University of California, Santa Barbara

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Circuits, Devices & Systems ECE 2B
Professor Theogarajan
Takehome Exam, Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.
Name:
This is an open book and open notes exam. For all questions make reasonable approximations. Read all the questions carefully!. Show all your work, any answers without explanations will not be given credit . Any person caught copying/cheating will be subjected to
disciplinary action. GOOD LUCK!

Answer the questions in the spaces provided on the question sheets. If you
run out of room for an answer, continue on the back of the page.
Question Points Score
1

20

20

30

30

30

25

25

20

Total:

200

ECE 2B

Takehome Exam

Due March 1, 2016, 5:00 p.m.

1. (20 points)

Question 1: 20points

It is often desirable to measure the threshold voltage VT of the transistor. You ask your
2B Professor who shows you the circuit in figure 1. In his usual cryptic way he says
ratios correctly then the voltage Vo will be equal to the threhold
if you choose the W
L
voltage of the transistor. Using your knowledge of transistor circuits find the relationship
between all the W
ratios such that this is true. The current through the transistor in
L
(Vgs Vt )2 . Assume Ib is chosen so that all transistors
saturation is given by Ids = Kn W
L
are operating in the saturation region.

Figure 1: Tansistor Threshold Calculator

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd..

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

2. (20 points)

Question 2: 20points

Sometimes it is desirable to get gain almost independent of the transistor parameters

. Your friend Lynn Year suggests using a resistor at the source of the devices in the
differential amplifier, as shown in figure 2. Vb and Ib are constant DC bias voltage

+
o
and current sources respectively. Calculate the small signal gain vvo+ v
. What must
i vi
be true so that the differential amplifiers gain is approximately independent of the
device parameters? The current through the transistor in saturation is given by Ids =
Kn W
(Vgs Vt )2 . For the purpose of this problem you can assume all transistors are in
L
saturation and are identical.

Figure 2: Device Parameter independent differential amplifier

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Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd...

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ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

3.

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

Question 3: 30points

Consider the transistor circuit shown in figure 3, assuming the transistors are identical
and operating in the saturation region answer the following questions.

Figure 3: Circuit for problem 3

(a) (15 points) Calculate the DC bias point of the output Vo when the DC bias of Vb
is applied to the circuit.

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Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd.....

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ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

(b) (15 points) Calculate the small signal gain,

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vo
,
vi

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

of this circuit.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd.....

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ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

4.

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

Question 4: 30points

Consider the transistor circuit shown in figure 4, assuming the transistors are identical
and operating in the saturation region answer the following questions.

Figure 4: Circuit for problem 4

(a) (15 points) Calculate the DC bias point of the output Vo when the DC bias of Vb
is applied to the circuit.

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ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd.....

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

(b) (15 points) Calculate the small signal gain,

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vo
,
vi

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

of this circuit.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd.....

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

5.

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

Question 5: 30points

Your friend Lynn Year being very smart and intuitive suggest that a composite device
composed of a BJT and MOSFET would be superior because it offers infinite input
resistance. The device she envisions is shown in figure 5.

Figure 5: Composite Device

(a) (15 points) Find the small-signal model for this composite device using your knowledge about the MOSFET and BJT, assuming each device is in the appropriate
region of operation.

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Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd...

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

(b) (15 points) If you use the composite device in the circuit shown in figure 6, what
is the small signal gain, vvoi , of this circuit?

Figure 6: Composite Device

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ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd...

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

6. (25 points)

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

Question 6: 25points

Many 2B students wonder how to make a current source. An opamp version of a current
source is shown in figure 7. A fundamental property of the current source is that the current does not change even if the load changes. Show that the current Iout is independent
of RL . Assume the opamp is ideal.

Figure 7: Opamp current source

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Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd...

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

7. (25 points)

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

Question 7: 25points

Your friend Smar T. Pants seeing the earlier circuit comes up with a version of his own
shown in figure 8. Is he right? Show that the current Iout is independent of RL . Assume
the opamp is ideal.

Figure 8: Opamp current source

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Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd...

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.

8. (20 points)

Question 8: 20points

Consider the opamp circuit shown in figure 9, calculate the input resistance Ri . Assume
the opamps are ideal.

Figure 9: Op-amp circuit for problem 8

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ECE 2B

Midterm Exam (Continued)

contd...

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Due March 1, 2016 5:00 p.m.