Cascode stage for an operational amplifier

摘要

A cascode stage is arranged to improve performance of an operational amplifier. The cascode stage includes transistors that are arranged to operate as a current mirror. Each side of the current mirror has a corresponding voltage at a corresponding node. One of the corresponding nodes corresponds to a high impedance node that is coupled to a subsequent stage of the amplifier. The voltages at the corresponding nodes are closely matched to one another such that the input referred offset in the amplifier is minimized and the power supply rejection ratio is improved (PSRR). A transistor threshold voltage and a transistor saturation voltage determine the headroom requirements of the cascode stage, such that low power supply voltage operation is possible. The biasing of the transistors in the cascode stage is simplified such that minimal biasing circuitry is required, and overall power consumption may be minimized.