Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
   The application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/970,122, entitled: “Technique for Common Mode Stabilization Without Affecting the Differential Loop in a Fully Differential Amplifier”, filed on: Sep. 5, 2007, naming the same inventors as in the subject application, attorney docket number: TI-65306PS, and is incorporated in its entirety herewith. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to amplifiers, and more specifically to common mode stabilization in fully differential amplifiers. 
   2. Related Art 
   Differential amplifiers refer to components which receive an input signal on a pair of input terminals and provide an amplified output. A fully differential amplifier provides the amplified output in differential form across a pair of output terminals. 
   Fully differential amplifiers employ additional circuitry for common mode stabilization. As is well known, common mode stabilization entails ensuring that the common mode voltage on the pair of output terminals is maintained at a desired level, typically since the magnitude of common voltage can affect the operation of any subsequent components that operate based on the outputs provided by the fully differential amplifier. 
   SUMMARY 
   A fully differential amplifier circuit provided according to an aspect of the present invention contains a stabilization block to measure the common mode component at the output of an input stage, and to inject a current proportionate to the common mode component into each of a pair of paths forming the output of the input stage to stabilize a feedback loop formed by the input stage, an output stage and a common mode feedback block. 
   In an embodiment, the stabilization block contains a buffer to receive the measured common mode component and to provide a buffered output. The injected current is generated based on the buffered output. Due to the presence of the buffer, the differential loop may not be affected by injection of the additional current, thereby avoiding any distortions in the output signal. 
   Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference to examples for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the features of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be described with reference to the following accompanying drawings, which are described briefly below. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example environment in which several aspects of the present invention can be implemented. 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram illustrating a fully differential amplifier in a prior embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram illustrating the common mode loop in a fully differential amplifier in a prior embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of illustrating the details of a fully differential amplifier in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram illustrating the details of a fully differential amplifier in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram illustrating the common mode loop in a fully differential amplifier in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram illustrating the details of a stabilization circuit in an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   1. Example Environment 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example environment in which several aspects of the present invention can be implemented. The diagram is shown containing fully differential amplifier  100 , analog to digital converter (ADC)  120 , and processing block  130 . Fully differential amplifier  100  (referred to simply as amplifier  100  below) is shown containing operational amplifier (OPAMP)  110 , and gain-setting resistor pairs  109 A/ 108 A and  109 B/ 108 B. 
   Amplifier  100  receives input signals on inputs terminals  101 (INP) and  102  (INM) and provides a differential output across output terminals  103 (OUTP) and  104 (OUTM). Input signals received on terminals  101  and  102  may represent single-ended inputs (each input referenced to a ground or constant potential terminal, not shown), or a single differential signal across terminals  101  and  102 . The inverting and non-inverting terminals of OPAMP  110  are respectively numbered  105  and  106 . Gain-setting resistor pairs  109 A/ 108 A and  109 B/ 108 B have values designed to provide a desired gain to input  101 / 102 . Capacitor  107 , placed across the differential outputs  103 / 104  supplies transient current to a load circuit (ADC  120  in the example) connected to output terminals  103 / 104 , thereby operating to minimize voltage variations of output voltage  103 / 104 . IN the example environment of  FIG. 1 , amplifier  100  provides a differential reference voltage Vref across paths  103  and  104 . 
   ADC  120  receives (gained) differential output  103 / 104  (Vref), and uses Vref in generating digital representations of an analog signal received on path  121  in a known way. ADC  120  forwards the generated digital representations (digital codes) on path  123  to processing block  130 . Processing block  130  processes the digital codes received from ADC  120  to provide desired operations. 
   Although, in the example above, amplifier  100  is described as operating as a reference buffer (to provide a reference voltage Vref to ADC  120 ), in other environments amplifier  100  may be used as a general purpose amplifier to amplify signals. Similarly, in such alternative environments any type of active or passive load(s) may be connected to the differential outputs  103 / 104 . 
   It is generally desirable that the differential output signal  103 / 104  have a substantially constant common mode component for proper operation of ADC  120 . Various aspects of the present invention ensure such a constant common mode component. The aspects will be clearer in comparison with a prior approach not using at least some features of the present invention. Accordingly the description is continued with respect to a prior implementation of amplifier  100 . 
   2. Prior Amplifier 
     FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram illustrating the details of a prior implementation of a fully differential amplifier. Fully differential amplifier  200  is shown containing input stage  210 , output stage  220  and common-mode feedback circuit  230 . Power supply terminal  298  and ground terminal  299  are also shown. 
   Input stage  210  is shown implemented as a differential stage, and containing transistors  211 A,  211 B, current sources  212 A and  212 B, and constant current sink implemented by transistor  213 . Input stage  210  receives input signals on input terminals  201  (INP) and  202  (INM) and provides differential outputs (across terminals/nodes  215  and  216 ) to output stage  220 . The input (gate terminal) of transistor  213  is controlled by output  239  of error amplifier  235  of common-mode feedback circuit  230  (described below). Nodes  291  and  292  represent the inverting and non-inverting inputs of input stage  210 . 
   Output stage  220  receives outputs  215 / 216  of input stage  210 , and provides a buffered (with low output impedance) differential output across terminals  203  (OUTP) and  204  (OUTM). Output stage  220  is shown implemented as a pseudo-differential source follower, and containing transistors  221 ,  222 , and current sources  225  and  226 . As is well known in the relevant arts, differential output  203 / 204  is characterized by differential signal ((OUTP minus OUTM), representing the amplified difference of voltages at terminals INM and INP), and a common-mode voltage (OUTCM) (equal to the average of the voltage values at output terminals OUTP and OUTM). Resistors  250 A,  250 B,  260 A and  260 B determine the gain (differential gain) of amplifier  200 , as is well known in the relevant arts. 
   Capacitor  240  operates similar to capacitor  107  of  FIG. 1 , and supplies transient current to a load connected to OUTP and OUTM. In addition, since the output (OUTP/OUTM) of amplifier  200  is differential in nature, the provision of “differential” capacitor  240  across OUTP and OUTM renders the differential output (OUTP/OUTM) substantially immune to possible unequal ground bounce, had capacitor  240  instead been implemented as two separate “single-ended” capacitors connected respectively between OUTP, OUTM to ground. Further, the use of capacitor  240  connected differentially is generally preferred over the use two single-ended capacitors (as noted above) to save significant area by reducing the total net capacitance required by a factor of four. 
   Common mode feedback circuit  230  is shown containing error amplifier  235 , and a resistive divider with resistors  231  and  232 . Resistive divider formed by resistors  231  and  232  provides on path  236 , a voltage equal to the common mode voltage OUTCM at terminals OUTP and OUTM. As is well-known, the common mode components of OUTCM at respective terminals OUTP and OUTM are equal in phase and magnitude. 
   Error amplifier  235  receives as inputs the common mode voltage on path  236 , and a desired (pre-determined) common-mode voltage (required to be maintained on terminals OUTP and OUTM) on path  205 . Error amplifier  235  compares the common mode voltage OUTCM provided on path  236  and the desired output common-mode voltage OUTCMD ( 205 ), and provides a control voltage on path  239  to the gate terminal of transistor  213  to cause OUTCM to ideally equal OUTCMD. Error amplifier may provide a gain (Acm) to the difference of voltages OUTCM and OUTCMD. Thus, common mode feedback circuit  230  ideally operates to maintain the common mode voltage OUTCM at the desired value OUTCMD. 
     FIG. 3  is a diagram representing the common-mode loop of the circuit of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3 , transistor  330  represents the combination of transistors  211 A and  211 B receiving a differential input (denoted INDIFF, and representing the difference of the signals at nodes  291  and  292 ) at its gate terminal  301 , while transistor  340  represents the combination of transistors  221  and  222 . Current Source  310  represents the combination of current source  212 A and  212 B. Current Source  350  represents the combination of current sources  225  and  226 . Error Amplifier  235  is shown receiving OUTCMD ( 205 ) and common mode voltage OUTCM ( 236 ). 
   Continuing with reference to  FIG. 2 , capacitor  240  serves to provide frequency compensation by providing dominant pole compensation to the differential loop formed by the following paths:
     Node  291 -path  216 -OUTM ( 204 )-resistor  260 B-Node  291  and   Node  292 -path  215 -OUTP ( 203 )-resistor  260 A-Node  292 .   

   As noted above, the differential connection of capacitor  240  has no effect on the common mode loop, and thus may not provide adequate frequency compensation to the common mode loop. As a result, the common mode loop may become unstable. 
   It is noted that the circuit of  FIG. 3  may have three independent poles at nodes  303 ,  236  and  239 , none of the three being significantly dominant relative to the other two. In general, such common mode instability issues may exist in any differential amplifier that has a frequency compensating component/network that is “seen” (effective in stabilizing) only by the differential loop. As a result of the issues noted above, the common mode voltage at OUTP and OUTM may either oscillate or cause the voltages at OUTP and OUTM to rise towards the power rails ( 298  and  299  in  FIG. 2 ), which are not desirable. 
   One prior solution to stabilize the common mode loop is to provide passive components (e.g, capacitors) in a single-ended manner, for example, between each of terminals OUTP and OUTM to ground. However, such an approach may affect the stability and speed of response of the differential loop, potentially necessitating the use of more complex frequency compensation circuitry/network for the differential loop. Further, as noted above, the use of at least of single-ended capacitors may result in increased implementation area. 
   Several aspects of the present invention enable stabilization of a common mode loop in a fully differential amplifier without affecting a differential loop in the amplifier, as described next with respect to example embodiments. 
   3. Stabilizing a Common Mode Loop Without Affecting a Differential Loop 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a fully differential amplifier in an embodiment of the present invention. Fully differential amplifier  400  is shown containing input stage  410 , common mode loop stabilization block  420 , output stage  430  and common mode feedback block  440 . 
   Input stage  410  receives input signals on terminals  401 (INM) and  402 (INP) and provides an intermediate differential output across terminals  413 A and  413 B (also termed differential path  413 A/ 413 B for convenience). Input stage ideally amplifies the difference of the voltages across  401 / 402 , while attenuating the common mode component of the input signal  401 / 402 , as is well known in the relevant arts. 
   Input signals received on terminals  401  and  402  may represent single-ended inputs (each input referenced to a ground or constant potential terminal, not shown), or a single differential signal across terminals  401  and  402 . Input stage  410  may be implemented as a differential stage, and provides high input resistance and a large gain to input  401 / 402 . 
   Output stage  430  receives differential signal  413 A/ 413 B, and provides a buffered (low output impedance) differential output across terminals  403 (OUTP) and  404 (OUTM). Common mode feedback block  440  receives the common mode voltage on output terminals  403  and  404  (shown in  FIG. 4  as being received via path  434 ) and the desired output common mode voltage OUTCMD  405 , and operates to provide a desired common mode voltage (OUTCMD) on terminals  403  and  404 . Common mode loop stabilization block  420  measures the common mode voltage on differential path  413 A/ 413 B (the common mode voltage on  413 A/ 413 B being representative to the common mode at output terminals  403 / 404 ), and injects a signal (conveniently termed common mode stabilization signal) proportionate to the common mode voltage on nodes  413 A/ 413 B via paths  423  and  424  into each of paths  413 A and  413 B. 
   In an embodiment described below, the provision of the common mode stabilization signal separately into each of paths  413 A and  413 B is designed to cause a dominant pole to be created at nodes  413 A and  413 B. As a result of the creation of the dominant pole, the common mode loop is stabilized. Further, the correction signal is generated and provided in a manner such as not to affect (the stability of) the differential loop of amplifier  400 . The circuit details of amplifier  400  in such an embodiment are described next. 
   4. Embodiment 
     FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram illustrating the implementation details of a fully differential amplifier in an embodiment of the present invention. Fully differential amplifier  500  (conveniently referred to as amplifier  500 ) is shown containing input stage  510 , output stage  530 , common-mode feedback circuit  540  and common mode stabilization block  520 . Terminals  517  and  518  correspond to power and ground respectively. Power and ground connections of other circuit elements in  FIG. 5  (although not numbered) are connected appropriately as shown in the circuit diagram. The input signals to the fully differential amplifier are applied at terminals  501  and  502 , and the differential output is measured across terminals  503  and  504 . Resistor pairs  550 A/ 560 A, and  550 B/ 560 B set the (differential) gain of amplifier  500 . 
   Input stage  510  operates similar to input stage  210  of  FIG. 2 , with current sources  514 A and  514 B, transistors  511 A and  511 B, and transistor  513  corresponding to current sources  212 A and  212 B, transistors  211 A and  211 B, and transistor  213  of  FIG. 2 , and therefore is not described here in the interest of conciseness. Similarly, output stage  530  operates similar to output stage  220  of  FIG. 2 , with transistors  532  and transistor  534  corresponding to transistors  221  and  222  respectively, and current sources  536  and  538  corresponding to current sources  225  and  226 . Common mode feedback circuit  540  also operates similar to common mode feedback circuit  230  of  FIG. 2 , with error amplifier  545  corresponding to error amplifier  235 , resistor divider network formed by resistors  541  and  542  corresponding to resistor divider network formed by resistors  231  and  232 . Paths  549 ,  546  and  505  correspond respectively to paths  239 ,  236  and  205  respectively. Although shown to be implemented outside of output stage  530 , capacitor  518  may also be implemented as part of the output stage. 
   Common mode stabilization block  520  is shown containing a resistor divider network containing resistors  523 A and  523 B, buffer  524 , capacitor  525 , and dependent current controlled current sources  526  and  527 . The common mode voltage on paths  515  and  516  is provided at junction  522  of resistors  523 A and  523 B. 
   Buffer  524  provides a buffered common mode voltage output on node  529 , thereby isolating the effect of capacitor  525  on nodes  515  and  516 . In particular, the presence of buffer  524  avoids affecting the differential loop noted below. 
   The voltage on node  529  causes a current (Icap) proportional to common mode voltage  522  (Vcm) to flow through capacitor  525 , with Icap as expressed by the following equation:
 
 Icap=[A*Vcm/sC]   Equation 1
 
wherein,
     A is the gain of Buffer Amplifier,   Vcm is the common mode voltage as seen at node  522 ,   sC is the Laplacian Transform of Capacitance C (Capacitor  525 )   

   Each of dependent current controlled current sources  526  and  527  scales the capacitive current Icap, and adds a scaled current (K*Icap) to respective nodes  515  and  516 . It is noted here that such scaling is done to reduce capacitor ( 525  in  FIG. 5 ) implementation area. The effective common mode capacitance is (K times C), wherein C is the required capacitance of capacitor  525 . Thus, for example, by using a value of K equal to 10, the capacitance (and hence implementation area) of capacitor  525  can be reduced by 1/10. Therefore, in an embodiment, the value of K equals 10. The resultant capacitive load on nodes  515  and  516  nodes results in a dominant pole on these nodes for the common mode loop, thereby stabilizing the common mode loop. 
   The (stability of) differential loop of amplifier  500  (which may be viewed as being formed by the two loops Node  591 -path  516 -OUTM ( 504 )-resistor  560 B-Node  591 , and Node  592 -path  515 -OUTP ( 503 )-resistor  560 A-Node  592 ) is not affected by the added currents (K*Icap), since these currents are equal and in phase with respect to each other. The differential loop, therefore, remains stable, due to the dominant pole at the output (OUTP/OUTM) created by differentially connected capacitor  518  (similar to the effect of capacitor  240  noted above with respect to  FIG. 2 ). 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the equivalent common-mode loop of the circuit of  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 6 , transistor  630  represents the combination of transistors  511 A and  511 B receiving a differential input (denoted INDIFF, and representing the difference of the signals at nodes  591  and  592 ) at its gate terminal  601 , while transistor  660  represents the combination of transistors  532  and  534 . Current source  610  represents the combination of current source  514 A and  514 B. Current Source  680  represents the combination of current sources  536  and  538 . The effect of the addition of currents by dependent current sources  526  and  527  ( FIG. 5 ) is represented by “virtual” capacitive loading due to “virtual” capacitor  650 . Thus, dominant pole compensation for the common mode loop is ensured by making this “virtual” capacitor “appear” at the node  635 . 
     FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of an implementation of a common mode stabilization block in an embodiment of the present invention. Common mode stabilization block  700  is shown containing resistor divider network formed by resistors  710  and  720 , transistors  730  and  740 , current source  750 , capacitor  760  and transistors  770  and  780 . The gate and drain terminals of transistor  730  are shorted, and hence transistor  730  operates as a diode. Transistor  740  is configured to operate in a source follower configuration, and also serves to isolate node  722  (and thus paths  515  and  516 ) from any loading effect of capacitor  760 . The gate terminals of transistors  770  and  780  are connected to the gate terminal (node  778 ) of transistor  730 . Therefore transistors  770 ,  780  and  730  are connected in a current-mirror configuration. 
   The common mode voltage on paths  515  and  516  provided at junction  722  of resistors  710  and  720  is buffered by source follower  730 . Capacitor  760  presents a capacitive load to the buffered common mode voltage provided by source follower  730 . Since current through current source  750  cannot change, any change in the common mode voltage on paths  515  and  516  causes a capacitive current proportional to the change in common mode voltage to flow through diode-connected transistor  730 , transistor  740  and capacitor  760 . The capacitive current is mirrored by transistors  770  and  780  (due to the current-mirror configuration noted above). As a result, currents equal to the capacitive current noted above are injected in to the paths  515  and  516  by the current source pair  770  and  780 . Sufficient current (hence bandwidth) in the diode ( 730 ) arm and careful matching of transistor pairs  770  and  780  ensures that the capacitive currents injected into paths  515  and  516  are equal and in-phase, and also have the desired phase to get sufficient common-mode capacitive loading (as will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant arts). 
   Thus, according to several aspects of the present invention, a common mode loop in a fully differential amplifier is stabilized without affecting a differential loop in the amplifier. An amplifier (e.g., amplifier  500 ) as described above may be used in place of amplifier  100  of  FIG. 1  as well as in other environments) to provide several features according to the present invention. 
   Transistors  511 A,  511 B, and  513  ( FIG. 5 ), and transistor  740  ( FIG. 7 ) may be implemented as N-type MOS (metal oxide semiconductor transistors) while transistor  532  and  534  ( FIG. 5 ), and transistors  730 ,  770 ,  780  may be implemented as P-type MOS (metal oxide semiconductor transistors). It should be appreciated that the specific type of transistors (NMOS, PMOS etc.) noted above are merely by way of illustration. However, alternative embodiments using different configurations and transistors will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant arts by reading the disclosure provided herein. For example, the NMOS transistors may be replaced with PMOS (P-type MOS) transistors, while also interchanging the connections to power and ground terminals. 
   Accordingly, in the instant application, the power and ground terminals are referred to as reference potentials, the source and drain terminals of transistors (though which a current path is provided when turned on and an open path is provided when turned off) are termed as current terminals, and the gate terminal is termed as a control terminal. Furthermore, though the terminals are shown with direct connections to various other terminals, it should be appreciated that additional components (as suited for the specific environment) may also be present in the path, and accordingly the connections may be viewed as being electrically coupled to the same connected terminals. 
   In addition, the circuit topologies of  FIGS. 5 and 7  are merely representative. Various modifications, as suited for the specific environment, without departing from the scope and spirit of several aspects of the present invention, will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant arts by reading the disclosure provided herein. 
   While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 5