Temperature stable voltage reference circuit using a metal-silicon Schottky diode for low voltage circuit applications
First Claim
1. A silicon-based voltage reference circuit that generates a reference voltage that is less than the bandgap potential of silicon, and that is stable with temperature and supply voltage fluctuations, the voltage reference circuit comprising the following:
- a metal-silicon Schottky diode;
a current source configured during operation to supply a current through the metal-silicon Schottky diode to a low voltage supply such that the metal-silicon Schottky diode has a current density;
a PTAT voltage source configured to generate a PTAT voltage; and
a summer having a first input terminal coupled to the PTAT voltage source so as to receive the PTAT voltage, and having a second input terminal coupled to the anode terminal of the metal-silicon Schottky diode to thereby sum the PTAT voltage with the voltage at the anode terminal of the metal-silicon Schottky diode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Silicon-based voltage reference circuits that generate a temperature independent voltage reference that is less than even the silicon bandgap potential. The voltage reference circuit includes a diode-connected metal-silicon Schottky diode that is biased with a current. In this configuration, the anode terminal of the Schottky diode is a CTAT voltage source in this configuration. The anode terminal has a voltage at zero degrees Kelvin at the barrier height of the Schottky diode, which may differ depending on the metal chosen, but in most cases is less than the bandgap potential of silicon. The voltage reference circuit also includes a PTAT voltage source. The PTAT voltage may be generated in a variety of ways. An amplifier amplifies the PTAT voltage, and a summer adds the CTAT voltage to the amplified PTAT voltage to generate the temperature stable voltage reference.
66 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A silicon-based voltage reference circuit that generates a reference voltage that is less than the bandgap potential of silicon, and that is stable with temperature and supply voltage fluctuations, the voltage reference circuit comprising the following:
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a metal-silicon Schottky diode; a current source configured during operation to supply a current through the metal-silicon Schottky diode to a low voltage supply such that the metal-silicon Schottky diode has a current density; a PTAT voltage source configured to generate a PTAT voltage; and a summer having a first input terminal coupled to the PTAT voltage source so as to receive the PTAT voltage, and having a second input terminal coupled to the anode terminal of the metal-silicon Schottky diode to thereby sum the PTAT voltage with the voltage at the anode terminal of the metal-silicon Schottky diode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification