Series voltage regulators for developing temperature-compensated voltages

• US 4,282,477 A
• Filed: 02/11/1980
• Issued: 08/04/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intersil Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Inventors: Ahmed, Adel A. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHOOP JR, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US06/120,471
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 307/297, 323/4, 323/8, 323/9, 323/17, 323/19
• US Class Current: 323/312
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/30 Regulators using the difference between the base-emitter voltages of two bipolar transistors operating at different current densities G05F3/26 takes precedence

Abstract

Emitter-coupled differential amplifier transistors have their collector currents differentially combined for application to a series regulator transistor in series with a potential divider network having first and second taps to the base electrodes of the emitter-coupled differential amplifier transistors, for completing a feedback loop which develops positive-temperature-coefficient voltages across resistor portions of the potential divider network. These positive-temperature-coefficient voltages augment negative-temperature-coefficient voltages developed across semiconductor diode means included in the potential divider network to provide for zero-temperature-coefficient voltages being developed across the potential divider network or a portion thereof.

Claims

1. A series voltage regulator for responding to an unregulated voltage received between first and second terminals for supplying regulated voltage between said first terminal and a third terminal which regulated voltage is compensated against variations in a temperature T, said regulator comprising:

first and second transistors of a first conductivity type each having respective base, emitter and collector electrodes, exhibiting a logarithmic collector current response to its emitter-to-base voltage, and being arranged for operation at a respective temperature substantially equal to T;

a third, series regulator transistor, having the ends of a principal current conduction path thereof defined by first and second electrodes respectively connected to said second terminal and to said third terminal, and having a third control electrode, the potential between which and one of its said first and second electrodes controls the conductivity of its principal current conduction path between its first and second electrodes;

a potential divider network comprising a series connection of resistive means and of forward-poled semiconductor junction means between said first terminal and a point of connection to which at least a portion of the potential at said third terminal is applied;

means for applying potential developed across resistive means in said potential divider network in fixed portion between the base electrodes of said first and second transistors;

means for providing a path for current of predetermined value between said first terminal and an interconnection between the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors; and

means for differentially combining in fixed proportions currents received from the collector electrodes of said first and second transistor to develop and error signal applied to the third electrode of said series regulator transistor.

2. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said series regulator transistor is of a second conductivity type complementary to said first conductivity type and wherein said means for differentially combining comprises:

fourth and fifth transistors of said second conductivity type, each having the ends of a principal current conduction path thereof defined by first and second electrodes thereof and having a respective third control electrode, the first electrodes of said fourth and fifth transistors being connected to said second terminal, the collector electrode of said second transistor and the second electrode of said fourth transistor connecting to a node direct coupled to the third electrodes of said fourth and fifth transistors, and the collector electrode of said first transistor and the second electrode of said third transistor connecting to a node direct coupled to the third electrode of said third transistor.

3. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said series regulator transistor is of similar conductivity type to said first and second transistors and wherein said means for differentially combining comprises:

fourth and fifth transistors of a second conductivity type complementary to said first conductivity type, each having the ends of a principal current path thereof defined by first and second electrodes thereof and having a respective third control electrode, the first electrodes of said fourth and fifth transistors being connected to said second terminal, the collector electrode of said second transistor and the second electrode of said fourth transistor connecting to a node direct coupled to the third electrode of said third transistor, and the collector electrode of said first transistor and the second electrode of said fourth transistor connecting to a node direct coupled to the third electrodes of said fourth and fifth transistors.

4. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said forward-poled semiconductor junction means in said potential divider network includes:

fourth and fifth transistors of said first conductivity type, having respective base and emitter and collector electrodes, the emitter electrode of said fourth transistor being connected at said first terminal, the collector electrode of said fourth transistor being connected to the base of said fifth transistor and thence through said resistive means to said third terminal, and the collector electrode of said fifth transistor being connected to said second terminal; and

potential dividing means for applying between said first terminal and the base electrode of said fourth transistor a portion of the potential appearing between said first terminal and the emitter electrode of said fifth transistor.

5. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for providing a path for current of predetermined value includes:

a sixth transistor of said first conductivity type having a collector electrode connected to said interconnection between the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors, having an emitter electrode connected to said first terminal, and having a base electrode to which said portion of the potential appearing between said first terminal and the emitter electrode of said fifth transistor is applied.

13. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 or 11 wherein the emitters of said first and second transistors are connected without substantial intervening impedance to said interconnection between them.

14. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 or 11 wherein the emitters of said first and second transistors are connected to said interconnection between them by paths, each of which passes through the same number of forward-poled diode means as the other.

6. A series voltage regulator for responding to an unregulated voltage received between first and second terminals for supplying regulated voltage between said first terminal and a third terminal which regulated voltage is compensated against variations in a temperature T, said regulator comprising:

first and second transistors of a first conductivity type each having respective base, emitter and collector electrodes, exhibiting a logarithmic collector current response to its emitter-to-base voltage, and being arranged for operation at a respective temperature substantially equal to T;

a third, series regulator transistor of a second conductivity type complementary to said first conductivity type, having an emitter electrode connected to said second terminal, having a collector electrode connected to said third terminal, and having a base electrode to which the collector electrode of said first transistor connects;

a potential divider network comprising a series connection of resistive means and of forward-poled semiconductor junction means between said first terminal and a point of connection to which at least a portion of the potential at said third terminal is applied;

means for applying potential developed across said resistive means in said potential divider network in fixed portion between the base electrodes of said first and second transistors;

means for providing a path for current of predetermined value between said first terminal and an interconnection between the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors; and

a current amplifier having an input connection from the collector electrode of said second transistor, having an output connection to the base electrode of said third transistor;

having a common connection to said second terminal, and exhibiting a current gain of -g between its input and output connections, g being a positive number.

9. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said forward-poled semiconductor junction means in said potential divider network includes

a fourth transistor of said first conductivity type having an emitter electrode connected at said first terminal, having a collector electrode to which the remaining portion of the series connection of resistive means and forward-poled semiconductor junction means connects, and having a base electrode to which its collector electrode is direct coupled;

and wherein said means for providing a path for current of predetermined value includes

a fifth transistor of said first conductivity type having an emitter electrode connected at said first terminal, having a collector electrode connected to the interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors, and having a base electrode connected to receive essentially the same base potential as said fourth transistor.

7. a series voltage regulator for responding to an unregulated voltage received between first and second terminals for supplying regulated voltage between said first terminal and a third terminal which regulated voltage is compensated against variations in a temperature T, said regulator comprising:

first and second transistors of a first conductivity type each having respective base, emitter and collector electrodes, exhibiting a logarithmic collector current response to its emitter-to-base voltage, and being arranged for operation at a respective temperature substantially equal to T;

a third, series regulator transistor, having the ends of a principal current conduction path thereof defined by first and second electrodes respectively connected to said second terminal and to said third terminal, and having a third control electrode, the potential between which and one of its said first and second electrodes controls the conductivity of its principal current conduction path between its first and second electrodes;

a potential divider network comprising a series connection of resistive means and of forward-poled semiconductor junction means between said first terminal and a point of connection to which at least a portion of the potential at said third terminal is applied;

means for applying potential developed across resistive means in said potential divider network in fixed portion between the base electrodes of said first and second transistors;

means for providing a path for current of predetermined value between said first terminal and an interconnection between the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors;

first and second resistors having respective first ends connected to one of said second and third terminals and having respective second ends to which the collector electrodes of said first and second transistors respectively connect; and

a differential-input amplifier having a first of its input connections at the second end of said first resistor, having a second of its input connections at the second end of said second resistor, and having an output connection to the base electrode of said third transistor for completing a regenerative feedback loop.

8. A series voltage regulator for responding to an unregulated voltage received between first and second terminals for supplying regulated voltage between said first terminal and a third terminal which regulated voltage is compensated against variations in a temperature T, said regulator comprising:

first and second transistors of a first conductivity type each having respective base, emitter and collector electrodes, exhibiting a logarithmic collector current response to its emitter-to-base voltage, and being arranged for operation at a respective temperature substantiallly equal to T;

a third, series regulator transistor of said first conductivity type having a collector electrode connected to said second terminal, having an emitter electrode connected to said third terminal, and having a base electrode;

a potential divider network comprising a series connection of resistive means and of forward-poled semiconductor junction means between said first terminal and a point of connection to which at least a portion of the potential at said third terminal is applied;

means for applying potential developed across resistive means on said potential divider network in fixed portion between the base electrodes of said first and second transistors;

means for providing a path for current of predetermined value between said first terminal and an interconnection between the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors; and

a current amplifier having an input connection from the collector electrode of said first transistor, having an output connection to a node to which the collector electrode of said second transistor is connected and from which direct coupling is made to the base electrode of said third transistor, having a common connection to said second terminal, and exhibiting a current gain of -1/g between its input and output connections, g being a positive number.

10. A series voltage regulator for responding to an unregulated voltage received between first and second terminals for supplying regulated voltage between said first terminal and a third terminal which regulated voltage is compensated against variations in a temperature T, said regulator comprising:

first and second transistors of a first conductivity type each having respective base, emitter and collector electrodes, exhibiting a logarithmic collector current response to its emitter-to-base voltage, and being arranged for operation at a respective temperature substantially equal to T;

a third, series regulator transistor, having the ends of a principal current conduction path thereof defined by first and second electrodes respectively connected to said second terminal and to said third terminal, and having a third control electrode, the potential between which and one of its said first and second electrodes controls the conductivity of its principal current conduction path between its first and second electrodes;

a fourth transistor of said first conductivity type having a collector electrode connected to said second terminal, and having base and emitter electrodes;

means for applying a potential between said first terminal and the base electrodes of said fourth transistor which potential is in fixed ratio to the potential between said first and third terminals;

tapped resistance means connected between the emitter of said fourth transistor and said first terminal, with the potential developed across a portion of said resistance means being applied between the base electrodes of said first and second transistors;

means for providing a path for current of predetermined value between said first terminal and an interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors; and

means for differentially combining in fixed proportions currents received from the collector electrodes of said first and second transistor to develop an error signal applied to the third electrode of said series regulator transistor.

11. A series voltage regulator for responding to an unregulated voltage received between first and second terminals for supplying regulated voltage between said first terminal and a third terminal which regulated voltage is compensated against variations in a temperature T, said regulator comprising:

first and second transistors of a first conductivity type each having respective base, emitter and collector electrodes, exhibiting a logarithmic collector current response to its emitter-to-base voltage, and being arranged for operation at a respective temperature substantially equal to T;

a fourth transistor of said first conductivity type having base, emitter, and collector electrodes;

means for applying a potential between said first terminal and the base electrode of said fourth transistor which potential is in fixed ratio to the potential between said first and third terminals;

first and second resistors having respective resistances in fixed ratio between respective first and second ends of each of them, said first resistor connected at its first end to said first terminal and at its second end to the emitter electrode of said fourth transistor, and said second resistor connected at its first end to the base electrode of said first transistor and at its second end to the base electrode of said second transistor, the collector electrode of said fourth transistor being connected to the first end of said second resistor;

means for providing a voltage offset between said second terminal and the second end of said second resistor; and

means for differentially combining in fixed proportions currents received from the collector electrodes of said first and second transistor to develop an error signal applied to the third electrode of said series regulator transistor.

12. A series voltage regulator as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for providing a path for current of predetermined value includes:

a fifth transistor of said first conductivity type having base and emitter electrodes and having a collector electrode connected to said interconnection between the emitter electrodes of said first and second transistors;

means for applying a base potential to said fifth transistor equal to that applied to said fourth transistor; and

a third resistor having a resistance, in fixed ratio to those of said first and second resistors, between a first end connected at said first terminal and a second end connected at the emitter of said fifth transistor.