VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED CURRENT SOURCE

• US 20060125463A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corporation (Novatek Microelectronics Corp Limited)
• Original Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corporation (Novatek Microelectronics Corp Limited)
• Inventors: Cheng, Chiu-Hung, Yen, Chih-Jen
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/316
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/262 using field-effect transistors only

Abstract

A voltage-controlled current source (VCCS) is provided. The VCCS controls an output current according to a controlling voltage. The VCCS includes an operational amplifier (OP-amplifier), a transistor, a resistor and a current mirror. The present invention utilizes the characteristics of the OP-amplifier to compensate for the voltage difference between the gate and the source of the transistor so that the resulting terminal voltage on the resistor is equal to the input control voltage. Therefore, the VCCS of the present invention can reduce the factors including process drift, fluctuation in the DC voltage source or the output current that can affect the terminal voltage difference of the resistor and hence the accuracy of the output current.

Claims

1. A voltage-controlled current source for receiving a control voltage and using the control voltage to control an output current, the voltage-controlled current source comprising:

an operational amplifier having a first input terminal for receiving the control voltage;

a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the operational amplifier;

a resistor, wherein one terminal of the resistor is coupled to a first voltage line and the other terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the first transistor; and

a current mirror having a reference side input terminal and an output side output terminal, wherein the reference side output terminal is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the first transistor and the output side output terminal outputs the output current.

2. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 1, wherein the first voltage line comprises a power supply voltage line.

3. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 2, wherein the current mirror further comprises:

a second N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the second N-type transistor is coupled to a ground wire and a drain terminal of the second N-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the second N-type transistor, wherein the drain terminal of the second N-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a third N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the third N-type transistor is coupled to the ground wire and a gate terminal of the third N-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the second N-type transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the third N-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

4. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 2, wherein the first transistor an N-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier are a negative input terminal and a positive input terminal, respectively.

5. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 1, wherein the first transistor is a P-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier are a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, respectively.

6. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 1, wherein the first voltage line comprises a ground wire.

7. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 6, wherein the current mirror further comprises:

a second P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the second P-type transistor is coupled to a power supply voltage line and a drain terminal of the second P-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the second P-type transistor, wherein the drain of the second P-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a third P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the third P-type transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line and a gate terminal of the third P-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the second P-type transistor, wherein the drain of the third P-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

8. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 6, wherein the first transistor is a P-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier are a negative input terminal and a positive input terminal, respectively.

9. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 6, wherein the first transistor is an N-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier are a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, respectively.

10. A voltage-controlled current source for receiving a control voltage and using the control voltage to control an output current, the voltage-controlled current source comprising:

an operational amplifier having a first input terminal for receiving the control voltage;

a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the operational amplifier;

a second transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the second transistor outputs the output current;

a resistor, wherein one terminal of the resistor is coupled to a first voltage line and the other terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the first transistor; and

a current mirror having a reference side input terminal and an output side output terminal, wherein the reference side output terminal is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the first transistor and the output side output terminal is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the second transistor.

11. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 10, wherein the first voltage line comprises a power supply voltage line.

12. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 11, wherein the current mirror further comprises:

a third N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the third N-type transistor is coupled to a ground wire and a drain terminal of the third N-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the third N-type transistor, wherein the drain terminal of the third N-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a fourth N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the fourth N-type transistor is coupled to the ground wire and a gate terminal of the fourth N-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the third N-type transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the fourth N-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

13. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 11, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are N-type transistors and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier are a negative input terminal and a positive input terminal, respectively.

14. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 10, wherein the first voltage line comprises a ground wire.

15. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 14, wherein the current mirror further comprises:

a third P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the third P-type transistor is coupled to a power supply voltage line and a drain terminal of the third P-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the third P-type transistor, wherein the drain of the third P-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a fourth P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the fourth P-type transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line and a gate terminal of the fourth P-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the third P-type transistor, wherein the drain of the fourth P-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

16. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 14, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are P-type transistors and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier are a negative input terminal and a positive input terminal, respectively.

17. A voltage-controlled current source for receiving a first control voltage and a second control voltage and using the first control voltage and the second control voltage to control a first output current and a second output current, respectively, the voltage-controlled current source comprising:

a first operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the first operational amplifier receives the first control voltage;

a second operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the second operational amplifier receives the second control voltage;

a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the first operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the first operational amplifier;

a second transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the second operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the second operational amplifier;

a resistor, wherein one terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the first transistor and the other terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the second transistor;

a first current mirror having a reference side output terminal and an output side output terminal, wherein the reference side output terminal of the first current mirror is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the first transistor and the output side output terminal of the first current mirror outputs the first output current; and

a second current mirror having a reference side output terminal and an output side output terminal, wherein the reference side output terminal of the second current mirror is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the second transistor and the output side output terminal of the second current mirror outputs the second output current.

18. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 17, wherein the first current mirror further comprises:

a third P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the third P-type transistor is coupled to a power supply voltage line and a drain terminal of the third P-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the third P-type transistor, wherein the drain terminal of the third P-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a fourth P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the fourth P-type transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line and a gate terminal of the fourth P-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the third P-type transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the fourth P-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

19. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 17, wherein the second current mirror further comprises:

a third N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the third N-type transistor is coupled to a ground wire and a drain terminal of the third N-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the third N-type transistor, wherein the drain terminal of the third N-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a fourth N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the fourth N-type transistor is coupled to a ground wire and a gate terminal of the fourth N-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the third N-type transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the fourth N-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

20. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 17, wherein the first transistor is a P-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the first operational amplifier are negative input terminal and positive input terminal, respectively.

21. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 17, wherein the second transistor is an N-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the second operational amplifier are negative input terminal and positive input terminal, respectively.

22. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 17, wherein the first transistor is an N-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the first operational amplifier are positive input terminal and negative input terminal, respectively.

23. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 17, wherein the second transistor is a P-type transistor and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the second operational amplifier are positive input terminal and negative input terminal, respectively.

24. A voltage-controlled current source for receiving a first control voltage and a second control voltage and using the first control voltage and the second control voltage to control a first output current and a second output current, respectively, the voltage-controlled current source comprising:

a first operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the first operational amplifier receives the first control voltage;

a second operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the second operational amplifier receives the second control voltage;

a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the first operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the first operational amplifier;

a second transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the second transistor outputs the first output current;

a third transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the third transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the second operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the third transistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the second operational amplifier;

a fourth transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the second operational amplifier and a first source/drain terminal of the fourth transistor outputs the second output current;

a resistor, wherein one terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the first transistor and the other terminal of the resistor is coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the third transistor;

a first current mirror having a reference side output terminal and an output side output terminal, wherein the reference side output terminal of the first current mirror is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the first transistor and the output side output terminal of the first current mirror is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the second transistor; and

a second current mirror having a reference side output terminal and an output side output terminal, wherein the reference side output terminal of the second current mirror is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the third transistor and the output side output terminal of the second current mirror is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the fourth transistor.

25. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 24, wherein the first current mirror further comprises:

a fifth P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the fifth P-type transistor is coupled to a power supply voltage line and a drain terminal of the fifth P-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the fifth P-type transistor, wherein the drain terminal of the fifth P-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a sixth P-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the sixth P-type transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line and a gate terminal of the sixth P-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the fifth P-type transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the sixth P-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

26. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 24, wherein the second current mirror further comprises:

a fifth N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the fifth N-type transistor is coupled to a ground wire and a drain terminal of the fifth N-type transistor is coupled to a gate terminal of the fifth N-type transistor, wherein the drain terminal of the fifth N-type transistor is the reference side output terminal; and

a sixth N-type transistor, wherein a source terminal of the sixth N-type transistor is coupled to the ground wire and a gate terminal of the sixth N-type transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the fifth N-type transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the sixth N-type transistor is the output side output terminal.

27. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 24, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are P-type transistors and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the first operational amplifier are negative input terminal and positive input terminal, respectively.

28. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 24, wherein the third transistor and the fourth transistor are N-type transistors and the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the second operational amplifier are negative input terminal and positive input terminal, respectively.

29. A voltage-controlled current source for receiving a first control voltage and a second control voltage and using the first control voltage and the second control voltage to control a first output current and a second output current, respectively, the voltage-controlled current source comprising:

a first operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the first operational amplifier receives the first control voltage;

a second operational amplifier, wherein a first input terminal of the second operational amplifier receives the second control voltage;

a first current mirror having a reference side and an output side for controlling the reference current from the reference side output terminal according to the reference side control terminal such that the output side output terminal outputs an output current corresponding to the reference current, wherein the reference side control terminal of the first current mirror is coupled to an output terminal of the first operational amplifier and the output side output terminal of the first current mirror outputs the first output current;

a second current mirror having a reference side and an output side for controlling the reference current from the reference side output terminal according to the reference side control terminal such that the output side output terminal outputs an output current corresponding to the reference current, wherein the reference side control terminal of the second current mirror is coupled to an output terminal of the second operational amplifier and the output side output terminal of the second current mirror outputs the second output current;

a resistor, wherein one side of the resistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the first operational amplifier and the reference side output terminal of the first current mirror and the other side of the resistor is coupled to a second input terminal of the second operational amplifier and the reference side output terminal of the second current mirror.

30. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 29, wherein the first current mirror comprises:

a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is the reference side control terminal of the first current mirror and a first source/drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a power supply voltage line, wherein a second source/drain terminal of the first transistor is the reference side output terminal of the first current mirror;

a second transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor and a first source/drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line, wherein a second source/drain terminal of the second transistor is the output side output terminal of the first current mirror.

31. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 30, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are P-type transistors.

32. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 30, wherein the second current mirror comprises:

a third transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the third transistor is the reference side control terminal of the second current mirror and a first source/drain terminal of the third transistor is coupled to a ground wire, wherein a second source/drain terminal of the third transistor is the reference side output terminal of the second current mirror;

a fourth transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor and a first source/drain terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the ground wire, wherein a second source/drain terminal of the fourth transistor is the output side output terminal of the second current mirror.

33. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 32, wherein the third transistor and the fourth transistor are N-type transistors.

34. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 29, wherein the reference side of the first current mirror further comprises a bias voltage terminal for receiving a bias voltage, the first current mirror comprising:

a first transistor, wherein the gate terminal of the first transistor is the reference side control terminal of the first current mirror and the first source/drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line;

a second transistor, wherein the gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor and the first source/drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the power supply voltage line;

a third transistor, wherein the gate terminal of the third transistor is the reference side bias voltage terminal of the first current mirror and the first source/drain terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second source/drain terminal of the first transistor, wherein the second source/drain terminal of the third transistor is the reference side output terminal of the first current mirror; and

a fourth transistor, wherein the gate terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the third transistor and the first source/drain terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second source/drain terminal of the second transistor, wherein the second source/drain terminal of the fourth transistor is the output side output terminal of the first current mirror.

35. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 34, wherein the first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor and the fourth transistor are P-type transistors.

36. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 34, wherein the reference side of the second current mirror further comprises a bias voltage terminal for receiving a bias voltage, the second current mirror comprising:

a fifth transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the fifth transistor is the reference side control terminal of the second current mirror and a first source/drain terminal of the fifth transistor is coupled to a ground wire;

a sixth transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the fifth transistor and a first source/drain terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the ground wire;

a seventh transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the seventh transistor is the reference side bias voltage terminal of the second current mirror, a first source/drain terminal of the seventh transistor is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the fifth transistor and a second source/drain terminal of the seventh transistor is the reference side output terminal of the second current mirror; and

an eighth transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the seventh transistor, a first source/drain terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of the sixth transistor and a second source/drain terminal of the eighth transistor is the output side output terminal of the second current mirror.

37. The voltage-controlled current source of claim 36, wherein the fifth transistor, the sixth transistor, the seventh transistor and the eighth transistor are N-type transistors.