Generating reference currents compensated for process variation in non-volatile memories
First Claim
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1. A current reference generator comprising:
- a voltage reference generator stage to generate a reference voltage;
an active element output stage coupled to receive said reference voltage and output a reference current as a function of said reference voltage; and
a control stage operatively coupled to said voltage reference generator stage to control a first trimmable parameter associated with said voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated to said active element output stage to compensate for changes in a value of said reference current due to manufacturing process deviations, said control stage to trim said first trimmable parameter to set a temperature coefficient of said active element output stage at a desired value.
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Abstract
In a current reference generator device, a voltage reference generator stage generates a reference voltage (Vref) and an active element output stage receives the reference voltage (Vref) and outputs a reference current (Iref) as a function of the reference voltage (Vref). A control stage is operatively coupled to the voltage reference generator stage and to the active element output stage and controls a first trimmable parameter (m) associated to the voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated to the active element output stage, so as to compensate for changes in a value of the reference current (Iref) due to manufacturing process deviations.
58 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A current reference generator comprising:
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a voltage reference generator stage to generate a reference voltage; an active element output stage coupled to receive said reference voltage and output a reference current as a function of said reference voltage; and a control stage operatively coupled to said voltage reference generator stage to control a first trimmable parameter associated with said voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated to said active element output stage to compensate for changes in a value of said reference current due to manufacturing process deviations, said control stage to trim said first trimmable parameter to set a temperature coefficient of said active element output stage at a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-volatile memory comprising:
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an array of memory cells; and a current reference generator device to supply a reference current to said array of memory cells, said generator including; a voltage reference generator stage to generate a reference voltage; an active element output stage coupled to receive said reference voltage and output said reference current as a function of said reference voltage; and a control stage operatively coupled to said voltage reference generator stage to control a first trimmable parameter associated with said voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated to said active element output stage to compensate for changes in a value of said reference current due to manufacturing process deviations, said control stage to trim said first trimmable parameter to set a temperature coefficient of said active element output stage at a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
controlling a first trimmable parameter associated with a voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated with an active element output stage to compensate for changes in a value of a reference current due to manufacturing process deviations, wherein said voltage reference generator stage outputs a voltage reference, said active element output stage outputs said reference current as a function of said voltage reference, and said controlling to trim said first trimmable parameter to set a temperature coefficient of said active element output state at a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising:
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a processor; a non-volatile memory coupled to said processor, said memory including an array of memory cells, a current reference generator device to supply a reference current to said array of memory cells, said generator including a voltage reference generator stage to generate a reference voltage, an active element output stage coupled to receive said reference voltage and output said reference current as a function of said reference voltage, and a control stage operatively coupled to said voltage reference generator stage to control a first trimmable parameter associated with said voltage reference generator stage and a second trimmable parameter associated to said active element output stage to compensate for changes in a value of said reference current due to manufacturing process deviations, said control stage to trim said first trimmable parameter to set a temperature coefficient of said active element output stage at a desired value; and a wireless interface coupled to said processor. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification