A novel pole–zero compensation scheme using unbalanced differential pairs

The main problem in extending continuous-time filtering to higher frequencies is the sensitivity of high-frequency filters to analog integrator nonidealities such as finite dc gain and parasitic poles. The use of a cascode stage introduces internal nodes, and hence a nondominant pole, in the signal path. This has been overcome using a novel phase compensation scheme which does not require tuning of the compensating element, and is itself unaffected by tuning of the integrator’s unity-gain frequency or quality factor. The scheme is based upon a MOS version of the “multi-tanh principle” where the linear range of a transconductor is divided between at least two unbalanced differential pairs operating in parallel. The common-source node of an unbalanced differential pair is not ac ground and the associated pole–zero pair may be harnessed to cancel the parasitic pole introduced by the cascode stage. The feasibility of the proposed design was evaluated with the fabrication of a test-chip on a 0.25 m 2.5 V standard digital CMOS process. Measurements confirm that the group delay response is flat (± 2%) over a five octave frequency range (3.5–112 MHz or 0.058–1.87fc ).