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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

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Published on: October 13, 2010
Power-to-Noise Optimization in the Design of Neural Recording Amplifier Based on Current Scaling, Source Degeneration
Zhen Wang1,2, Xiao Wang1,2, Guijun Shu1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China.
Abstract:
This article presents the design of a low-power, low-noise neural signal amplifier for neural recording. The structure reduces the current consumption of the amplifier through current scaling technology and lowers the input-referred noise of the amplifier by combining a source degeneration resistor and current reuse technologies. The amplifier was fabricated using a 0.18 μm CMOS MS RF G process. The results show the front-end amplifier exhibits a measured mid-band gain of 40 dB/46 dB and a bandwidth ranging from 0.54 Hz to 6.1 kHz; the amplifier's input-referred noise was measured to be 3.1 μVrms, consuming a current of 3.8 μA at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, with a Noise Efficiency Factor (NEF) of 2.97. The single amplifier's active silicon area is 0.082 mm2.
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