Generating reference voltages

US7071670B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Ols Hidri · Munich, DE
• Christopher A. Menkus · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 2003
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2006
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05F3/30
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A reference voltage is generated between a first node and a second node. A resistive element and a junction device are coupled in series between the first node and the second node. The junction device includes a junction between dissimilar materials, and has a negative temperature coefficient. First and second current sources route respective first and second bias currents to the resistive element and to the junction device. Routing is such that a resulting first branch current through the resistive element is generally not equal to a resulting second branch current through the junction device. The second bias current depends less on manufacturing process variation than the first bias current, and the second branch current can contain more of it, for less dependence on process. The second bias current can be generated by a source that uses the generated reference voltage as a reference.