Analog-to-digital converter and reference voltage circuitry

• US 5,471,131 A
• Filed: 08/09/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intersil Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Ken R., Cotreau, Gerald M., Riemer, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, James B.
• Application Number:
  US08/287,763
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 323/313, 323/314, 323/907, 327/539
• US Class Current: 323/314
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 27/026 associated with an amplifier G11C27/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0214 for internal polarisation, e.g. I2L
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0623 in combination with bipolar transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0688 Integrated circuits having a three-dimensional layout
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/523 for amplifiers using field-effect devices H03F1/526 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/294 the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA]
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/505 with field-effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0082 using bipolar transistor-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/223 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/15 Arrangements in which pulses are delivered at different times at several outputs, i.e. pulse distributors distributing, switching or gating arrangements H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/162 the steps being performed sequentially in a single stage, i.e. recirculation type H03M1/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/365 the voltage divider being a single resistor string
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/907 Temperature compensation of semiconductor

Abstract

The analog to digital converter 300 has voltage reference circuitry 326 which includes a bandgap generator and a correction circuit 5300. The bandgap generator includes first and second NPN transistors 5211-5224, 5231-5232 of differing emitter areas and an operational amplifier 5202 with inputs sensing the collector current of the first and second NPN transistors 5211-5224, 5231-5232. First and second NPN transistors 5211-5224, 5231-5232 have their bases tied together. The output of the amplifier 5202 drives the bases of the NPN transistors 5211-5224, 5231-5232 through a resistor divider 5251-5253.

Claims

1. A reference voltage circuit, comprising:

(a) a bandgap generator including;

(i) first and second bipolar transistors of differing emitter areas and with their bases tied together; and

(ii) a differential amplifier with inputs sensing the collector currents of said first and second bipolars, and with output driving the bases of said bipolars, said bandgap generator providing an uncompensated output with a maximum when the temperature of operation equals a peak temperature Tp;

(b) a correction circuit connected to said bandgap generator to provide a compensation current of a single polarity and dependent upon the difference between the temperature of operation and Tp and including;

(i) first and second current devices;

(ii) first and second current sources, said first device connected to said first source at a first node and said second device connected to said second source at a second node, said devices and sources characterized by (A) the difference between the current supplied by said first source and the current capacity of said first device decreases with temperature but is zero at Tp and (B) the difference between the current supplied by said second source and the current capacity of said second device increases with temperature but is zero at Tp;

(iii) first and second diodes connecting said bandgap generator to said first and second nodes, respectively;

(c) whereby at temperatures above Tp said correction circuit draws compensation current from the bandgap generator through said first diode, and at temperatures below Tp said correction circuit draws current through said second diode.

2. The reference voltage circuit of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said first current device includes an NPN biased with a voltage which increases linearly with temperature to first approximation;

(b) said second current device includes an NPN biased with a voltage which is constant with temperature to first approximation;

(c) said first and second current devices form a differential pair; and

(d) said first and second current sources are matched.

3. The reference voltage circuit of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said bandgap generator output drives said bases through a resistive divider; and

(b) said first and second diodes connect to a tap in said resistive divider.

4. The reference voltage circuit of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said first current device includes a first PMOS differential pair and said first current source includes a first NMOS current mirror load pair for said first pair, one PMOS of said first pair is biased by a voltage which is constant with temperature to a first approximation and the other PMOS of said first pair is biased by a voltage which decreases with temperature, said first node is between said one PMOS of said first pair and the one NMOS of said first mirror with its gate tied to the drain of the other NMOS of said first mirror; and

(b) said second current device includes a second PMOS differential pair and said second current source includes a second NMOS current mirror load pair for said second pair, one PMOS of said second pair is biased by a voltage which decreases with temperature and the other PMOS of said first pair is biased by a voltage which is constant with temperature to a first approximation, said second node is between said one PMOS of said second pair and the one NMOS of said second mirror with its gate tied to the drain of the other NMOS of said second mirror.

5. A reference voltage circuit, comprising:

a bandgap generator including;

first and second bipolar transistors of differing emitter sizes and bases tied together; and

a differential amplifier with inputs sensing the collector currents of said first and second bipolars, and with output driving the bases of said bipolars through a resistive divider, said bandgap generator providing an uncompensated output with a maximum when the temperature of operation equals Tp;

a correction circuit connected to said resistive divider to provide a compensation current of a single polarity and dependent upon the difference between the temperature of operation and Tp and including;

a differential pair dividing a fixed current, said pair including first and second devices with said first device controlled by a signal varying (to first order approximation) linearly with the temperature of operation and with said second device controlled by a signal not varying (to first order approximation) with the temperature of operation; and

first and second diodes connecting said resistive divider to said first and second devices, respectively;

said first and second devices sized to draw no current from said resistive divider at temperature Tp

whereby at temperatures above Tp said correction circuit draws current from said resistive divider through said first diode, and at temperatures below Tp said correction circuit draws current from said resistive divider through said second diode.