COMPARATOR DESIGN

1.2 Non-Ideal Comparator

In practice, a comparator is merely a very high-gain amplifier with a finite voltage gain and a non-zero offset

1.1 Ideal Comparator

voltage. As a result, the dc transfer curve would be as shown in Fig. 1.1c. The key parameters in designing a
comparator include:

Vo

Vo
VOH

V1

offset voltage,

delay

VOH

Vos

power consumption,
power supply rejection ratio (PSRR)
common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR).

1.2.1 Offset Voltage:

V2

Vo

V1-V2

V1-V2

VOL

VOL

Again, since a comparator is essentially a high-gain op amp, the offset voltage can be calculated exactly as
done for amplifiers. For references, here is a summary of the results. Please refer to the lecture notes offset.ps for
detailed derivation.

1.2.1.1 Simple Emitter-Coupled Pairs (ECP) with Resistive Loads:

(a)

(b)

(c)

R I S
V OS = V T ------- -------IS
R

(1.1)

Typically, R/R = 1%, IS/IS = 5%, which corresponds to a offset voltage VOS of 1.5 mV.
Fig. 1.1 Comparator (a) symbol, (b) ideal transfer curves, (c) non-ideal transfer curve

1.2.1.2 Simple Source-Coupled Pairs (SCP) with Resistive Loads:

( V GS V t ) R ( W L )
V OS = V t + --------------------------- ------- --------------------2
R
(W L)

(1.2)

Assume that Vt = 10 mV, VGS-Vt = 300 mV, R/R = 1%, (W/L)/(W/L) = 5%, the offset voltage VOS
becomes approximately 20 mV, which is much larger than that of an emitter-coupled pair.

gm
( V GS V t ) N ( W L ) N ( W L ) P
= V t + ( V t ) --------P- + ------------------------------ ------------------------- -----------------------N
P g
2
(W L )N
( W L )P
m

(1.3)

Assume that V t = 10 mV, V GS -V t = 300 mV, (W/L)/(W/L) = 5%, the offset voltage VOS becomes
approximately 35 mV, which is much larger than that of any other configuration!
1.2.1.4 A cascade of many gain stages:
In many applications, a cascade of many low-gain amplifiers is used to realize a comparator as opposed to a
single high-gain amplifier, as shown in Fig. 1.2. Assume that the gain and offset voltage of each amplifier are A1,
Vos1, A2, Vos2,..., An, and Vosn, respectively, the total input-referred offset voltage can be calculated as follows.

V OS

+
A2

Vos2

Vosn

An

Fig. 1.2 Comparator implemented by cascading many low-gain amplifiers

1.2.1.3 Source-Coupled Pairs (SCP) with Active Loads:

V OS = V OS + V OS

+
A1

Vos1

V OS
V OS
V OS
n
3
=V
+ ------------2 + ---------------- + + ----------------------------A1 A( n 1 )
OS 1
A1
A1 A2

(1.4)

By making the gain of the first amplifier stage high, the offset voltages of subsequent stages can be neglected,
and the total offset voltage at the input is minimized. However, as will be shown later, to optimize the settling time

of the comparator, it is desirable to use amplifier stages with small gains, in which the above equation should be
used to estimate the total offset voltage!
1.2.1.5 Offset Cancellation Techniques:
Typically, dynamic latches can be used to reduce the comparators power consumption. The main problem
with these dynamic latches is that the offset voltage is much bigger than non-dynamic circuits.
To reduce the offset voltage of a comparator, there exist many offset cancellation techniques (auto-zero
techniques) that have been widely used. We will discuss these techniques in more details later, but the basic idea is
described briefly here.
First we would somehow measure and store the output voltage of the comparator with the input voltage being
set to zero. Due to the offset voltage, the stored output Vo1 would be:
Vo

= A V os

(1.5)

The next step is to measure the output voltage Vo2 with the real input voltage. Since this output voltage Vo2 is
equal to:

Vo

= A ( V os + V in )

(1.6)

V1-V2

V1

If we can subtract the stored output voltage Vo1 from this measured output Vo2, the difference is an amplified
version of the input voltage without the offset voltage being nulled. the offset voltage is effectively cancelled as
V2

shown below.
Vo Vo
2

= A ( V os + V in ) A V os = A V in

Vod

Vo

0
Vinit

latch

(1.7)

1.2.2 Transient Errors:

latch
td (ns)

In practice, a latch is normally realized and connected at the output of the comparator to provide a
regenerative (positive) feedback to shorten the comparison time. In order to ensure a 100% probability of getting
correct outputs, there is a minimum delay time td required between the assertion of the input and the latching of the

-1
-0.5

20

Vinit increases!

comparator, as shown in Fig. 1.3.

10

As a result, the total comparison time tT of a comparator consists of two parts: the delay time td and the
settling time ts. The delay time td is dependent on input parameters, namely the initial voltage vinit and the overdrive
voltage vod. As indicated in Fig. 1.3, the delay time gets smaller as the overdrive voltage vod is increased or the input

td
1

10

100

Vod (mV)
Vo

step (vod - vinit) is decreased.

1.3 Comparator Design

1.3.1 Chain of Source-Coupled Pairs:

tr

In designing a fast-settling comparator, either a single high-gain amplifier or a cascade of many low-gain
amplifiers can be used. Consequently, the mostly asked questions are What is the optimized gain per stage? and
What is the optimized number of comparator stages needed to minimize the comparators settling time?

tT
Fig. 1.3 Transient responses of a latched-type comparator

To figure out the answers, lets look at a generic design where a cascade of n identical gain stages is used.
Shown in Fig. 1.4 is a typical block diagram of a fast-settling comparator, which is composed of a cascaded chain of
many source-coupled pairs (SCPs) followed by a latch at the end.

1
V o ( t ) = V in ( t ) = --------1
2
CT
1

To simplify the analysis, let us make the following assumptions:

a) The parasitic capacitor at each output node is Cp and the input capacitor of each stage is Cgs. That means,

1
V o ( t ) = V in ( t ) = --------2
3
CT

the total capacitor at each output node is CT = Cp + Cgs.

b) The initial voltage Vinit is zero and all the stages are nulled at t = 0

1
+ V o ( t = 0 ) = --------2
CT

io2 dt
0

1
V o ( t ) = --------n
CT

d) The overdrive voltage applied at the input of the first stage is Vod.

Now, we are ready to estimate the delay time of the comparator. From Fig. 1.4, the output voltages at the
output nodes as functions of time can be derived to be:

gm
= --------1- v od t
CT

(1.8)

gm g
2
1 m2
t
---= ------------------v
C T C od 2

(1.9)

gm1 vin1 dt
0

gm2 vin2 dt
0

ion dt
0

g m g g m
n
1 m2
n
t
----= ----------------------------------v
C T C C T od n!
1

T2

Vo2

T2

(1.10)

If all the stages are identical, that is gmi = gm and CTi = CT for all i, we get:
n
gm n
t
1 t n
V o ( t ) = ------- v od ----- = ----- -- v od
n
CT
n!
n!

Vo1
V2

1
+ V o ( t = 0 ) = --------1
CT

In general, the output voltage Von(t) of the nth stage is given by,

c) The latch requires an input level of VL.

V1

io1 dt

(1.11)

Vo
Von

Latch

io
CT = Cgs + Cp

Fig. 1.4 Cascade of many low-gain amplifiers followed by a latch

where
C gs
CT
C p + C gs
Cp
Cp
1
- = ---------------------- = -------- 1 + -------- = ------------ 1 + ------- = -----2f T
gm
gm
gm
C gs
C gs

(1.12)

From Eq. 1.12, it can be concluded that the delay time of the comparator can be minimized if the transition
frequency fT is maximized and the parasitic capacitance at the output node Cp is minimized.
The waveforms of the output voltages of the first three stages are plotted in Fig. 1.5, from which it can be seen
that the optimal number of stages to minimize the delay time depends on the voltage VL required for the latch. As

indicated in the figure, if the latch voltage required is VL1, VL2, or VL3, the delay will be minimal if the number of
stages n is chosen to be 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

nopt

In general, the delay time required to achieve an output voltage of VL can be obtained by solving Eq. 1.11:
vL
t d = n! ------v od

x
x

1n

(1.13)

x
x

It is desirable to have an analytical expression which can be used to predict the optimized number of stages
required to achieve the minimal delay time. Unfortunately, such an expression does not exist. However, it has been
found empirically [David Soo, Ph. D. Thesis, UC Berkeley, 1984] that the optimal number of stages nopt and the

16

32

64

128

ln (VL/Vod)

corresponding optimal delay time td as functions of the overall gain (VL/Vod) are as shown in Figs. 1.6 and 1.7.
Fig. 1.6 Optimal number of amplifier stages as a function of the required gain

From the two plots, the optimal number of stages nopt can be estimated as:
n=3
Von

td

n=2

VL3

n=1

VL2
VL1

ln (VL/Vod)

t
Fig. 1.7 Optimal delay of the cascaded comparator as a function of the required gain

Fig. 1.5 Output waveform of individual stages in a cascaded comparator

vL
n opt 1.2 ln ------v od

1.3.2 Latched Comparator:

(1.14)

If such an optimal number of stage is used, the optimal delay time td given by Eq. 1.13 can be approximated
to be:
vL
t d ln ------v od

At time t < 0, the switches are closed,

-

(1.19)

gm vi
gm vi
2 2
2 2
= -------------= --------------------CT
C gs + C p

(1.20)

gm vi
gm vi
1 1
1 1
= -------------= --------------------CT
C gs + C p

(1.21)

At time t > 0, the switches are opened,

dv i

dt

(1.16)

and
dv i
dt

(1.17)

where Cp is the parasitic capacitance at the output node and Cgs is the gate capacitance of the input devices.

As a result, the optimal delay time td is:

vL
t d ln ------- = 53 ps ln ( 1000 ) = 367 ps
v od

vi vi = vi vi
1

The time constant can be estimated as:

2
--- WLC ox
2
C gs
Cp
Cp
Cp
L
3
2
-----------------------------------------------------1 + -------- = --- -------------------------------- 1 + -------- = 53 ps
=
+
-------=
1

3 ( V GS V T )
gm
W
C gs
C gs
C gs
C ox ----- ( V GS V T )
L

a source-coupled pair.

(1.15)

As an example, consider an CMOS comparator, where the effective length Leff = 1.0 m, the mobility = 500
cm2V-1s-1, VGS - VT = 1V, VL/Vod = 1000, and Cp = Cgs, the optimal number of stages nopt can be calculated to be:
vL
n opt 1.2 ln ------- = 1.2 ln ( 1000 ) 8
v od

Due to the regenerative feedback, a latch can be used to shorten the settling time for a comparator. Figure 1.8
shows an implementation of a comparator using a latch, which is realized by cross-coupling the two input devices of

From the two above equations, if gm1 = gm2, we obtain:

2

d vi

(1.18)

dt
from which,

g m dv i
2
gm
= --------1 1 = ---------------------- v i
2
CT dt
C gs + C p

(1.22)

t
t
v i ( t ) = C 1 exp -- + C 2 exp --


2

C gs + C p
= ---------------------gm

(1.23)

(1.24)

If the latch is used as a comparator with an input voltage of vod and an output of vL, the first exponential term
can be neglected, and the delay time td can be found to be:

where:

vL
t d ln ------v od

(1.25)

which is exactly the same as derived in Eq. 1.15 for a chain of comparators!
t=0

t=0

1.3.3 Dynamic Comparator:

As illustration, a schematic of a dynamic latched-type comparator and its associated transient waveforms are
shown in Fig. 1.9.

Vi+

Vi1

Vi2

Vi-

1.4 Practical Design Considerations

1.4.1 Standard Configuration:
As mentioned earlier, a chain of comparators would require too long settling time, and a latch would have too
high offset voltage. In practice, to optimize the two parameters, a chain of comparators followed by a latch is
normally used, as shown in Fig. 1.2.
For such a consideration, it is still necessary to address two main problems: overload recovery and offset
cancellation.

Fig. 1.8 Simplified schematic of a latched comparator

1.4.2 Overload Recovery:

In our early analysis of the settling time of a chain of source-coupled pairs, we assumed that the initial voltage
Vinit was identically zero and obtained the curves shown in Fig. 1.2. However, the actual initial voltage may not be
zero. As a matter of fact, if this initial voltage is too large with an opposite polarity, the transient responses would be
completely different and the delay time would become much longer than that predicted in Eq. 1.15.
For comparison, shown in Fig. 1.10 are both the plots of the transient response of the output of the first three
stages with the initial voltage Vinit being zero and negatively large. For the first case, the outputs of the second and
third stages rise as soon as the output voltage of the first stage starts to increase, which results in a short delay time.
On the contrary, for the case with large negative initial voltage, as illustrated in the figure, the output voltage
of the second stages does not change until the output of the first stage crosses zero, the third output does not start
increasing until the second output reaches zero, and so on. As a consequence, it would take a much long time for the
signal to be recovered from a maximum output voltage.
Solutions: To avoid overload recovery, it is desirable to minimize the output swing.

a) Use small value of load resistor.

b) Use passive clamps. (Fig. 1.11a)
c) Use active clamps. (Fig. 1.11b)
Implementation of Small-Load Comparators: (David Soo, UCB, 1984)

a) Nonlinear problem, no analytical solution.

b) Best results with gmR around 4-6.
c) Optimum number of stages is approximately 4-8 (as before)
Fig. 1.9 Schematic and transient waveforms of a latched-type comparator

d) The delay time is few times larger than pre-nulled comparators!

n=3
Von

n=2

VL3

Vinit = 0
Vc
n=1

VL2
VL1
0

t
(a)

Von
Vinit = large!

n=1

n=3

n=2

-Vmax

(a)

(b)

Fig. 1.10 Comparison of transient responses of the comparator with (a) zero

(b)

Fig. 1.11 Design techniques to avoid overload recovery using (a) passive and (b) active clamps

and (b) non-zero initial conditions

Small-Load Implementation:

a) Poly or diffusion loads: large tolerance and parasitic.

VB

b) Enhancement loads: need large voltage drop across the loads.

M6

M5

IB

1.4.3 Offset Cancellation Techniques:

M7

As we have estimated before, the offset voltages for a source-couple pair (SCP) and for an emitter-coupled
pair (ECP) are typically 10 mV and 1 mV, respectively. Whether an offset cancellation is required would depend on
the application (mainly the resolutions) and the technology (BJT, CMOS). Table 4.1 lists some general design

M1

guidelines on when an offset nulling is needed and when not.

M2

Note that for 8-11 bits, CMOS comparators tend to be slower than their BJT counterparts because they would
need offset nulling

VB

Table 4.1 Offset-cancellation requirement vs. technology and resolution

M10
Resolution Bits

< 7 bits

8-11 Bits

> 12 Bits

Maximum Offset Voltage

> 10 mV

~ 1 mV

< 0.1 mV

BJT Implementation

No Cancellation

No Cancellation

Cancellation

CMOS Implementation

No Cancellation

Cancellation

Cancellation

c) PMOS operating in triode region: small parasitic, can use replica biasing (Fig. 1.11)

M11

M3

M4

M8

M9

Fig. 1.12 Comparator using PMOS as loads with replica biasing

1.4.3.1 Closed-Loop Offset Cancellation:

A
V C = V o = ------------- V os V os
1+A

Figure 1.13 shows a typical scheme in which an input nulling capacitor C is used with feedback to eliminate
the offset voltage. During the offset cancellation, the switches are closed as shown in Fig. 1.13a. As a result,
V C = V o = A ( V C V os )

(1.27)

During comparison, the switches are closed as shown in Fig. 1.13b, from which it can be easily found that:
V o = A ( V in + V C V os ) = A ( V in )

(1.26)

(1.28)

So, the output is independent on the offset voltage, ie. the offset voltage is indeed cancelled! This cancellation
technique is very simple. However, it inherently has two problems. First, the charge injection may cause error as the

and therefore,

switches turn off. A big capacitor C can be used to reduce this error, but the overall speed would be reduced.
Secondly, due to the nature of the operation, the comparator needs to be compensated for unity-gain stability.

Vin

C
+

Vc

1.4.3.2 Open-Loop Offset Cancellation:

A

Vos

Shown in Fig. 1.14 is an open-loop scheme in which interstage capacitors are used to null out the offset
voltage. During offset measurement phase, the switches are closed as shown in Fig. 1.14a, from which the offset is
stored on the capacitor C:

Vo

(a)

V C + ( t = 0- ) = A 1 ( V os )

(1.29)

V C - ( t = 0- ) = 0

(1.30)

Vin

C
+

Vc

_
A

Vos

During the comparison phase, the switches are closed as shown in Fig. 1.14b, from which the input voltage of
the second stage is given by:

Vo

V C + ( t = 0+ ) = A 1 ( V in V os )

(1.31)

V in = V C - ( t = 0+ ) = V C + ( t = 0+ ) + [ V C - ( t = 0- ) V C + ( t = 0- ) ] = A 1 V in

(1.32)

(b)

Fig. 1.13 Comparator with closed-loop offset cancellation

So, in fact, the offset voltage of the first stage Vos1 is eliminated and thus does not affect the input of the
second stage. Repeating the same for the subsequent stages, all the offset voltages Vos2,..., Vosn, will be effectively
removed.

+
Vin

Vos1

+
_

A1

Vc

Vos2
+ Vin2

1.4.3.3 Auxiliary Input Stage:

An auxiliary input stage can also be used to store and to cancel an offset voltage as shown in Fig. 1.15. For
simplicity, let us assume that the offset voltage of the auxiliary stage is very small, ie. Vos2 =0.
During the offset measurement phase, the switches are closed as shown. The input is grounded, and an
amplified version of the offset appears at the output and is stored on the capacitor C.

+
A
_ 2

The output current from the second input io2 is given by:

Vo
+

(a)
+
Vin

Vos1

+
_

Vin

A1

Vc

Vos2
+ Vin2

Vos1

io1

gm1

Vo

io
io2

+
A
_ 2

Vo

Vos2
+

gm2

(b)

Fig. 1.14 Comparator with open-loop offset cancellation

Fig. 1.15 Comparator with an auxiliary input stage for offset cancellation

i 0 = i 0 = g m V os
2

(1.33)

During comparison, the switches are reversed. The output current of the auxiliary stage io2 remains the same
due to the capacitor C whereas the output current of the main stage io1 becomes:
i 0 = g m ( V in V os )
1

(1.34)

As a result,
V o = i 0 R L = ( i 0 + i 0 ) R L = g m R L ( V in V os + V os ) = g m R L V in
1

(1.35)

Again, it is clearly that the offset voltage of the first stage Vos1 has been removed and does not affect the
output voltage!
In practice, non-zero offset voltage of the auxiliary stage can contribute to the error. However, this error can
be minimized as long as this offset voltage of the auxiliary stage Vos2 when referred to the input is much smaller than
that of the main stage Vos1. This in turn can be achieved by making sure that the transconductance of the auxiliary
stage gm2 is much smaller than that of the main stage gm1, as can be seen from the following equation.
V OS

input

gm
i0
= -------2- = --------2 V os
2
gm
gm
1

(1.36)