Temperature compensation circuit and method for generating a voltage reference with a well-defined temperature behavior

US8415940B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Freeescale Semiconductor, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Yi Yin · Munich, DE
• Ralf Reuter · Landshut, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 18, 2008
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2013
• Expiry date: Jun 18, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05F3/267
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A temperature compensation circuit, comprises a temperature sensor circuit. The circuit comprises two or more temperature sensitive devices. In use, the devices are operated at different current densities and sense virtually the same ambient temperature. The devices provide temperature dependent signals having linear components with slopes of identical signs. The circuit further comprises one of more differential signal providing device for generating a difference of the signals generated by the temperature sensitive devices. A method for generating a voltage reference with a well-defined temperature behavior, comprises applying different current densities to two or more temperature sensitive devices of a temperature sensor circuit; sensing virtually the same ambient temperature with the two or more temperature sensitive devices. Each temperature sensitive devices generates a slightly different temperature dependent signal; and provide at least one differential signal based on said temperature dependent signals.