Current generator circuit and methods for providing an output current

• US 9,244,479 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Willey, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US14/448,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20140340069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/285, 323/288, 323/311, 323/312, 323/313, 323/314, 323/315, 323/317
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/20 using diode- transistor combinations G05F3/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/262 using field-effect transistors only

Abstract

Current circuits, circuits configured to provide a bias voltage, and methods for providing a bias voltage are described, including a current circuit configured to receive a reference current and having an output at which an output current is provided. One such current circuit includes a first current mirror configured to receive a first portion of the reference current and further configured to mirror the first portion of the reference current to provide a first current. The current circuit further includes a second current mirror configured to receive a second portion of the reference current and receive the first current. The second current mirror is further configured to provide a portion of the first current to the output of the current circuit as the output current and to receive another portion of the first current and mirror the same as the second portion of the reference current.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first circuit configured to receive first and second input currents and provide an output current to a capacitor to produce an output voltage, the output current based at least in part on the first input current; and

a second circuit configured to receive a reference current and provide the first and second input currents based at least in part on the output voltage and the reference current.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein changes in the output voltage affect the first and second input currents.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second circuit is configured to divide the reference current into the first and second input currents and provide the second input current to the first circuit through a current mirror circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises a diode-connected transistor coupled to the second circuit by a gate and configured to provide the output current to the capacitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first circuit further comprises a transistor coupled to the diode-connected transistor and coupled to the second circuit through a plurality of current mirrors, and wherein the transistor is configured to provide the second input current to the diode-connected transistor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a sum of the first and second input currents is equal to the reference current.

7. A device, comprising:

an input circuit configured to provide first and second input currents, wherein the first and second input currents are relatively adjusted based a value of an output voltage; and

an output circuit configured to provide an output current to a capacitor to establish the output voltage, wherein the output current is based on the first and second input currents and wherein changes to the output current adjusts the output voltage.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first input current is adjusted based on changes to the output voltage, and the adjustments to the first input current charge or discharge the capacitor to increase or decrease the output voltage, respectively.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a current mirror circuit coupled between the input and output circuits and configured to provide the second input current to the output circuit.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein a decrease of the output voltage causes a decrease of the first input current, and wherein a decrease of the first input current causes an increase in the second input current.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein an increase in the second input current causes the output current to charge the capacitor resulting in an increase of the output voltage.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein an increase of the output voltage causes an increase of the first input current, and wherein an increase of the first input current causes a decrease of the second input current.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein a decrease of the second input current causes the output current to discharge the capacitor resulting in a decrease of the output voltage.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the first input current is provided to the output circuit through a current mirror.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the second input current is provided to the output circuit through a plurality of current mirrors.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second input currents are based on a reference current received by the input circuit.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving a reference current at a first circuit;

providing first and second input currents at a second circuit, the first and second input currents based on the reference current;

providing an output current based on the first and second input currents, causing an output voltage to be established across a capacitor; and

adjusting the output voltage based at least on changes to the first input current.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the output voltage based at least on changes to the first input current comprises:

detecting a decrease of the output voltage;

based on the decrease of output voltage, decreasing the first input current;

based on decreasing the first input current, increasing the second input current; and

charging the capacitor to increase the output voltage responsive to the increasing second input current.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the output voltage based at least on changes to the first input current comprises:

detecting an increase of the output voltage;

based on the increase of output voltage, increasing the first input current;

based on increasing the first input current, decreasing the second input current; and

discharging the capacitor to decrease the output voltage responsive to the decreasing second input current.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the output voltage is in a balanced condition cause the first input current to equal the second input current.