Subthreshold Schmitt trigger using body-bias technique for ultra low power and high performance applications

Abstract

Digital subthreshold logic provides extremely low power consumption since the power supplies are kept below the threshold voltage and using the small subthreshold current of MOS transistors to operate. In this paper, a body-bias technique to match the subthreshold currents of both the NMOS and PMOS transistors is explored and a Schmitt trigger circuit employing this bias technique is proposed. Extensive circuit simulations were conducted and the results were compared with standard body bias technique in terms of performance parameters. The simulation results were obtained with 0.18 μm technology parameters. The conclusion is that Schmitt trigger with this body biasing is suitable for high performance and ultra low power applications.