Circuits and methods of producing a reference current or voltage
First Claim
1. A circuit comprising:
- a first transistor including a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal;
a resistive element including a first terminal directly coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal directly coupled to the first current electrode of the first transistor;
a second transistor including a first current electrode directly coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element, a control electrode directly coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, the second transistor configured to produce an output signal related to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor; and
a third transistor including a first current electrode to carry a current related to the output signal, a control electrode coupled to the control electrode of the second transistor, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, wherein the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor comprise floating gate transistors.
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Abstract
A reference circuit includes a first transistor having a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal. The reference circuit further includes a resistive element including a first terminal coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the first current electrode. Additionally, the reference circuit includes a second transistor including a first current electrode coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element, a control electrode coupled to the second terminal, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal. The second transistor is configured to produce an output signal related to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit comprising:
- a first transistor including a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal;
a resistive element including a first terminal directly coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal directly coupled to the first current electrode of the first transistor;
a second transistor including a first current electrode directly coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element, a control electrode directly coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, the second transistor configured to produce an output signal related to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor; and
a third transistor including a first current electrode to carry a current related to the output signal, a control electrode coupled to the control electrode of the second transistor, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, wherein the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor comprise floating gate transistors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a first transistor including a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal;
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13. A circuit comprising:
- a first transistor of a first conductivity type and including a first current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal, a control electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, and a second current electrode;
a second transistor of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, the second transistor including a first current electrode to carry an output current, a control electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the first transistor, and a second current electrode;
a resistive element including a first terminal coupled to the second current electrode of the second transistor and a second terminal directly coupled to the power supply terminal;
a current source including an output terminal for providing a first current characterized as being proportional to absolute temperature;
a second resistive element including a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the current source, and a second terminal coupled to the second current electrode of the first transistor;
a third transistor having a first current electrode, a control electrode coupled to the first terminal of the second resistive element, and a second current electrode coupled to the first current electrode of the second transistor; and
a current mirror having an input terminal coupled to the first current electrode of the third transistor, and an output terminal for providing a reference signal.
- a first transistor of a first conductivity type and including a first current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal, a control electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, and a second current electrode;
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14. A method of providing a reference current, the method comprising:
- providing a first current to a first current electrode of a first transistor, the first transistor including a control terminal coupled to the first current electrode of the first transistor through a resistive element, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal, wherein the first transistor comprises a floating-gate transistor;
providing a second current related to the first current to a first current electrode of a second transistor, the second transistor including a control electrode coupled to the first current electrode of the second transistor, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal, wherein the second transistor comprises a floating-gate transistor; and
providing a reference current related to the second current to an output in response to a voltage at the control electrode of the second transistor, wherein the providing comprises generating an output signal based on the second current using a third transistor, the third transistor comprising a floating-gate transistor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- providing a first current to a first current electrode of a first transistor, the first transistor including a control terminal coupled to the first current electrode of the first transistor through a resistive element, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal, wherein the first transistor comprises a floating-gate transistor;
Specification