Wide-range current-controlled grounded resistor realization: A new application of the CMOS translinear elements

A novel CMOS technology-based translinear element (TE) was introduced a few years back by Fernandez and Madrenas, which exhibits wide dynamic range characteristics similar to BJT-based TE. In this communication, a CMOS linear, wide-range current-controlled grounded resistor (WR-CCGR) implemented using a mixed translinear loop employing the quoted TEs, has been explored. The capabilities of the proposed WR-CCGR have been validated by simulations performed on Cadence Virtuoso software using 0.18 mu m gpdk CMOS technology at a supply voltage of +/- 0.6 V. For the bias current varying from 10 pA to 1 mu A, the presented WR-CCGR is shown to be able to attain a resistance-tunability range of five decades (from 13 k omega to 1.3 G omega), an operational frequency range of 500 Hz-50 MHz and the power consumption in the range of 1.5 to 16.7 mu W. Monte Carlo simulations and corner and temperature analyses have been performed to check the robustness of the proposed circuit. The utility of the presented WR-CCGR has been illustrated by realizing a band-pass filter exhibiting electronically-variable-center frequency.