Current-Feedback Instrumentation Amplifier Using Dual-Chopper Fill-In Technique

Abstract

In this study, we describe a dual-chopper glitch-reduction current-feedback instrumentation amplifier (CFIA) with a ripple reduction loop. The amplifier employs the chopping technique to reduce low-frequency noise, such as 1/f noise. A glitch caused by chopping occurs at each chopper clock edge and results in intermodulation distortion (IMD). Owing to the input offset, the chopping technique also produces ripples. In this study, the glitch-induced IMD was reduced using a fill-in technique whereby only neat signals were alternately used as outputs by avoiding the glitch section with dual-chopping channel CFIA. To avoid using a high-order, low-frequency filter, a ripple reduction loop was implemented to reduce the ripple generated by chopping. The CFIA is based on a low-noise chopper fully differential difference amplifier with a cascode stage and a Monticelli-class AB output stage, which can drive a larger load and increase power efficiency. The proposed dual-chopper CFIA was fabricated using a 0.18 µm CMOS standard process, and its current consumption with a 1.8-V power supply is 29.5 μA. The proposed CFIA has a gain of 51 V/V, input referred noise of 53.3 nV/√Hz at 1 Hz, and a noise efficiency factor of 4.48.