International Journal of Embedded Systems and Emerging Technologies
A Low-Power Chopper-Stabilized Amplifier forHigh-Resolution Biomedical Signal Acquisition
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, SKN Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract
Biomedical signal acquisition systems such as ECG, EEG, and EMG require analog front-end (AFE) circuits capable of amplifying extremely small, low-frequency physiological signals in the presence of noise, interference, and motion-induced artifacts. These signals usually fall within the sub-millivolt range and are highly susceptible to low-frequency noise and amplifier offset. Chopper-stabilized amplifiers offer a compelling solution by suppressing flicker noise (1/f noise) and minimizing input- referred offset, especially for low-frequency biomedical signals where accuracy and robustness are critical. This research paper presents the design, implementation, and performance evaluation of a low-power chopper-stabilized amplifier optimized for biomedical sensor interfaces. Using CMOS 180 nm technology and sub threshold biasing techniques, the proposed design achieves significant improvements in noise performance, bandwidth, and power consumption relative to existing designs. The amplifier consumes 7 µW, achieves 48 dB gain, and maintains an input-referred noise of 40 nV/√Hz at 50 Hz. A 2nd-order low-pass filter reduces residual ripple and aliasing, ensuring high- quality reconstruction of biomedical signals. The proposed architecture demonstrates robust performance for low-frequency clinical measurements, validating its use in compact, wearable devices, implantable biomedical systems, IoT-enabled health monitoring platforms, and portable diagnostic equipment. The results show clear advantages in noise suppression, ripple reduction, and energy efficiency, making this design increasingly relevant in modern biomedical electronics.
Keywords: Chopper stabilization, low-noise amplifier, biomedical AFE, noise suppression, CMOS analog IC, ripple reduction, ultra-low-power circuits.
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