In this paper, a basic cell for low-power and/or low-voltage operation is identified. It is evidenced how different versions of this cell, coined as "flipped voltage follower (FVF)" have been used in the past for many applications. A detailed classification of basic topologies derived from the FVF is given. In addition, a comprehensive list of recently proposed low-voltage/low-power CMOS circuits based on the FVF is given. Although the paper has a tutorial taste, some new applications of the FVF are also presented and supported by a set of simulated and experimental results. Finally, a design example showing the application of the FVF to build systems based on translinear loops is described which shows the potential of this cell for the design of high-performance low-power/low-voltage analog and mixed-signal circuits.

A systematic approach has been employed to synthesise sinusoidal RC-active oscillators using second-generation current conveyor (CCII). The resulting topologies are canonic, i.e. they require the minimum number of active (a single CCII) and passive components (two capacitors and either two or three resistors) for realisation of both single-frequency oscillators (SFOs) and variable-frequency oscillators (VFOs). Oscillation condition (OC) and/or oscillation frequency (OF) can be adjusted using single resistors. It is shown that using a CCII as the active device provides RC oscillators with a minimum passive network (N_GC). The configurations obtained have been classified in four groups in accordance to their coupling level between the OC and FO equations. Stability has been studied. All the oscillators have been tested and experimental results show very close agreement with the theoretical analysis.