Analysis and design of elementary MOS amplifier stages

Analog integrated circuit (IC) design is often viewed as a “black art,” accessible only to those with special talent or years of experience. As an attempt to disprove this stereotype, this book was written to provide a customized introduction for the beginner with a minimum amount of prerequisite knowledge. Specifically, the material is positioned to fill the gap between general introductions on analog circuits, which are usually centered on discrete (printed circuit board) components, and advanced graduate books on integrated circuits. The need for filling the gap between these two types of texts has become stronger over the past decade for several reasons. The first is that advanced material has become less accessible for the inexperienced learner due to the growing complexity associated with the state-of-the-art. A second reason is that today’s typical intro course sequence has been expanded to include embedded system design; this leaves very little time to cover analog circuit principles at a level that is required for a continuation toward advanced study. There are multiple usage scenarios for this book. The material can be taught following an introduction to analog circuits in the junior or senior year of undergraduate study. In addition, the text can be used to prepare incoming graduate students for an advanced course sequence in analog IC design. Lastly, we believe the book will be valuable for engineers pursuing a career change toward analog ICs, but who do not possess the prerequisites to follow advanced literature. The reader of this module is expected to be familiar with the basic concepts of linear circuit analysis, including Kirchhoff’s laws and the frequency response analysis of passive networks. We also assume familiarity with basic solid-state physics and electrostatics as covered in introductory texts on solid-state device physics. This book belongs to the Modular Series of Microelectronic Device and Circuit Design. Each module in the series, like this book, provides a brief fundamental look at a specific topic. Selecting multiple modules of interest can allow an instructor to customize content for a class more economically than by selecting chapters from a single large textbook, or a single module can be used to supplement a course whose textbook omits an important relevant topic.