Introduction

Nonlinear operations on continuous-valued analog signals are often required in instrumentation, communication, and control-system design. These operations include
rectification, Modulation demodulation frequency translation, multiplication, and division.,

Lecture 7. Gilbert cell & Analog Multipliers

Recommended Text: Gray, P.R. & Meyer. R.G., Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits (3rd Edition), Wiley (1992) pp. 667-681

In this chapter we analyze the most commonly used techniques for performing multiplication and division within a monolithic integrated circuit In analog-signal processing the need often arises for a circuit that takes two analog inputs and produces an output proportional to their product. Such circuits are termed analog multipliers. In the following sections we examine several analog multipliers that depend on the exponential transfer function of bipolar transistors .
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 2.

The Emitter-Coupled Pair

The emitter-coupled pair, was shown in to produce output currents that were related to the differential input voltage by :
Vi1 Vbe1 + Vbe 2 Vi 2 = 0 Vbe1 = VT ln(I c1 / I S1 ) I c1 = I S1 exp(Vbe1 / VT ) Vbe 2 = VT ln (I c 2 / I S 2 ) I c 2 = I S 2 exp(Vbe 2 / VT )
Vid Vbe1 Vbe 2 I c1 I S1 exp = V = exp V Ic2 I S 2 T T
Vid Ic1 Q1 Q2 Ic2 Vi1

Notes

Ic1 Q1 + IEE Q2

Ic2

+ Vi2

I EE = ( I e1 + I e 2 ) = ( I c1 + I c 2 ) / F I c1 + I c 2

+ -

I c1 = I c 2 exp(Vid / VT ) = ( I EE I c1 ) exp(Vid / VT )
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

IEE
3. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 4.

The Emitter-Coupled Pair

The emitter-coupled pair, was shown in to produce output currents that were related to the differential input voltage by :

Notes

Ic1 Q1 + Vi1 Q2

Ic2

I c1 = I c 2 exp(Vid / VT ) = ( I EE I c1 ) exp(Vid / VT )
I c1 (1 + exp(Vid / VT )) = I EE exp(Vid / VT )

+ IEE Vi2

I c1 =

I EE exp(Vid / VT ) I EE = 1 + exp(Vid / VT ) 1 + exp(Vid / VT )

Ic1 Q1 Q2

Ic2

I c1 =

I EE 1 + exp(Vid / VT )

Ic2 =

I EE 1 + exp(Vid / VT )

Vid

IEE
5. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 6.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

The Emitter-Coupled Pair

The emitter-coupled pair, was shown in to produce output currents that were related to the differential input voltage by :
I c1 = I EE I EE Ic2 = 1 + exp(Vid / VT ) 1 + exp(Vid / VT )
Vid Ic1 Q1 Q2 Ic2

Notes

+ -

The differential output current that were related to the differential input voltage by :
I c = I c1 I c 2 = I EE I EE 1 + exp(Vid / VT ) 1 + exp(+Vid / VT ) I c = I c1 I c 2 = I EE tanh(Vid / 2VT )

IEE

Lets show that or

1 1 = tanh( x / 2) 1 + exp( x) 1 + exp(+ x)

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 7. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 8.

Gilbert cell
First show that
1 1 = tanh( x / 2) 1 + e x 1 + e x
tanh (x) = e x - e -x e x + e -x

Notes

1 1 1 + e x 1 e x = = x x 1+ e 1+ e 1 + e x 1 + e x

)(

e x / 2e x / 2 = 1 e x / 2e x / 2 = e x e x / 2e x / 2 = e x
a 2 b 2 = (a + b)(a b) e x e -x = (e x/ 2 + e -x/ 2 ) (e x/ 2 - e -x/ 2 )

x/ 2

(e

x/2

e e = + e x / 2 e x / 2 e x / 2 + e x / 2
x

) (

(e = (e

+ ex / 2 e x / 2 e x / 2 = tanh( x / 2) x/2 + e x / 2 e x / 2 + e x / 2
x/2

)( )(

) )

Therefore
I c = I EE I EE = I EE tanh(+Vid / 2VT ) 1 + exp(Vid / VT ) 1 + exp(+Vid / VT )
9. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 10.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

The Emitter-Coupled Pair

I c = I c1 I c 2 = I EE tanh(Vid / 2VT )
This relationship is plotted => and shows that the emittercoupled pair by itself can be used as a primitive multiplier. Assuming Taylor series expansion

Notes

tanh(x) = x x 3 / 3 + 2x 5 / 15 ...
For x<<1
tanh(X)

1.0

tanh(x) = x - x 3 / 3 + .... x

0.5

If (Vid / 2VT ) << 1, I c = I EE (Vid / 2VT )

-3VT

-2VT

-1VT

0.0 0VT -0.5

1VT

2VT

3VT

-1.0

X
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 11. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 12.

Two-quadrant Multiplier
The current IEE is actually the bias current for the emitter-coupled pair. With the addition of more circuitry, we can make IEE proportional to a second input signal. Thus we have
I EE K o (Vi 2 VBE ( on ) )

Notes

Ic1 + Vid R + Vi2 Q3 Q1 Q2

Ic2

The differential output current of the emitter-coupled pair can be calculated to give
I c K oVid (Vi 2 VBE ( on ) ) 2VT

IEE Q4

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

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DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

14.

Two-Quadrant restriction
Thus we have produced a circuit that functions as a multiplier under the assumption that Vid is small, and that Vi2 is greater than VBE(on). The latter restriction means that the multiplier functions in only two quadrants of the Vid - Vi2 plane, and this type of circuit is termed a two-quadrant multiplier. The restriction to two quadrants of operation is a severe one for many communications applications, and most practical multipliers allow four-quadrant operation. The Gilbert multiplier cell, shown, is a modification of the emitter-coupled cell, which allows four-quadrant multiplication.

Gilbert multiplier cell

The Gilbert multiplier cell is the basis for most integrated-circuit balanced multiplier systems. The series connection of an emitter-coupled pair with two cross-coupled, emittercoupled pairs produces a particularly useful transfer characteristic,.
I c3 =

I35 I3 I4

IO =I35 - I46

I46

I5 V1 Q3 Q4 I1 Q1 V2 IE
E

I6 Q5 Q6 I2 Q2

I c1 I c1 Ic4 = 1 + exp(V1 / VT ) 1 + exp(V1 / VT ) Ic2 Ic2 I c6 = 1 + exp(V1 / VT ) 1 + exp(V1 / VT )

I c5 =
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 15.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

16.

Gilbert cell - DC Analysis

The two currents Ic1 and Ic2 are related to V2 I EE I EE I c1 = Ic2 = 1 + exp(V2 / VT ) 1 + exp(V2 / VT ) Substituting Ic1 and Ic2 in expressions for I3 Ic3 , Ic4, Ic5 and Ic6 get :

Notes

I35 I4

IO =I35 I46

I46

I5 Q3 Q4 I1 Q1 Q2 Q5 Q6 I2

I6

I EE I c3 = [1 + exp(V1 / VT )][1 + exp(V2 / VT )] V1 I EE Ic4 = [1 + exp(V1 / VT )][1 + exp(V2 / VT )] I c5 =

[1 + exp(V1 / VT )][1 + exp(V2 / VT )]

I EE

V2 IEE
17. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 18.

I c6 =

[1 + exp(V1 / VT )][1 + exp(V2 / VT )]

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

I EE

Gilbert cell
The differential output current is then given by
I = I c 35 I c 46 = I c 3 + I c 5 (I c 4 + I c 6 ) = (I c 3 I c 6 ) (I c 4 I c 5 )

Notes

I c3 I c6 = =

(1 + e

V1 / VT

I EE I EE = V2 / VT V1 / VT 1+ e 1+ e 1 + eV2 / VT

)(

) (
1

)(

(1 + e

I EE

V1 / VT

(1 + e )

1
V2 / VT

) (1 + e

V2 / VT

= (1 + e )

I EE

V1 / VT

) tanh(V

/ 2VT )

1 1 = tanh( x / 2) 1 + e x 1 + e x

Similar:
I c 4 I c5 =

(1 + e

V1 / VT

I EE I EE I EE = tanh(V2 / 2VT ) 1 + e V2 / VT 1 + eV1 / VT 1 + eV2 / VT 1 + eV1 / VT

)(

) (

)(

) (

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

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DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

20.

Gilbert cell
The differential output current is then given by
I = (I c 3 I c 6 ) (I c 4 I c 5 )

Notes

Where
I =

I c3 I c 6 =

(1 + e

I EE

V1 / VT

) tanh(V

/ 2VT ) I c 4 I c 5 =

(1 + e

I EE
V1 / VT

) tanh(V

/ 2VT )

(1 + e

I EE

V1 / VT

) tanh(V

/ 2VT )

(1 + e

I EE
V1 / VT

) tanh(V

/ 2VT ) =

I EE I EE = tanh(V2 / 2VT ) = I EE tanh(V1 / 2VT ) tanh(V2 / 2VT ) V1 / VT 1 + e 1 + eV1 / VT

) (

I = I EE tanh(V1 / 2VT ) tanh(V2 / 2VT ) Finally The dc transfer characteristic is the product of the hyperbolic tangent of the two input voltages. There are three main application of Gilbert cell depending of the V1 an V2 range: tanh(V1, 2 / 2VT ) V1, 2 / 2VT
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 21. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 22.

1. Gilbert cell as Multiplier

(1) If V1 < VT and V2 < VT then : tanh(x) = x x 3 / 3 + .... x
Thus for small-amplitude signals, the circuit performs an analog multiplication. Practically, the amplitudes of the input signals are often much larger than VT, An alternate approach is to introduce a nonlinearity that predictors the input signals to compensate for the hyperbolic tangent transfer characteristic of the basic cell. The required nonlinearity is an inverse hyperbolic tangent characteristic
I35 I3 VA Tanh-1 Q3 Q4 I1 Tanh-1 Q1 IE
E

Notes

IO =I35 - I46

I4
6

I4

I5 Q5 Q6 I2 Q2

I6

VB

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

23.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

24.

Pre-warping circuit inverse hyperbolic tangent

We assume for the time being that the circuitry within the box develops a differential output current that is linearly related to the input voltage V1. Thus I1 = I o1 + K1V1 and I 2 = I o1 K1V1 Here Io1 is the dc current that flows in each output lead if V1 is equal to zero, and K1 is the transconductance of the voltageto-current converter
The differential voltage developed across the two diode-connected transistors is I o1 + K1V1 I o1 K1V1 I o1 + K1V1 V = VT ln - VT ln = VT ln I KV Is Is 1 1 o1 Using the identity: tanh -1x = ln ((1 + x)/(1 - x) ) /2

Notes

We get And finally

K1V1 V = 2VT tanh 1 I o1 K1V1 K 2V2 I = I EE I o1 I o 2

25. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 26.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

Analog Multiplier Approach

K K Vout = I EE K 3 1 2 V1V2 = 0.1V1V2 I o1 I o 2

Notes

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

27.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

28.

Emitter Degeneration
Another way to increase the range of input voltage over which emitter couple works as linear amplifier additional resistors (RE) are used in series with emitters
In this case the voltage drop across resistors must be included into analysis IC1 IC2 Vid VBE1 + VBE 2 I1 RE + I 2 RE = 0 = Vid VBE1 + VBE 2 I o RE In this case the collector currents are
I c1 = I EE I EE I = 1 + exp( (Vid I od RE ) / VT ) c 2 1 + exp((Vid I od RE ) / VT ) Vid
Q1 R E RE Q2

Notes

and the output differential current is IEE I od = I c = I c1 I c 2 = I EE tanh ((Vid I od RE ) / 2VT ) This equation has no analytical solution in form Iod=f(Vid) but the effect of resistors may be understood as negative feedback desensitising the effect of the input voltage Vid.
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 29. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 30.

Emitter Degeneration
Assuming that (Vid-IodRE)<2VT
I od = I EE tanh ((Vid I od RE ) / 2VT ) I EE (Vid I od RE ) / 2VT I od (1 + I EE RE / 2VT ) = I EEVid / 2VT I V / 2VT V I od = EE id I EE id If IodRE >> 2VT the output is: 1 + I EE RE / 2VT I EE RE
Vid RE I od = Vid RE I EEVid / 2VT I R / 2VT = Vid (1 EE E )= 1 + I EE RE / 2VT 1 + I EE RE / 2VT Vid = 1 + I R / 2V < 2VT EE E T

Notes

1 + I EE RE / 2VT I EE RE / 2VT = Vid 1 + I EE RE / 2VT

Vid < 2VT + I EE RE < I EE RE Thus or Vid < I EE RE Therefore the maximal input voltage is VMAX I EE RE And the value of emitter resistor can be chosen as RE VMAX / I EE or VMAX / I EE
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 31. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 32.

Emitter Degeneration
Similar result can be achieved assuming that (Vid-IodRE)<2VT For maximal applied voltage Vid = VMAX and Iod=IEE Therefore VMAX I EE RE < 2VT and VMAX < 2VT + I EE RE Assuming both Vid and IodRE are much higher than 2VT The input range is VMAX I EE RE

Notes

The maximal input range can be estimated from the plot of tanh(Vid1.0 I R =0 I R =5V IodRE) as function of Vid.
EE EE E E T

IEERE=10VT IEERE=20VT

It is clear that for higher precision / linearity the input voltage range may be chosen twice narrower

0.5

tanh(X)

0.0 -20VT -15VT -10VT -5VT 0VT -0.5

5VT 10VT 15VT 20VT

Vmax I EE RE / 2
-1.0

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

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DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

34.

Emitter Degeneration in Pre-warping circuit

The emitter-coupled transistors pair with degeneration resistors RE can be used as differential voltage-to-current converter in the pre-warping circuit. The differential output current I od = I C1 I C 2 = I C1 ( I EE I C1 ) = 2 I C1 I EE or I C1 = I EE / 2 + I od / 2 Noting that for I EE RE >> 2VT the output current is
I od = I EEVid / 2VT V I EE id 1 + I EE RE / 2VT I EE RE
V

Notes

id Therefore I C1 = I EE / 2 + 2 R = I EE / 2 + KVid , where K = 1 / 2 RE E Finally

I C1 = I EE / 2 + KVid I C 2 = I EE / 2 KVid
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 35. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 36.

Complete Analog Multiplier

I = (I c 3 I c 6 ) (I c 4 I c 5 ) = I c1 tanh(V2 / 2VT ) I c 2 tanh(V2 / 2VT ) = = [I c1 I c 2 ] tanh(V2 / 2VT ) = I od 2 K X VX I XX
I3 Q7 I7 I9 Q9 VX REX I8 I10 Q10 REX IXX Q8 RC IO =I35 - I46 I46 I35 I4 Q3 Q4 I1 I5 Q5 Q6 I2 RC

Notes

I od = I YY

Vid = 2 KYVid I YY RE

I6

Q1 REY

Q2 REY IYY VY

I = I YY

2 KYVY 2 K X VX VY VX = I YY I YY I XX I YY REY I XX REX

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 37. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 38.

Analog Multiplier Design

Design four-quadrant analog multiplier with Vout = 0.1V1V2 voltage range 10 V VY VX I = I YY I YY REY I XX REX The differential output voltage is: for input

Notes

V = RC I = RC I YY

VY VX I YY REY I XX REX

For linear regime: VX I XX REX and VY I YY REY For input voltage range 10V and IXX=IYY =1 mA

V = RC 1mA

VX VY = 0.1VX VY 10 10

Vout = 0.1V1V2

REX = VX /I XX = 10V/1mA = 10 k and REY = 10 k RC = 10V / 1mA = 10k

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 39. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 40.

Gilbert cell Applications

I = I EE tanh(V1 / 2VT ) tanh(V2 / 2VT )
3 (1) If V1 < VT and V2 < VT then : tanh(x) = x x / 3 + .... x and it woks as analogue multiplier

Notes

(2) If one of the inputs of a signal that is large compared to VT, this effectively multiplies the applied small signal by a square wave, and acts as a balanced modulator. (3) If both inputs are large compared to VT, and all six transistors in the circuit behave as nonsaturating switches. This is useful for the detection of phase differences between two amplitude-limited signals, as is required in phase-locked loops, and is sometimes called the phase-detector mode.
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 41. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 42.

Balanced Modulator
In communications systems, the need frequently arises for the multiplication of a continuously varying signal by a square wave. This is easily accomplished with the multiplier circuit by applying a sufficiently large signal directly to the cross-coupled pair.

Notes

Vm (t ) = Vm cos mt
n n Vc (t ) = An cos n c t , where An = sin / 2 4 n =1

Vo (t ) = K [Vc (t )Vm (t )] = K AnVm cos mt cos n c t =

n =1

AV = K n m cos(n c t nt ) cos(n c t + nt ) 2 n =1
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 43. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 44.

Spectra for balanced modulator

The spectrum has components located at frequencies m above and below each of the harmonics of c, but no component at the carrier frequency c or its harmonics. The spectrum of the input signals and the resulting output signal is shown below. The lack of an output component at the carrier frequency is a very useful property of balanced modulators. The signal is usually filtered following the modulation process so that only the components near c. are retained

Notes

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

45.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

46.

3. Phase Detector
If unmodulated signals of identical frequency are applied to the two inputs, the circuit behaves as a phase detector and produces an output whose dc component is proportional to the phase difference between the two inputs.

Notes

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

47.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

48.

3. Phase Detector
The output waveform that results is shown in Fig. and consists of a dc component and a component at twice the incoming frequency. The dc component is given by: 1 2 1 Vaverage = Vo (t )d ( ot ) = [A1 A2 ] 2 0 where areas A1 and A2 are as indicated. Thus

Notes

2 I EE RC = I EE RC 1 Vaverage = I EE RC

If input signals are comparable to or smaller than VT, the circuit still acts as a phase detector. However, the output voltage then depends both on the phase difference and on the amplitude of the two input waveforms
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 49. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 50.

Four-quadrant multiplier AD534

Figure shows the complete multiplier AD534 based on Gilbert cell. Four-quadrant operation is achieved by using two transconductance pairs with the bases driven in antiphase and the emitters driven by a second V-I converter. Z1 Z 2 = K ( X 1 X 2 )(Y1 Y2 )

Notes

K=

Rz R y Rx I x

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

51.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

52.

AD534 Basic Configuration

The basic connection for four-quadrant multiplication is used in
amplitude modulation, voltage-controlled amplification, and instantaneous power measurements.

Notes

When one of the inputs is zero, the output should also be zero, regardless of the signal at the other input. In practice, a small fraction of the other input will feed through to the output, causing an error. This can be minimized by applying an external voltage to the X2 or Y2 input. This basic configuration has a number of useful variations.
For instance, tying the inputs together yields the squaring function. Deriving Z1 from Vo via a voltage divider allows for scale factors other than 1/10 . Applying a signal to the Z1 terminal will cause it to be summed to the output
DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 53. DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications 54.

AD534 Applications
Z1 Z 2 = K ( X 1 X 2 )(Y1 Y2 )
Vz = (1 / 10) Vx (Vo ) Vo = 10 Vz / Vx

Test
Show that
Vo = Vx2 V y2 / 10

Z1 Z 2 = K ( X 1 X 2 )(Y1 Y2 )
Z1 = 10 k V VO = O 10 k + 30 k 4

X 1 = VX and Y1 =
VO V + VY = 0.1 VX X 4 2

V X + VY 2

V VY VX + VY V 2 VY2 VX + VY = 0.1 X = 0.1 X 2 2 2 4

Vz = (1 / 10) Vo (Vo )
Vo = 10 Vz

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

55.

DT021/4 Electronic Systems Lecture 7. Gilbert cell Applications

56.