A fast 0.25um CMOS current-mode front-end stage for solid state detector interfaces

An 8-channel preamplifier has been designed in 0.25um CMOS technology for use in solid state detectors systems. The preamplifier is a current-mode circuit providing the ability for high speed and low power consumption. The operation of the preamplifier is optimized for detectors with large capacitance of 45pF. It has differential output and the baseline can be externally adjusted. A self-adjustable circuit for compensating the leakage current of the detector is also included. The dynamic range of the front-end stage is very large from 150fC to 1500fC. With power consumption 2.5mW, the peaking time was measured around 25ns while the gain 0.3mV/fC.