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Design procedures for three-stage CMOS operational transconductance amplifiers employing nested-Miller frequency compensation are presented in this paper. After describing the basic methodology on a Class-A topology, some modifications, to increase swing, slew-rate and current drive capability, are subsequently discussed for a Class-AB solution. The approaches developed are simple as they do not introduce unnecessary circuit constraints and yield accurate results. They are hence suited for a pencil-and-paper design, but can be easily integrated into an analog knowledge-based computer-aided design tool. Experimental prototypes, designed in a 0.35-μm technology by following the proposed procedures, were fabricated and tested. Measurement results were found in close agreement with the target specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple methodology to evaluate harmonic distortion in the frequency domain for circuits and systems made up of a nonlinear high-gain path with a nonlinear feedback network is presented. The approach provides compact closed-form expressions which constitute a direct extension of the classic ones valid at dc. The result improve our understanding of nonlinear frequency behavior in general feedback circuits and can even be used in manual design. The accuracy of the equations obtained was evaluated by comparison with computer simulations and measurements on an example circuit. Simulated and experimental data highly agree with the theoretical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]