Patent · US Expired

Tunable constant current source with temperature and power supply compensation

US6211661A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 14, 2000
Grant dateApr 3, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S323/907
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tunable constant current source having temperature and power supply compensation is provided. The tunable constant current source includes a voltage regulator, a differential amplifier, a current source and a compensating load. The voltage regulator provides a substantially constant bias voltage V.sub.B. The differential amplifier receives the bias voltage V.sub.B and maintains a load voltage V.sub.L substantially equal to the bias voltage V.sub.B by way of a negative feedback. The current source generates a substantially constant current IREF from the differential amplifier. The compensating load varies with temperature changes to maintain the current IREF substantially constant, whereby the tunable constant current source may operate in a supply voltage range between about 0.5 volts to about 1.8 volts.

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