Title :
Current-Sensitive CMOS Preamplifier for Investigating Space Plasma Waves by Magnetic Search Coils
Author :
Ozaki, Mitsunori ; Yagitani, Satoshi ; Kojima, H. ; Takahashi, Koichi ; Kitagawa, A.
Author_Institution :
Kanazawa Univ., Kanazawa, Japan
Abstract :
In order to considerably reduce circuit resources (mass, volume, and power) for the analog front ends of plasma wave measurement systems, a current-sensitive preamplifier for magnetic search coils (MSCs) is designed with standard 0.25- μm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Since the input noise current determines the output noise levels around the resonant frequency of an MSC, a CMOS preamplifier operating with low noise current is suitable when combined with an MSC instead of using bipolar junction transistors. The current-sensitive CMOS preamplifier consists of a current amplifier for the detection of current flowing through the MSC and an equalizer for adjusting the transfer function. A prototype of the circuit structure was fabricated on a 1.9 × 3.3- mm2-silicon chip. The noise equivalent magnetic induction of the CMOS preamplifier combined with a 100-mm-long MSC is 3.5 pT/Hz1/2 at 10 Hz and 30 fT/Hz1/2 at 2 kHz with a power consumption of 4.6 mW for a 3.3-V supply. This paper is the first to examine a current-sensitive CMOS preamplifier for probing plasma waves.
Keywords :
CMOS integrated circuits; bipolar transistors; preamplifiers; transfer functions; CMOS technology; MSC; bipolar junction transistors; circuit structure; complementary metal oxide semiconductor; current sensitive CMOS preamplifier; current sensitive preamplifier; magnetic search coils; noise equivalent magnetic induction; plasma wave measurement systems; probing plasma waves; resonant frequency; space plasma waves; transfer function; Application specific integrated circuits; CMOS integrated circuits; Equalizers; Impedance; Noise; Satellites; Sensors; Low-noise preamplifiers; application specific integrated circuits; current sensing; magnetic search coils;
Journal_Title :
Sensors Journal, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/JSEN.2013.2284011