A low-voltage low power square-root domain filter

Companding filters replace g_m-C filters in low voltage environments for higher dynamic range. Square-root domain filters and log-domain filters belong to this class of companding filters. The former uses the quadratic law of MOSFETs in the strong inversion region. Low power, low voltage and high frequency building blocks are needed for improved performance filters in VLSI. In this paper, a current-mode square-root domain filter with a novel current-mode geometric-mean and current squarer circuit based on an up-down MOS translinear loop is presented. The main advantages of the proposed circuit over others are low power, low voltage, lower circuit complexity and fewer signal dependent errors without complex current injection. Furthermore, it is operative at higher frequencies. The body effect is minimized due to the up-down voltage translinear loop and isolation of the currents eliminates the redundancy,. if the same current is used repetitively. These filters find applications in current-controlled oscillators and in the design of low power low voltage video frequency filters.