Patent · US Expired

Current supply circuit for driving high capacitance load in an integrated circuit

US5134310A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
17References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1991
Grant dateJul 28, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C7/06
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A constant current power supply circuit for an integrated circuit memory which is well suited for driving a high capacitance load, such as a large number of sense amplifiers. A first circuit provides a constant current source and a second "current mirror" circuit provides an output current proportionate to the first circuit, but at a higher desired level of current. The constant current circuit is achieved using two cross-coupled FET transistors and two resistances such that the conductivity of each transistor is inversely related to the conductivity of the other. The circuit reaches a constant current equilibrium which is largely independent of operating voltage or load, but rather depends on the relative values of the components.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.