141 research outputs found
A systematic approach to circuit design and analysis: classification of Two-VCCS Circuits
This paper discusses a systematic approach to the design and analysis of circuits, using a transconductor or voltage controlled current source (VCCS) as a building block. It is shown that two independent Kirchhoff relations among the VCCS voltages and currents play a crucial role in establishing a unique transfer function in two-port circuits with two VCCSs. A class of two VCCS circuits is defined, which can be subdivided into three main classes and 14 subclasses, based on different imposable sets of two Kirchhoff relations. The classification is useful for circuit synthesis and analysis, as it reveals all the basically different ways to exploit two VCCS's, and allows for a unified analysis of classes of circuits. To exemplify this, all complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) V-I converter kernels, based on two matched MOS transistor (MOST)-VCCSs, are generated and analyzed with respect to distortion. It is shown that dozens of published transconductor circuits can be classified in only four classes, with essentially different distortion behavio
Current-Mode Techniques for the Implementation of Continuous- and Discrete-Time Cellular Neural Networks
This paper presents a unified, comprehensive approach
to the design of continuous-time (CT) and discrete-time
(DT) cellular neural networks (CNN) using CMOS current-mode
analog techniques. The net input signals are currents instead
of voltages as presented in previous approaches, thus avoiding
the need for current-to-voltage dedicated interfaces in image
processing tasks with photosensor devices. Outputs may be either
currents or voltages. Cell design relies on exploitation of current
mirror properties for the efficient implementation of both linear
and nonlinear analog operators. These cells are simpler and
easier to design than those found in previously reported CT
and DT-CNN devices. Basic design issues are covered, together
with discussions on the influence of nonidealities and advanced
circuit design issues as well as design for manufacturability
considerations associated with statistical analysis. Three prototypes
have been designed for l.6-pm n-well CMOS technologies.
One is discrete-time and can be reconfigured via local logic for
noise removal, feature extraction (borders and edges), shadow
detection, hole filling, and connected component detection (CCD)
on a rectangular grid with unity neighborhood radius. The other
two prototypes are continuous-time and fixed template: one for
CCD and other for noise removal. Experimental results are given
illustrating performance of these prototypes
The design of active resistors and transductors in a CMOS technology
Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2618 on 07.20.2017 by CS (TIS)This thesis surveys linearisation techniques for implementing monolithic MOS
active resistors and transconductors, and investigates the design of linear tunable
resistors and transconductors. Improving linearity and tunability in the presence
of non-ideal factors such as bulk modulation, mobility-degradation effects and mismatch
of transistors is a principal objective. A family of new non-saturation-mode
resistors and two novel saturation-mode transconductors are developed. Where
possible, approximate analytical expressions are derived to explain the principles
of operation. Performance comparisons of the new structures are made with other
well-known circuits and their relative advantages and disadvantages evaluated.
Experimental and simulation results are presented which validate the proposed
linearisation techniques. It is shown that the proposed family of resistors offers
improved linearity whilst the transconductors combine extended tunability with
low distortion. Continuous-time filter examples are given to demonstrate the
potential of these circuits for application in analogue signal-processing tasks.GEC Plessey Semiconductors, Plymout
Design of adaptive analog filters for magnetic front-end read channels
Esta tese estuda o projecto e o comportamento de filtros em tempo contínuo de
muito-alta-frequência. A motivação deste trabalho foi a investigação de soluções de filtragem
para canais de leitura em sistemas de gravação e reprodução de dados em suporte
magnético, com custos e consumo (tamanho total inferior a 1 mm2 e consumo inferior a
1mW/polo), inferiores aos circuitos existentes. Nesse sentido, tal como foi feito neste
trabalho, o rápido desenvolvimento das tecnologias de microelectrónica suscitou esforços
muito significativos a nível mundial com o objectivo de se investigarem novas técnicas
de realização de filtros em circuito integrado monolítico, especialmente em tecnologia
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Apresenta-se um estudo comparativo
a diversos níveis hierárquicos do projecto, que conduziu à realização e caracterização
de soluções com as características desejadas.
Num primeiro nível, este estudo aborda a questão conceptual da gravação e transmissão
de sinal bem como a escolha de bons modelos matemáticos para o tratamento da
informação e a minimização de erro inerente às aproximações na conformidade aos princípios
físicos dos dispositivos caracterizados.
O trabalho principal da tese é focado nos níveis hierárquicos da arquitectura do
canal de leitura e da realização em circuito integrado do seu bloco principal – o bloco de
filtragem. Ao nível da arquitectura do canal de leitura, apresenta-se um estudo alargado
sobre as metodologias existentes de adaptação de sinal e recuperação de dados em suporte
magnético. Este desígnio aparece no âmbito da proposta de uma solução de baixo custo,
baixo consumo, baixa tensão de alimentação e baixa complexidade, alicerçada em tecnologia
digital CMOS, para a realização de um sistema DFE (Decision Feedback Equalization)
com base na igualização de sinal utilizando filtros integrados analógicos em tempo
contínuo.
Ao nível do projecto de realização do bloco de filtragem e das técnicas de implementação
de filtros e dos seus blocos constituintes em circuito integrado, concluiu-se que
a técnica baseada em circuitos de transcondutância e condensadores, também conhecida como filtros gm-C (ou transcondutância-C), é a mais adequada para a realização de filtros
adaptativos em muito-alta-frequência. Definiram-se neste nível hierárquico mais baixo,
dois subníveis de aprofundamento do estudo no âmbito desta tese, nomeadamente: a pesquisa
e análise de estruturas ideais no projecto de filtros recorrendo a representações no
espaço de estados; e, o estudo de técnicas de realização em tecnologia digital CMOS de
circuitos de transcondutância para a implementação de filtros integrados analógicos em
tempo contínuo.
Na sequência deste estudo, apresentam-se e comparam-se duas estruturas de filtros
no espaço de estados, correspondentes a duas soluções alternativas para a realização de
um igualador adaptativo realizado por um filtro contínuo passa-tudo de terceira ordem,
para utilização num canal de leitura de dados em suporte magnético.
Como parte constituinte destes filtros, apresenta-se uma técnica de realização de
circuitos de transcondutância, e de realização de condensadores lineares usando matrizes
de transístores MOSFET para processamento de sinal em muito-alta-frequência realizada
em circuito integrado usando tecnologia digital CMOS submicrométrica. Apresentam-se
métodos de adaptação automática capazes de compensar os erros face aos valores nominais
dos componentes, devidos às tolerâncias inerentes ao processo de fabrico, para os
quais apresentamos os resultados de simulação e de medição experimental obtidos.
Na sequência deste estudo, resultou igualmente a apresentação de um circuito passível
de constituir uma solução para o controlo de posicionamento da cabeça de leitura
em sistemas de gravação/reprodução de dados em suporte magnético. O bloco proposto
é um filtro adaptativo de primeira ordem, com base nos mesmos circuitos de transcondutância
e técnicas de igualação propostos e utilizados na implementação do filtro adaptativo
de igualação do canal de leitura.
Este bloco de filtragem foi projectado e incluído num circuito integrado (Jaguar) de
controlo de posicionamento da cabeça de leitura realizado para a empresa ATMEL em
Colorado Springs, e incluído num produto comercial em parceria com uma empresa escocesa
utilizado em discos rígidos amovíveis.This thesis studies the design and behavior of continuous-time very-high-frequency
filters. The motivation of this work was the search for filtering solutions for the readchannel
in recording and reproduction of data on magnetic media systems, with costs and
consumption (total size less than 1 mm2 and consumption under 1mW/pole), lower than
the available circuits. Accordingly, as was done in this work, the rapid development of
microelectronics technology raised very significant efforts worldwide in order to investigate
new techniques for implementing such filters in monolithic integrated circuit, especially
in CMOS technology (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). We present
a comparative study on different hierarchical levels of the project, which led to the realization
and characterization of solutions with the desired characteristics.
In the first level, this study addresses the conceptual question of recording and
transmission of signal and the choice of good mathematical models for the processing of
information and minimization of error inherent in the approaches and in accordance with
the principles of the characterized physical devices.
The main work of this thesis is focused on the hierarchical levels of the architecture
of the read channel and the integrated circuit implementation of its main block - the filtering
block. At the architecture level of the read channel this work presents a comprehensive
study on existing methodologies of adaptation and signal recovery of data on
magnetic media. This project appears in the sequence of the proposed solution for a lowcost,
low consumption, low voltage, low complexity, using CMOS digital technology for
the performance of a DFE (Decision Feedback Equalization) based on the equalization of
the signal using integrated analog filters in continuous time.
At the project level of implementation of the filtering block and techniques for implementing
filters and its building components, it was concluded that the technique based
on transconductance circuits and capacitors, also known as gm-C filters is the most appropriate
for the implementation of very-high-frequency adaptive filters. We defined in
this lower level, two sub-levels of depth study for this thesis, namely: research and analysis
of optimal structures for the design of state-space filters, and the study of techniques for the design of transconductance cells in digital CMOS circuits for the implementation
of continuous time integrated analog filters.
Following this study, we present and compare two filtering structures operating in
the space of states, corresponding to two alternatives for achieving a realization of an
adaptive equalizer by the use of a continuous-time third order allpass filter, as part of a
read-channel for magnetic media devices.
As a constituent part of these filters, we present a technique for the realization of
transconductance circuits and for the implementation of linear capacitors using arrays of
MOSFET transistors for signal processing in very-high-frequency integrated circuits using
sub-micrometric CMOS technology. We present methods capable of automatic adjustment
and compensation for deviation errors in respect to the nominal values of the
components inherent to the tolerances of the fabrication process, for which we present
the simulation and experimental measurement results obtained.
Also as a result of this study, is the presentation of a circuit that provides a solution
for the control of the head positioning on recording/playback systems of data on magnetic
media. The proposed block is an adaptive first-order filter, based on the same transconductance
circuits and equalization techniques proposed and used in the implementation
of the adaptive filter for the equalization of the read channel.
This filter was designed and included in an integrated circuit (Jaguar) used to control
the positioning of the read-head done for ATMEL company in Colorado Springs, and
part of a commercial product used in removable hard drives fabricated in partnership with a Scottish company
Available Techniques for Magnetic Hard Disk Drive Read Channel Equalization
This paper presents an extensive, non-exhaustive, study of available hard disk drive read channel equalization techniques used in the storage and readback of magnetically stored information. The physical elements and basic principles of the storage processes are introduced together with the basic theoretical definitions and models. Both read and write processes in magnetic storage are explained along with the definition of simple key concepts such as user bit density, intersymbol interference, linear and areal density, read head pulse response models, and coding algorithm
Design and analysis of an attenuator-based, four-channel, differential, 150 MHz, linear-in-dB VGA with sub-nanosecond delay dispersion for PET applications
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging methodology based on the measurement of the concentrations of a positron-emitting radioisotope inside a three dimensional object. PET systems require hundreds of channels of high perfonnance detector readout electronics. The Phase I ASIC was developed in 1992 to reduce the cost, power consumption and complexity of PET systems and to improve reliability. The Phase I ASIC has been very successful and is a key component in thousands of commercial PET units currently in use
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