Day 1: IC processes and device modeling
BiCMOS technology:
- Modeling of semiconductor devices
- Device operation and simulation models
- Models for hand calculations
Day 2: Principle of amplification
1. Available power gain and biasing of active components
2. Biasing techniques:
- Principle
- AC and DC coupling
- Negative-feedback biasing
- Model-based biasing
- Auto-zero biasing
Day 3: CE and CS amplifier stages
- Chopper stabilised biasing;
- Available power gain;
- Noise behavior;
- Linearity;
- Dynamic behavior;
- Output drive capability.
Day 4: Application of balancing techniques
- Differential stages;
- Push-pull stages;
Day 5: Application of negative feedback
1. Balanced and unbalanced local-feedback stages
2. Balanced and unbalanced model-based feedback amplifier stages:
- Current mirrors
- Voltage mirrors
- Variable-gain stages
Day 6: Design of multiple-stage amplifiers
- Overview amplifier properties and design techniques (see also DAE-AE1);
- Design of cascaded amplifiers;
- Design of over-all feedback amplifiers;
Day 7: DC References
- Design method for voltage- and current references;
- Design of current references;
- Design of voltage references;
Day 8-10: The final exercise comprises the design of an application-specific amplifier in BiCMOS technology
Attention needs to be paid to the following aspects:
- Desired type of amplifier regarding the application;
- Noise behavior;
- Load drive capability, linearity and overdrive recovery;
- Dynamic behavior and frequency stability
- Temperature stability;
- Minimisation of the influence of interference signals;
Day 11: Presentation of the results of the final assignment by the participants and group discussion
