• DocumentCode
    2724674
  • Title

    Weak inversion for ultra low-power and very low-voltage circuits

  • Author

    Vittoz, Eric A.

  • Author_Institution
    EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • fYear
    2009
  • fDate
    16-18 Nov. 2009
  • Firstpage
    129
  • Lastpage
    132
  • Abstract
    This paper discusses techniques, limitations and possible future developments of circuits based on transistors operated in the weak inversion (w.i.) mode, also called sub-threshold mode. In analog circuits, w.i. is reached at very low current, but it is also needed for very low supply voltage. Its exponential behaviour can be exploited in special circuits schemes, some of them devised for bipolar transistors. For digital circuits, it can provide the ultimate speed/power ratio in a given process.
  • Keywords
    CMOS integrated circuits; MOSFET; bipolar transistors; integrated circuit design; low-power electronics; CMOS technology; MOS transistors; analog circuits; bipolar transistors; digital circuits; low-voltage circuit; speed-power ratio; subthreshold mode operated transistors; ultralow-power circuit; weak inversion; Analog circuits; Bipolar transistors; CMOS technology; Digital circuits; Energy consumption; Low voltage; MOSFETs; Solid state circuits; Threshold voltage; Watches;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • Conference_Titel
    Solid-State Circuits Conference, 2009. A-SSCC 2009. IEEE Asian
  • Conference_Location
    Taipei
  • Print_ISBN
    978-1-4244-4433-5
  • Electronic_ISBN
    978-1-4244-4434-2
  • Type

    conf

  • DOI
    10.1109/ASSCC.2009.5357240
  • Filename
    5357240