Current control mechanism for low voltage applications
US8054128B2 · kind B2 · utility
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4Claims
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2030 |
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.