operating point

Abstract: An operational amplifier circuit comprises a differential amplifier circuit (1) for generating an output voltage (V₂) in response to the difference in potential between two input signals (+IN, -IN), a level shift circuit (2) for shifting the output voltage of the differential amplifier circuit, a push-pull output circuit (3) which operates in response to the output voltages of the differential amplifier circuit and the level shift circuit, and a bias circuit (4) for gen­ erating a bias voltage (V B ) in response to a power supply voltage (V DD ) to control the level shift circuit. The output voltage of the level shift circuit is not affected by fluctuations of the power supply voltage.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operational amplifier circuit comprising a push-pull output stage having a stable operating point even when fluctuations occur in a power supply voltage. 2) Description of the Related Art An operational amplifier circuit is widely used for various analog operators. For example, a known prior art operational amplifier circuit comprises a differential amplifier circuit for generating an output voltage in response to a difference in potential between two input signals, a level shift circuit for shifting the output voltage of the differential amplifier circuit, and a push-pull output circuit which operates in response to the output voltages of the differential amplifier circuit and the level shift circuit (see: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 59-156012). In this prior art circuit, however, when fluctuations of occur in a power supply voltage, fluctuations of the operating point of the operational amplifier circuit, i.e., the operating point of the push-pull output circuit, occur, thus increasing the fluctuation of current, the fluctuation of the unity gain frequency characteristics, the fluctuation of the DC gain characteristics, and the like, which will be later explained in detail. This large fluctuation generated by the fluctuation of the power supply voltage is not advantageous in the design of operational amplifier circuits, since the scope of a design choice thereof is reduced thereby. For an example of a state of the art operational amplifier corresponding to the preamble of claim 1, reference may be made to patent document EP-A-0 123 275. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operational amplifier circuit having a stable operating point, to thereby reduce the fluctuation of the current, the fluctuation of the unity gain frequency characteristics, the fluctuation of the DC gain characteristics, and the like. These objects are met according to the present invention with an operational amplifier circuit as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more clearly understood from the description as set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a prior art operational amplifier circuit; Fig. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of the circuit of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the operational amplifier circuit according to the present invention; Figs. 4, 6, and 8 are circuit diagrams illustrating first, second, and third embodiments, respectively, of the operational amplifier circuit according to the present invention; Fig. 5A is a diagram showing the voltages in the circuit of Fig. 4; Fig. 5B is a timing diagram showing the operation of the circuit of Fig. 4; Fig. 7A is a diagram showing the voltages in the circuit of Fig. 6; Fig. 7B is a timing diagram showing the operation of the circuit of Fig 6; Fig. 9A is a diagram showing the voltages in the circuit of Fig. 8; and Fig. 9B is a timing diagram showing the operation of the circuit of Fig. 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before the description of the embodiments, a prior art operational amplifier circuit will be first explained with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, which is a detailed circuit diagram of Fig. 1 (See Fig. 4 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-156012). In the Figures, reference numeral 1 designates a differential amplifier circuit for generating an output V₂ in accordance with a difference in potential between input signals +IN and -IN, and this circuit 1 comprises P-channel transistors T₁ and T₂ , N-channel transistors T₃ and T₄ , and a constant current source I₁. Note that a common gate potential is applied to the gates of the P-channel transistors T₁ and T₂ , thereby forming a current mirror circuit. Also, the N-channel transistors T₃ and T₄ are operated in a saturation state. For example, if +IN > -IN, a voltage V₁ is high and a voltage V₂ is low. Conversely, if +IN < -IN, the voltage V₁ is low and the voltage V₂ is high. In this case, the center of an amplitude of the signals +IN and -IN is at an intermediate level between two power supply voltages V DD and V SS . Reference numeral 2 designates a level shift circuit for shifting down the output voltage V₂ of the differential amplifier circuit 1 by a predetermined voltage, and this circuit 2 comprises an N-channel transistor T₅ and a constant current source I₂. In this case, the difference between the output voltage V₂ of the differential amplifier circuit 1 and the output voltage V₃ of the level shift circuit 2 is determined by the threshold voltage of the N-channel transistor T₅ , the characteristics β of the transistor T₅ , and the current of the constant current source I₂. Reference numeral 3 designated a push-pull output circuit which is composed of a series circuit formed by a P-channel transistor T₆ and a N-channel transistor T₇. Reference C C designates a phase compensating capacitor used to avoid oscillation due to a negative feedback circuit. In the push-pull output circuit 3 of Figs. 1 and 2, a current flowing through the transistor T₆ is determined by the difference between V DD and V₂ , and a current flowing through the transistor T₇ is determined by the difference between V₃ and V SS . In this case, since the current of the constant current source I₂ is constant, the value (V₂ - V₃) is constant. Here, V DD - V SS = (V DD - V₂) + (V₂ - V₃) + (V₃ - V SS ) Therefore, if (V DD - V SS ) is greatly fluctuated, the first term (V DD - V₂) and the third term (V₃ - V SS ) are greatly fluctuated, since the second term (V₂ - V₃) is constant. The first term affects the conductivity of the P-channel transistor T₆ and the third term affects the conductivity of the N-channel transistor T₇ , thus greatly affecting the operating point of the push-pull output circuit 3, which means that the output voltage at the terminal OUT of the push-pull output circuit 3 is greatly fluctuated. Also, if the operating point of the push-pull output circuit 3 is fluctuated, the supply current and the characteristics of the unity gain and the DC gain are also fluctuated. In Figs. 1 and 2, note that the fluctuation of the voltages V₂ and V₃ actually follows that of the power supply voltage V DD , and therefore, the third term (V₃ - V SS ) is mainly fluctuated. In Fig. 3 which illustrates a basic configuration of the operational amplifier circuit according to the present invention, a bias circuit 4 is added to the elements of Fig. 1, and the level shift circuit 2 is modified. Namely, the bias circuit 4 generates a bias voltage V B in accordance with the fluctuation of the power supply voltage V DD to control the level shift circuit 2, and thus the output voltage of the level shift circuit 2 is not changed even when the fluctuation of the power supply voltage V DD occurs. That is, the bias circuit 4 controls the level shift circuit 2 by the bias voltage V B having a fluctuation in accordance with the fluctuation of the power supply voltage V DD . In Fig. 3, the fluctuation of the power supply voltage V DD does not affect the gate-to-voltage (V₃ - V SS ) of the transistor T₇ of the push-pull output circuit 3, and therefore, even if the power supply voltage V DD is fluctuated, the current flowing through the transistor T₇ is not fluctuated. Note that, since the output voltage V₂ of the differential amplifier circuit 1 follows the power supply voltage V DD , the voltage (V DD - V₂) is not fluctuated even when the power supply voltage V DD is fluctuated, and therefore, the current flowing through the transistor T₆ is not fluctuated. Accordingly, the operating point of the push-pull output circuit 3 is not fluctuated by the fluctuation of the power supply voltage V DD . The circuit of Fig. 3 will be explained in detail with reference to the embodiments of Figs. 4, 6, and 8. In Fig. 4, which illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, the constant current source I₂ of the level shift circuit 2 of Fig. 2 is replaced by an N-channel transistor T₈ serving as a variable current source, and the gate thereof is controlled by the bias voltage V B of the bias circuit 4. The parameters of the constituents of the bias circuit 4 are similar to those of the differential amplifier circuit 1 and the level shift circuit 2, i.e., the bias circuit 4 comprises a P-channel transistor T₁, corresponding to the P-channel transistors T₁ and T₂ of the differential amplifier circuit 1, a constant current source I₁′ corresponding to the constant current source I₁ , an N-channel transistor T₅′ corresponding to the N-channel transistor T₅ of the level shift circuit 2, and a N-channel transistor T₈′ and a constant current source I₈′ corresponding to the N-channel transistor T₈. The constituents of the bias circuit 4 are determined so that the fluctuation ΔV₃ of the output voltage V₃ of the level shift circuit 2 is 0 even when a fluctuation ΔV DD occurs in the power supply voltage V DD . Here, g mx and β x are a mutual conductance and a constant determined by the size, respectively, of a transistor T x and ΔV₂ , ΔV₃ , ΔV₂′, and ΔV B are fluctuations of the voltages V₂ , V₃ , V₂′ , and V B , respectively, when a fluctuation ΔV DD occurs in the power supply voltage V DD . Accordingly, the fluctuation of a current through the transistor T₈ is represented by g m8 ·ΔV B , and therefore, in the transistors T₅ and T₈ , ΔV₃ = ΔV₂ - g m8 g m5 ·ΔV B Similarly, in the transistors T₅′ and T₈′ of the bias circuit 4, ΔV B = g m5 ′ g m5 ′ + g m8 ′ ·ΔV2′ On the other hand, due to the operation of the transistors T₃ and T₄ in a saturation state and the presence of the constant current source I₁, ΔV₂ = ΔV DD Also, due to the presence of the constant current source I₁′ , ΔV₂′ = ΔV DD Therefore, from the formulae (1) to (4), Here, even when a fluctuation ΔV DD occurs in the power supply voltage V DD , to reduce the fluctuation ΔV₃ of the gate-to-source voltage (V₃ - V SS ) of the transistor T₇ , is obtained, from the formula (5), Note that V SS is the ground level, and therefore, no fluctuation occurs in V SS . Here, the constituents of the bias circuit 4 are balanced with those of the differential amplifier circuit 1 and the level shift circuit 2. Therefore, I₁′:I₁/2 = β₁′:β₂ = β₅′:β₅ = (I₈′ + I T8 ′):I T8 where I T8 ′ and I T8 are drain-to-source currents flowing through the transistors T₈′ and T₈ , respectively. Therefore, the formula (6) is g m5 ′ = β₅′ β₅ ·g m5 = 2·I₁′ I₁ g m5 Thus, Generally, in a MOS transistor, g m = ∂I D ∂V GS = ∂ ∂V GS β 2 (V GS - V th )² = β(V GS - V th ) = 2βI D where I D is a drain-to-source current; V GS is a gate-to-source voltage; and V th is a threshold voltage. Here, in the transistors T₅ and T₈ , the drain-to-source current I D is the same, and in the transistors T₈ and T₈′, V GS is the same. Therefore, the formula (7) is Here, the gate length and width of a transistor T X are represented by L X and W X , respectively. Then, if L₂ = L₂′, L₅ = L₅′ and L₈ = L₈′, W₂′ = 2·I₁′ I₁ ·W₂ W₅′ = 2·I₁′ I₁ ·W₅ I₈′ = 2·I₁′ I₁ ·T₈ - I T8 ′ then ΔV₃ = 0. In summary, each of the voltages of the circuit of Fig. 4 is changed with respect to the change ΔV DD , as illustrated in Figs. 5A and 5B. In Fig. 6, which illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, the transistor T₈′ of the bias circuit 4 of Fig. 4 is replaced by a constant current source I₈ provided in the level shift circuit 2. Also in Fig. 6 in the same way as in the embodiment of Fig. 4, the elements T₅ , T₈ , and I₈ of the level shift circuit 2 are determined so that ΔV₃ = 0 with respect to the change ΔV DD . Namely, in this case, in the bias circuit 4, the fluctuation ΔV B of the output voltage V B follows the fluctuation ΔV DD of the power supply voltage V DD , therefore, ΔV B = ΔV DD Therefore, in the transistors T₅ and T₈ , ΔV₃ = ΔV DD - g m8 g m5 ·ΔV DD Therefore, to obtain ΔV₃ = 0, g m5 = g m8 Accordingly, in the level shift circuit 2, β₅·I T5 = β₈·I T8 = β₈(I T5 - I₈) ∴ β₅ β₈ = 1 - I₈ I T5 From the formula (9) and the condition that a potential shift of a voltage (V₂ - V₃) is carried out where a current I T5 is supplied to the transistor T₅ , the transistors T₅ , T₈ , and the constant current source I₈ can be determined. In summary, the voltages of the circuit of Fig. 6 are changed with respect to the change ΔV DD , as illustrated in Figs. 7A and 7B. In Fig 8, which illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, the threshold voltage of the N-channel transistor T₅ as a constant voltage element is varied by changing the substrate potential due to the back bias effect. That is, in a CMOS circuit, usually an N-channel transistor is formed within a P-conductivity type well, and accordingly, the threshold voltage of the N-channel transistor T₅ can be changed by changing the potential of the P-conductivity type well, and thus the voltage (V₂ - V₃) can be varied. The substrate potential of the transistor T₅ is controlled by the output voltage V B of the bias circuit 4. The transistor T₁′ and the constant current source I₁′ correspond to the transistors T₁ , T₂ and the constant current source I₁ of the differential amplifier circuit 1. Therefore, I₁′:I₁/2 = T₁′:T₂ Also, the transistor T₅ and the constant current source I₂′ correspond to the transistor T₅ and the constant current source I₂ of the level shift circuit 2. Therefore, T₅′:T₅ = I₂′:I₂ Further, the operating point of the transistor T₇ is I₆· β₇ β₇′ . In Fig. 8, when the power supply voltage V DD is changed by ΔV DD , the voltages V₂ and V₂′ are also changed by ΔV DD . Further, the voltages V₃ and V₃′ have the same tendency to change. In this case, if ΔV DD > 0, the currents through the transistors T₇ and T₇′ tend to increase, and as a result, the back bias potential V B of the transistors T₅′ and T₅ reduced. Therefore, the threshold voltages of the transistors T₅′ and T₅ are increased to suppress the increase of the voltages V₃ and V₃′. Similarly, if ΔV DD < 0, the currents of the transistors T₇ and T₇′ tend to decrease, and as a result, the back bias potential V B of the transistors T₅′ and T₅ is increased. Therefore, the threshold voltages of the transistors T₅′ and T₅ are decreased to suppress the decrease of the voltages V₃ and V₃′. Therefore, even when a fluctuation ΔV DD occurs in the power supply voltage V DD , the fluctuation ΔV₃ of the voltage V₃ can be 0. In summary, the voltages are changed with respect to the change ΔV DD as illustrated in Figs. 9A and 9B. In the above-mentioned embodiments, since the transistors and constant current sources of the bias circuit have a configuration similar to that of the differential amplifier circuit and level shift circuit of the operational amplifier circuit, the bias condition of the bias circuit is the same as that of the operational amplifier circuit, and thus the operating point can be stabilized with respect to the parameter fluctuation of the transistors. As explained above, according to the present invention, the operating point can be stabilized even when fluctuations occur in the power supply voltage, and as a result, the fluctuation of the power current, the fluctuation of the unity gain frequency characteristics, and the fluctuation of the DC gain characteristics are reduced with respect to the change of the power supply voltage. Also, the characteristic of a threshold voltage of a transistor with respect to the fluctuations of constants thereof can be stabilized simultaneously with the suppression of the fluctuation of the characteristics with respect to the fluctuation of the characteristics of the power supply voltage. Note, according to results of the inventors, experiments, the fluctuation of the power current is reduced by about 1/4; the fluctuation of the unit gain frequency characteristics is reduced by about 1/2; and the fluctuation of the DC gain characteristics is reduced by about 1/3, compared with the prior art circuit of Figs. 1 and 2.

Claims: An operational amplifier circuit comprising: first and second power supply terminal means (V DD , V SS ); a differential amplifier circuit (1), connected between said first and second power supply terminal means, for generating an output voltage (V₂) in response to a difference in potential between two input signals (+IN, -IN); a level shift circuit (2), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means, and to said differential amplifier circuit, for shifting the output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit by a predetermined value to generate an output voltage (V₃); a push-pull output circuit (3), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means, to said differential amplifier circuit, and to said level shift circuit, said push-pull output circuit operating in response to an output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit and an output voltage of said level shift circuit; and a bias circuit (4), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means and to said level shift circuit, for generating a bias voltage (V B ) in response to a power supply voltage (V DD ) to control said level shift circuit, whereby the output voltage of said level shift circuit is not affected by the fluctuation of said power supply voltage; characterized in that : said level shift circuit comprises: a transistor (T₅), connected to said power supply terminal means (V DD ) and said differential amplifier circuit, for reducing the output voltage thereof by said predetermined value; and a variable current source (T₈), connected between said transistor and said second power supply terminal means, and to said bias circuit (4), the current of said variable current source being controlled by the bias voltage of said bias circuit ; and in that said bias circuit (4) comprises : a first transistor (T₁′) connected to said first power supply terminal means (V DD ); a first constant current source (I₁′) connected between said first transistor and said second power supply terminal means (V SS ); a second transistor (T₅′) connected to said first power supply terminal means, said second transistor forming a current mirror circuit in conjunction with the first transistor; and a second constant current source (I₈′) connected between said second transistor (T₅′) and said second power supply terminal means (V SS ), a node between said second transistor and said second constant current source being an output terminal for the bias voltage; and a third transistor (T₈′) connected between said second transistor (T₅′) and said second power supply terminal means (V SS ), said third transistor being controlled by the bias voltage (V B ), the function of said second constant current source (I₈′) and said third transistor (T₈′) corresponding to the function of said variable current source of said level shift circuit, said second and third transistors, and said transistor and said variable current source of said level shift circuit satisfying the condition: g m8 ′ = ( g m8 g m5 - 1)·g m5 ′ where g m5 , g m8 , g m5 ′) and g m8 ′ are mutual conductances of said second and third transistors, said transistor and said variable current source of said level shift circuit, respectively. An operational amplifier circuit comprising: first and second power supply terminal means (V DD , V SS ); a differential amplifier circuit (1), connected between said first and second power supply terminal means, for generating an output voltage (V₂) in response to a difference in potential between two input signals (+IN, -IN); a level shift circuit (2), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means, and to said differential amplifier circuit, for shifting the output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit by a predetermined value to generate an output voltage (V₃); a push-pull output circuit (3), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means, to said differential amplifier circuit, and to said level shift circuit, said push-pull output circuit operating in response to an output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit and an output voltage of said level shift circuit; and a bias circuit (4), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means and to said level shift circuit, for generating a bias voltage (V B ) in response to a power supply voltage (V DD ) to control said level shift circuit, whereby the output voltage of said level shift circuit is not affected by the fluctuation of said power supply voltage; characterized in that : said level shift circuit comprises: a transistor (T₅), connected to said power supply terminal means (V DD ) and said differential amplifier circuit, for reducing the output voltage thereof by said predetermined value; and a variable current source (T₈), connected between said transistor and said second power supply terminal means, and to said bias circuit (4), the current of said variable current source being controlled by the bias voltage of said bias circuit; and a constant current source (I₈) connected in parallel with said variable current source (T₈); and in that said bias circuit (4) comprises : a first transistor (T₁′) connected to said first power supply terminal means; a first constant current source (I₁′) connected between said first transistor and said second power supply terminal means; a second transistor (T₅′) connected to said first power supply terminal means, said second transistor forming a current mirror circuit in conjunction with the first transistor; and a second constant current source (I₈′) connected between said second transistor and said second power supply terminal means, a node between said second transistor and said second constant current source being an output terminal for the bias voltage, said second constant current source corresponding to said variable current source (T₈) and said constant current source of said level shift circuit, the mutual conductances of said transistor and said constant current source of said level shift circuit being the same. An operational amplifier circuit comprising: first and second power supply terminal means (V DD , V SS ); a differential amplifier circuit (1), connected between said first and second power supply terminal means, for generating an output voltage (V₂) in response to a difference in potential between two input signals (+IN, -IN); a level shift circuit (2), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means, and to said differential amplifier circuit, for shifting the output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit by a predetermined value to generate an output voltage (V₃); a push-pull output circuit (3), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means, to said differential amplifier circuit, and to said level shift circuit, said push-pull output circuit operating in response to an output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit and an output voltage of said level shift circuit; and a bias circuit (4), connected to said first and second power supply terminal means and to said level shift circuit, fcr generating a bias voltage (V B ) in response to a power supply voltage (V DD ) to control said level shift circuit, whereby the output voltage of said level shift circuit is not affected by the fluctuation of said power supply voltage; characterized in that : said level shift circuit comprises: a transistor (T₅), connected to said power supply terminal means (V DD ) and said differential amplifier circuit, for reducing the output voltage thereof by said predetermined value; and a constant current source (I₂), connected between said transistor and said second power supply terminal means (V SS ), the substrate potential of said transistor being controlled by the bias voltage of said bias circuit; and in that said bias circuit (4) comprises : a first transistor (T₁′) connected to said first power supply terminal means; a first constant current source (I₁′) connected between said first transistor and said second power supply terminal means; a second transistor (T₅′) connected to said first power supply terminal means, said second transistor forming a current mirror circuit in conjunction with the first transistor; a second constant current source (I₂′) connected between said second transistor and said second power supply terminal means; a third constant current source (I₆) connected to said first power supply terminal means; and a third transistor (T₇′) connected between said third constant current source and said second power supply terminal means, and to a node between said second transistor and said second constant current source, said third transistor being controlled by the potential at said node, the substrate potential of said second transistor being controlled by the bias voltage of said bias circuit. A circuit as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said differential amplifier circuit comprises: first and second transistors (T₁ , T₂) connected to said first power supply terminal means, said first and second transistors forming a current mirror circuit; a third transistor (T₃) connected to said first transistor, said third transistor being controlled by one of said input signals; a fourth transistor (T₄) connected to said second transistor, said fourth transistor being controlled by the other of said input signals; and a constant current source (I₁), connected to said third and fourth transistors and to said second power supply terminal means. A circuit as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said push-pull output circuit comprises: a first transistor (T₆) connected to said first power supply terminal means and said differential amplifier circuit, said first transistor being controlled by the output voltage of said differential amplifier circuit; and a second transistor (T₇) connected to said first transistor, said second power supply terminal means and to said level shift circuit, said second transistor being controlled by the output voltage of said level shift circuit.

Inventors: GOTOH KUNIHIKO, KOBAYASHI OSAMU, GOTOH, KUNIHIKO, KOBAYASHI, OSAMU
Applicants: FUJITSU LTD, FUJITSU LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H03F1
IPC codes: H03F3, H03F1