AccScience Publishing / DP / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/DP025400043
ARTICLE

High-speed comparator-based switched-capacitor circuit with non-linear current source for photodiode detector applications

Amir Ali Mohammad Khani1 Ilghar Rezaei2 Ava Salmanpour3 Toktam Aghaee4*
Show Less
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, Sav. C., Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran
2 Department of Electrical Engineering, CT. C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Electrical Engineering, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran
4 Department of Electrical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Received: 5 October 2025 | Revised: 3 February 2026 | Accepted: 12 February 2026 | Published online: 31 March 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

In scaled complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) processes, op-amp-based switched-capacitor photodiode readouts face intrinsic-gain and bandwidth limitations, motivating comparator-based switched-capacitor (CBSC) architectures that use fast comparators and current-driven charge transfer for high-speed, low-power operation. This paper introduces a novel CBSC circuit architecture designed to enhance photodiode readout performance. Unlike conventional designs that rely on high-gain operational amplifiers, the proposed approach leverages a nonlinear current source to trigger a comparator, enabling virtual-ground formation and high-speed charge transfer. The circuit was implemented and evaluated via HSPICE simulations in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology and demonstrated reliable operation at frequencies up to 100 MHz. Key innovations include a non-linear current-source scheme to accelerate the photodiode voltage response and a reset mechanism that further reduces operational delay. Detailed simulation results confirm robust, power-efficient operation with tolerance to temperature and process variations. These findings suggest that the proposed CBSC circuit is a promising, energy-efficient alternative for next-generation analog and mixed-signal sensor applications where high-speed pixel response is critical.

Keywords
Comparator-based switched-capacitor circuits
Photodiode detector
Nonlinear current source
CMOS analog circuit design
High-speed sensor interface
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
References
  1. Biabanifard S. High speed comparator based switched capacitor integrator based on non linear current source Electr Electron Technol. 2018;2(3):99-103. doi: 10.15406/eetoaj.2018.02.00017

 

  1. Biabanifard S, Hosseini SM, Biabanifard M, Asadi S, Yagoub MCE. Multi stage OTA design: From matrix description to circuit realization. Microelectron J. 2018;77:49-65. doi: 10.1016/j.mejo.2018.05.007

 

  1. Valianpour E, Chaharmahali I, Biabanifard S. Nonlinear current source charge scheme for comparator based switched capacitor integrator. Int J Numer Model Electron Netw Devices Fields. 2019;32(3):e2542. doi: 10.1002/jnm.2542

 

  1. Chaharmahali I, Vafadar Mianvelayat M, Biabanifard S. Enhanced comparator‐based switched‐capacitor integrator using current conveyor. Int J Numer Model Electron Netw Devices Fields. 2020;33(5):e2729. doi: 10.1002/jnm.2729

 

  1. Aghaee T, Biabanifard S, Golmakani A. Gain boosting of recycling folded cascode OTA using positive feedback and introducing new input path. Analog Integr Circuits Signal Process. 2017;90:237-246. doi: 10.1007/s10470-016-0874-2

 

  1. Rezaei I, Salmanpour A, Soldoozy A, Aghaee T. Fully active and highly reliable combined ring voltage controlled CMOS oscillator. Mem-Mater Devices Circuits Systems. 2024;8:100107. doi: 10.1016/j.memori.2024.100107

 

  1. Rezaei I, Soldoozy A, Khani AAM, Biabanifard A. Circuit design of a three-stage CMOS amplifier by circuit theory and analysis miller compensation network. Mem-Mate Devices Circuits Systems. 2023;6:100084. doi: 10.1016/j.memori.2023.100084

 

  1. Moafi A, Dehbovid H, Adarang H, Ghoreishi Amiri SS. Single Miller Compensation Based Four Stage CMOS Amplifier. IETE J Res. 2025;71(3):1040-1049. doi: 10.1080/03772063.2024.2434588

 

  1. Ghorbanzadeh S, Dehbovid H, Ghorbani A, Pahnekola MA. Two-stage class-AB OTA with improved specifications. Analog Integr Circuits Signal Process. 2022;111(2):159-168. doi: 10.1007/s10470-022-01986-4

 

  1. Rezaei I, Soldoozy A, Soltani Zanjani M, Aghaee T. Recycling folded cascode two-stage CMOS amplifier. Mem-Mater Devices Circuits Systems. 2023;6:100093. doi: 10.1016/j.memori.2023.100093

 

  1. Roohbakhsh D, Sanaee A, Aghaee T. Four‐stage CMOS operational transconductance amplifier: compensated via double differential blocks. Int J Numer Model Electron Netw Devices Fields. 2023;36(4):e3067. doi: 10.1002/jnm.3067

 

  1. Sanaei AM, Biabanifard A, Khadem MS, Aghaee T. Double differential blocks based frequency compensation: A four-stage CMOS amplifier. J Circuits Syst Comput. 2022;31(15):2250273. doi: 10.1142/S0218126622502735

 

  1. Attar M, Dehbovid H, Ghorbani A, Adarang H. Four stage CMOS operational amplifier, frequency compensated via active miller network. Eng Rep. 2024;6(8):e12810. doi: 10.1002/eng2.12810
Share
Back to top
Design+, Electronic ISSN: 3060-8953 Published by AccScience Publishing