title: A sub-microwatt low-noise amplifier for neural recording.
abstract: In this paper we present a pre-amplifier designed for neural recording applications. Extremely low power dissipation is achieved by operating in an open-loop configuration, restricting the circuit to a single current branch, and reusing current to improve noise performance. Our amplifier exhibits 3.5 microVrms of input-referred noise and has a digitally-controlled gain between 36 dB and 44 dB. The amplifier is AC-coupled, with a pass-band from 0.3 Hz to 4.7 kHz. The circuit is implemented in a 0.5 microm SOI Bi-CMOS process and consumes 805nA from a 1.0V supply, corresponding to a noise efficiency factor (NEF) of 1.8, which is the lowest reported NEF to date.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2500, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holleman
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Otis
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*