ACTIVE-BOOTSTRAPPED GAIN-ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUE FOR LOW-VOLTAGE CIRCUITS

A gain-enhancement technique based on active bootstrapping is proposed which ideally increases the low-frequency gain by two gain stages wit h no speed penalty and without adding to the phase shift. Therefore, h igh-frequency performance and feedback stability are not compromised. In practice, the gain enhancement will be limited by nonidealities. Th e technique is particularly suited for minimum supply voltages since n o cascodes are used and, although the discussion pertains to CMOS, can also be applied in bipolar and BiCMOS technologies. A complete analys is, including the effects of nonidealities, is performed. A generally applicable design methodology is formulated.