Reference voltage circuit
US4359680A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1981 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05F3/20
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A voltage reference circuit (10) produces a reference voltage at output terminals (66, 76). The output reference voltage is substantially independent of variations in the supply voltage, integrated circuit manufacturing processes and temperature. A current reference circuit (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 56 and 84) produces constant emitter currents in bipolar transistors (40, 70). The V.sub.BE of the bipolar transistors (40, 70) is a stable reference due to the constant emitter current. The bipolar transistors (40, 70) are manufactured with similar geometries to eliminate dependence of the reference voltage upon bipolar processing variations. The V.sub.BE of the bipolar transistor (40) produces a reference current which is provided to the base terminal of bipolar transistor (70). The V.sub.BE of bipolar transistor (70) is further utilized to produce the output reference voltage. A temperature stabilization circuit (58, 82, 86, 90, 92 and 94) is provided with an opposite temperature coefficient from that of the bipolar transistors (40, 70). The temperature stabilization circuit is connected to counteract the influence of the temperature coefficient of the bipolar transistors on the output re…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.