Current control mechanism for low voltage applications
US7760781B1 · kind B1 · utility
2Cited by
10References
13Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03F2203/45702
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A current control mechanism for use in low power consumption circuits with limited headroom includes a differential transistor pair from whose collectors a current output is taken. The current output is a function of a reference voltage provided at bases of a reference transistor pair having emitters that are coupled to the bases of the differential pair. The reference voltage is controlled by a pair of control transistors that control current through a load. A pair of tracking transistors can be provided to track supply voltage. A single-ended topology can also be implemented.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.