The concept of operational rank extractor

An operational rank extractor (ORE) is introduced in this paper as an opera tional amplifier having rank extractors at its inputs. This versatile build ing block can implement a variety of nonlinear transfer functions such as a dead-zone amplifier, a limiter, a full-wave rectifier, and a tri-state com parator (including hysteretic behavior). A 6-input circuit has been impleme nted in a 2 mu m CMOS process. The total silicon area is 460 \times 100 mu m(2), and the circuit dissipates 0.7 mW from a single 5 V supply. Various c ircuit configurations are analyzed theoretically, and experimental results are also provided.