Voltage reference device and methods thereof
US8018197B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05F3/08
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A voltage reference module of an integrated circuit device includes a current source to apply a current to a set of voltage cells, thereby generating a voltage drop across each cell. The voltage cells are configured such that the individual voltage drop associated with each cell in response to the application of the current is relatively stable over a temperature range. The voltage reference module generates a voltage based on the voltage drops across the voltage cells, and therefore the generated voltage is also stable over the temperature range. Bypass switches can be connected across each voltage cell whereby the switches can be individually opened and closed to include or exclude cells in generation of the reference voltage. In an embodiment, the switches are set during a trimming process for the integrated circuit device so that the voltage reference module provides a specified voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.