Low-Power VCII-Based Current-Mode Schmitt Trigger with High Drive Capabilities

In this paper, a novel CMOS current-mode Schmitt Trigger based on the Second Generation Voltage Conveyor (VCII) is proposed. The circuit has been designed in a standard CMOS 150 nm technology with a dual ±1.65 V voltage supply, and simulations and layout were carried out on Cadence Virtuoso. Low power consumption is obtained using a class AB current input stage and a class B voltage push-pull output stage, providing two voltage outputs to better suit the load of the trigger. Static and transient simulations, as well as PVT and Montecarlo analyses, were performed. The designed VCII shows an output saturation value of approximately ±1.18 V on the high-drive output, used to generate the threshold, a mismatch of about 10mV between positive and negative values, and a rail-to-rail output. The static power consumption is 37 µW, and the high-drive capability overcomes ±98 V /µs and 100 ns propagation delay, making the proposed circuit suitable to be used as a Schmitt Trigger.