A Variable-Gain Low-Noise Transimpedance Amplifier for Miniature Ultrasound Probes

Eunchul Kang, Mingliang Tan, Jae-Sung An, Zu-Yao Chang, Philippe Vince, Nicolas Sénégond, Tony Mateo, Cyril Meynier, Michiel A.P. Pertijs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)
665 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article presents a low-noise transimpedance amplifier (TIA) designed for miniature ultrasound probes. It provides continuously variable gain to compensate for the time-dependent attenuation of the received echo signal. This time-gain compensation (TGC) compresses the echo-signal dynamic range (DR) while avoiding imaging artifacts associated with discrete gain steps. Embedding the TGC function in the TIA reduces the output DR, saving power compared to prior solutions that apply TGC after the low-noise amplifier. The TIA employs a capacitive ladder feedback network and a current-steering circuit to obtain a linear-in-dB gain range of 37 dB. A variable-gain loop amplifier based on current-reuse stages maintains constant bandwidth in a power-efficient manner. The TIA has been integrated in a 64-channel ultrasound transceiver application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in a 180-nm BCDMOS process and occupies a die area of 0.12 mm2. It achieves a gain error below ±1 dB and a 1.7 pA/ √ Hz noise floor and consumes 5.2 mW from a ±0.9 V supply. B-mode images of a tissue-mimicking phantom are presented that show the benefits of the TGC scheme.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9204362
Pages (from-to)3157-3168
Number of pages12
JournalIEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits
Volume55
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Accepted author manuscript

Keywords

  • Continuous gain control
  • time-gain-compensation (TGC)
  • transimpedance amplifier (TIA)
  • ultrasound application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
  • ultrasound imaging

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