Current mirrors, low current measurement

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around current mirror circuits and methods for measuring low currents. Participants seek recommendations for textbooks and resources that provide in-depth information on these topics, particularly in the context of electronics and circuit design.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests recommendations for textbooks that cover current mirror circuits and low current measurement in detail.
  • Another participant suggests that Keithley, known for picoammeters, has useful technical information available in their handbooks.
  • A third participant mentions "Bogart 'Electronic Devices and Circuits'" as a resource that includes SPICE implementations of current mirrors.
  • Further contributions highlight the importance of application notes from companies like Burr Brown, Analog Devices, Maxim, and Linear Technology for low current measurement techniques.
  • There is a discussion about the complexity of measuring currents in the picoampere (pA) range and the potential challenges involved.
  • One participant questions whether there are specialized textbooks on current mirrors, suggesting that the topic may only warrant brief coverage in general IC design books.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the usefulness of application notes and specific resources for understanding low current measurements, but there is no consensus on the availability of comprehensive textbooks specifically focused on current mirrors.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty regarding the depth of coverage in textbooks and the specific definitions of "low current," indicating that this may vary based on context.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for electronics students, engineers working with low current measurements, and those interested in circuit design, particularly in the context of current mirror applications.

DragonPetter
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Does anyone know of a good textbook that would go in depth on current mirror circuits? What about methods and information on measuring low currents? My sedra and smith book does not talk anything about these subjects in detail.
 
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DragonPetter said:
Does anyone know of a good textbook that would go in depth on current mirror circuits? What about methods and information on measuring low currents? My sedra and smith book does not talk anything about these subjects in detail.

For understanding low-current measurements, Keithly (who makes picoammeters) has good technical information in handbooks:

http://www.keithley.com/knowledgecenter

For books that cover current mirrors in detail (beyond basic circuits books), I used an Amazon search on electronic current mirror:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...tronic+current+mirror&ajr=0&tag=pfamazon01-20

A couple of those books look promising. Maybe you can find them in your local technical library to check them out.
 
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Bogart 'Electronic Devices and Circuits'

has some SPICE implementations of current mirrors.
 
Like Berkman said, Keithley make very low current meters, they should have a lot of info. How low is low for you?

Other sources are the company that make fA op-amps. In my days, Burr Brown had a lot of app. notes also. If you get down to pA range, it can start to get tricky. Also check Analog Devices, Maxim and Linear Technology. I never seen textbooks talk about measurement, you have to go to app notes for that. I learned from Burr Brown in the 90s. But I don't know whether they are still around, might have been swallow up by AD or other companies.

Regarding to current mirrors, do you mean circuit use inside ICs that use a transistor to setup the bias for other transistors to scale the current. If so, I doubted there is a book specialized on this as it is quite simple, only deserve two to three pages of materials. Look at any IC book and you find info about this.
 
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