Patent · US Active

Precision reference circuit and related method

US9726696B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2012
Grant dateAug 8, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05F3/02
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In one form, a reference circuit includes a measurement circuit and a determination circuit. The measurement circuit has an output for providing a ratio of a difference in base-to-emitter voltage (VBE) of a bipolar device at different current densities to a VBE of the bipolar device at a first current density. The determination circuit has an input coupled to the measurement circuit, and an output for providing a digital value of a parameter in response to the ratio. In another form, the reference circuit further includes a voltage generation circuit having an input coupled to the determination circuit, and an output, for modulating an analog voltage using the digital value to provide a reference voltage to the output, wherein the reference voltage is temperature compensated over a temperature range.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.