High-speed and high-precision current winner-take-all circuit

A CMOS high-performance current-mode winner-take-all circuit is presented. The circuit employs a novel technique for inhibitory and excitatory feedbacks based on input currents average computation, achieving both high speed and high precision. The circuit is designed for operation with a wide range of input current values, allowing its integration with circuits operating both in subthreshold and in strong inversion regions. Two circuits, each for a different range of input currents, have been implemented in a standard 0.35-μm CMOS process available through MOSIS and are operated via a 3.3-V supply. Their operation is discussed, simulation results are reported and preliminary measurements from a test chip are presented.