Devices, systems, and methods for generating a reference voltage
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A voltage reference generator, comprising:
- a bandgap voltage reference circuit including;
a first divider network configured to generate a first divider network voltage;
a second divider network including a diode array and configured to generate a second divider network voltage, the second divider voltage being a first complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) signal; and
a differential amplifier operably coupled with the first divider network and the second divider network, and configured to generate a second CTAT signal in response to receiving the first divider network voltage and the second divider network voltage as inputs; and
a differential sensing device operably coupled with the bandgap voltage reference circuit, the differential sensing device including the first CTAT signal operably coupled with an inverting input of the differential sensing device, and the second CTAT signal operably coupled with a non-inverting input of the differential sensing device, wherein the differential sensing device is furthered configured to generate a positive reference signal substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range in response to the first CTAT signal and the second CTAT signal, wherein the positive reference signal is relatively closer, during an offset condition of the first divider network voltage and the second divider network voltage, to an ideal output of the positive reference signal than is a voltage difference between the second CTAT signal and the first divider network voltage, the ideal output being the positive reference signal when the first divider network voltage and the second divider network voltage are equal.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for a voltage reference generator. A voltage reference generator may comprise a bandgap voltage reference circuit configured to output two complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) signals. The voltage reference generator may further comprise a differential sensing device configured to sense the two complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) signals and generate a positive reference signal substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range.
34 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A voltage reference generator, comprising:
-
a bandgap voltage reference circuit including; a first divider network configured to generate a first divider network voltage; a second divider network including a diode array and configured to generate a second divider network voltage, the second divider voltage being a first complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) signal; and a differential amplifier operably coupled with the first divider network and the second divider network, and configured to generate a second CTAT signal in response to receiving the first divider network voltage and the second divider network voltage as inputs; and a differential sensing device operably coupled with the bandgap voltage reference circuit, the differential sensing device including the first CTAT signal operably coupled with an inverting input of the differential sensing device, and the second CTAT signal operably coupled with a non-inverting input of the differential sensing device, wherein the differential sensing device is furthered configured to generate a positive reference signal substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range in response to the first CTAT signal and the second CTAT signal, wherein the positive reference signal is relatively closer, during an offset condition of the first divider network voltage and the second divider network voltage, to an ideal output of the positive reference signal than is a voltage difference between the second CTAT signal and the first divider network voltage, the ideal output being the positive reference signal when the first divider network voltage and the second divider network voltage are equal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 23, 24)
-
-
7. A voltage reference generator, comprising:
-
a bandgap voltage reference circuit including; a first signal generated from a diode array of a first divider network; a second signal generated from a second divider network; and a third signal generated from an output of a differential amplifier in response to the first signal and the second signal being input to the differential amplifier; and a differential sensing device with an inverting input configured to receive the first signal and a non-inverting input configured to receive the third signal, the differential sensing device configured to generate a reference signal from a difference of the third signal and the first signal, the reference signal being substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range, wherein the reference signal is relatively closer to an ideal reference signal than is a difference in the third signal and the second signal when the first signal and the second signal are unequal, the ideal reference signal being a voltage level for the reference signal when the first signal and the second signal are equal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for generating a reference signal, comprising:
-
generating a first voltage at a first node operably coupled between a first resistive element and at least one diode; generating a second voltage at a second node operably coupled between a second resistive element and a diode array to generate a first complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) signal; generating a second CTAT signal in response to receiving the first voltage and the second voltage as inputs to a differential amplifier; inputting the first CTAT signal to an inverting input of a sensing device; inputting the second CTAT signal to a non-inverting input of the sensing device; and subtracting the first CTAT signal from the second CTAT signal to generate a positive reference signal substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range, wherein the positive reference signal has a voltage level that, during an offset of the first voltage and the second voltage, is relatively closer to an ideal output than is a difference between the second CTAT signal and the second voltage, the ideal output being the positive reference signal generated when the first voltage and the second voltage are equal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 25)
-
-
20. A memory device, comprising:
-
a memory array; and a voltage reference generator operably associated with the memory array, including; a bandgap voltage reference circuit including a first signal generated by a first divider network having a diode array, a second signal generated by a second divider network, and a third signal generated by a differential amplifier responsive to receiving the first signal and the second signal, wherein the first signal and the third signal are complementary-to-absolute temperature (CTAT) signals; and a differential sensing device configured to generate a reference signal above a ground potential responsive to sensing the first signal and the third signal, wherein the reference signal is substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range, wherein the reference signal has a voltage that is closer to an ideal reference signal relative to a voltage difference between the third signal and the second signal when there exists an offset voltage between the first signal and the second signal, the ideal reference signal being the reference signal that is generated when the first signal and the second signal are equal. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
-
22. An electronic system, comprising:
-
at least one processor; at least one memory device; and at least one voltage reference generator operably associated with the at least one memory device and comprising; a bandgap voltage reference circuit including a first signal and a second signal, the first signal generated at a node coupled to a diode array and the second signal generated from a differential amplifier configured to receive the first signal and a third signal as inputs, wherein each of the first signal and the second signal is configured to exhibit a decrease in voltage during an increase in operating temperature; a differential sensing device configured to generate a positive reference signal substantially insensitive to temperature variations over an operating temperature range from sensing the first signal and the second signal, wherein, during an offset between the first signal and the third signal, a difference between a voltage of the positive reference signal and its ideal voltage is relatively smaller than is a difference between voltages of the second signal and the third signal, the ideal voltage of the positive reference signal being generated when the first and third signal have equal voltages; and a unity gain buffer configured to receive the first signal and output a buffered signal to an inverting input of the differential sensing device.
-
Specification