Method and circuit for low voltage current-mode bandgap
First Claim
1. A circuit for generating a constant voltage reference, the circuit comprising:
- a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) stage configured to produce a PTAT current;
a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) stage configured to produce a CTAT current;
an output stage interposed between the PTAT stage and the CTAT stage, the circuit configured to mirror the PTAT current and mirror the CTAT current to produce a mirrored PTAT current and a mirrored CTAT current in the output stage, the output stage configured to combine the mirrored PTAT current and the mirrored CTAT current to generate the constant voltage reference; and
a start-up circuit coupled to the PTAT stage, the start-up circuit configured to cause a flow of current in the circuit and to shut down, automatically, in response to the flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bandgap reference (BGR) circuit and method generates a constant voltage reference that is stable over temperature variations. The BGR circuit is composed of a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) stage, a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) stage, and an output stage interposed between the PTAT stage and the CTAT stage. The PTAT stage is configured to produce a PTAT current and the CTAT stage is configured to produce a CTAT current. The BGR circuit is configured to mirror the PTAT current and mirror the CTAT current to produce a mirrored PTAT current and a mirrored CTAT current in the output stage and the output stage is configured to combine the mirrored PTAT current and the mirrored CTAT current to generate the constant voltage reference.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit for generating a constant voltage reference, the circuit comprising:
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a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) stage configured to produce a PTAT current; a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) stage configured to produce a CTAT current; an output stage interposed between the PTAT stage and the CTAT stage, the circuit configured to mirror the PTAT current and mirror the CTAT current to produce a mirrored PTAT current and a mirrored CTAT current in the output stage, the output stage configured to combine the mirrored PTAT current and the mirrored CTAT current to generate the constant voltage reference; and a start-up circuit coupled to the PTAT stage, the start-up circuit configured to cause a flow of current in the circuit and to shut down, automatically, in response to the flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for generating a constant voltage reference, the method comprising:
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coupling a start-up circuit to a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) stage of a circuit; causing a flow of current in the circuit via the start-up circuit; shutting down the start-up circuit, automatically, in response to the flow; producing a PTAT current in the PTAT stage; producing a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current in a CTAT stage of the circuit; mirroring the PTAT current and mirroring the CTAT current in an output stage of the circuit to produce a mirrored PTAT current and a mirrored CTAT current in the output stage, the output stage interposed between the PTAT stage and the CTAT stage; and combining the mirrored PTAT current and the mirrored CTAT current in the output stage to generate the constant voltage reference. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification