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Voltage reference circuits

  • US 4,088,941 A
  • Filed: 10/05/1976
  • Issued: 05/09/1978
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1976
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A voltage reference circuit comprising:

  • first and second terminals between which reference voltage is to appear in response to applied current;

    a resistive element;

    at least one semiconductor diode means operated at at absolute temperature T and connected in a serial combination with said resistive element;

    means applying a substantially fixed portion of any potential appearing between said first and said second terminals across said serial combination to forward-bias each said semiconductor diode means and thereby cause it to exhibit an offset potential with a negative-temperature coefficient;

    means responsive to the potential drop across said resistive element due to said applied current being in excess of a threshold potential, which threshold potential is linearly proportionally related to said absolute temperature T, to provide an error signal directly related to said excess; and

    means responsive to said error signal for shunt regulating the portion of said applied current flowing through said serial combination.

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