Patent · US Expired

Clock-referenced switching bias current generator

US6144249A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 15, 1998
Grant dateNov 7, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05F3/262
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A clock-referenced switching bias current source is disclosed wherein an accurate bias current is established based on the charge dissipated by a switching capacitor over a predetermined period. The time period is established by a very accurate system clock. The value of the capacitor can be accurately selected with .+-.10%. By selecting a particular capacitance and frequency, a desired average bias current value is determined according to the amount of charge dissipated over the predetermined period. In different embodiments, the bias current source can be configured to provide a bandgap current that is temperature and/or process independent.

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