A General Subthreshold MOS Translinear Theorem

Abstract

This paper outlines the conditions under which the translinear principle can be fully exploited for MOS transistors operating in subthreshold. Due to the exponential nature of subthreshold MOS transistors the translinear principle applies immediately as long as the source-to-bulk voltages are made equal to zero (or constant). This paper addresses the conditions under which subthreshold MOS transistors still satisfy a translinear principle but without imposing this constraint. It is found that the translinear principle results in a more general formulation than the original for BJTs since now multiple translinear loops can be involved. The constraint of even number of transistors is no longer necessary.