Class AB folded-cascode amplifier having cascode compensation

1. A class AB folded-cascode amplifier having improved gain-bandwidth product, comprising:

a differential input circuit including a differential transistor pair coupled to a source of tail current and responsive to a differential input signal for conducting a first current;

a cascode circuit coupled to the differential input circuit for supplying a second current thereto;

a class AB output stage;

a first compensation circuit for feeding back a signal from the output of the output stage to the input of the output stage; and

a second compensation circuit for feeding back mutually complementary compensation signals from the output stage to the differential input circuit.

2. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 1 , wherein the output stage comprises complementary transistors interconnected at an output node and configured to be driven in class AB mode of operation.

3. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 2 , wherein the cascode circuit includes a differential input circuit load comprising a current mirror.

4. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 3 , wherein the current mirror is a wide swing, cascode current mirror.

5. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 3 , wherein the cascode circuit further includes a current buffer connected between the current mirror and the differential input circuit.

6. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first compensation circuit capacitively couples the input and the output of the output stage.

7. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 1 , wherein the differential input circuit has mutually complementary sides, and a first feedback path without signal inversion from the output stage to one side of the differential input circuit, and a second feedback path with signal inversion from the output stage to the complementary side of the differential input circuit.

8. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 7 , wherein the cascode circuit includes a first current mirror, and the second feedback path includes a second current mirror for inverting the output signal.

9. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 8 , including a first capacitor for coupling from the output stage to the second current mirror and a second capacitor for coupling the inverted signal from the second current mirror to the complementary side of the differential input circuit.

10. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 7 , wherein the second feedback path includes a current mirror for inverting the output signal.

11. The class AB folded-cascode amplifier as recited in claim 7 , wherein

the output stage comprises complementary transistors interconnected at an output node and configured to be driven in class AB mode of operation, and

the first compensation circuit comprising a first path including a first capacitor coupled between a control electrode of one of the complementary transistors and the output node, and a second path including a second capacitor coupled between a control electrode of another complementary transistor and the output node.

12. A method of compensating a class AB folded-cascode amplifier of a type having a differential input circuit including a differential transistor pair coupled to a source of tail current and responsive to a differential input signal for conducing a first current, a cascode circuit coupled to the differential input circuit for supplying a second current thereto, and a class AB output stage, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling an output signal from the output stage to the input of the output stage; and

coupling mutually complementary signals from the output stage to the input differential circuit.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the cascode circuit includes a current mirror, and the step of coupling includes implementing the current mirror for inverting the compensation signal from the output stage.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the cascode circuit includes a current mirror, and the step of coupling includes implementing an inversion circuit external to the current mirror for inverting the compensation from the output stage.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the inversion circuit comprises an additional current mirror.