Ultra-low-voltage driver for large load capacitance in 130nm CMOS technology

Abstract

This paper presents design of the inverter-based driver for low-voltage applications, with topology for boosting the transistors overdrive voltage. The proposed driver topology was designed through detailed circuit analysis and optimization, and it is suitable for use in a switched capacitor charge pump. The driver was designed in 130 nm CMOS technology and verified by simulations including technology corners. Core of the proposed driver — the inverter uses power supply voltage of 200 mV. The whole boosted driver achieves a propagation delay of 9.2 ns and energy consumption of 92.12 µW for the value of load capacitor is 100 pF. Due to the low-power consumption, the proposed driver was satisfactory used in a self-powered charge pump systems.