Reference voltage generator and regulator

Claim 2

In combination, source means having first and second terminals, a plurality of semiconductor devices each having a conduction path and a control electrode for controlling the conduction through said conduction path, first and second semiconductor devices of a first conductivity type having one end of the conduction paths thereof connected together in a common junction, a third semiconductor device of said first conductivity type having the conduction path thereof connected between the common junction at said first and second semiconductor devices and said first terminal of said source means, a fourth semiconductor device of a second conductivity type having the conduction path connected between the conduction path of said first semiconductor device and said second terminal of said source means, an output terminal, a fifth semiconductor device of said second conductivity type having the conduction path thereof connected between said second terminal of said source means and said output terminal, reference source means connected to the control electrodes of said first and third semiconductor devices to establish a conduction level in said first and third semiconductor devices, and control source means connected to the control electrode of said fourth semiconductor device to establish a conduction level therein, the control electrode of said fifth semiconductor device connected to the common connection of said first and fourth semiconductor device conduction paths to control the conduction of said fifth semiconductor device as a function of the voltage level at said common connection thereby to control the voltage at said output terminal, the control electrode of said second semiconductor device connected to said output terminal to control the relative conduction of said first and second semiconductor devices as a function of the voltage level at said output terminal relative to the voltage supplied by said reference source.

Claim 3

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said semiconductor devices are MOS field effect transistors formed on a common substrate.

Claim 4

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said first, second and fifth semiconductor devices normally exhibit substantially similar impedance values, said fourth semiconductor device exhibits an impedance value which is substantially greater than the impedance value of said first, second and fifth semiconductor devices, and said third semiconductor device exhibits an impedance value between the impedance values of said fourth semiconductor device and said first, second and fifth semiconductor devices.

Claim 5

The combination recited in claim 1 including load means connected between said output terminal and said first terminal of said source means.

Claim 6

In combination, source means having first and second terminals, a plurality of semiconductor means, each of said semiconductor means having a conduction path with a terminal at each end thereof and a control electrode for controlling the conduction through said conduction path, said semiconductor means being of firsT or second conductivity type, first semiconductor means of said first conductivity type, second semiconductor means of said second conductivity type, first Zener diode means connected in series with the conduction path of said first semiconductor means, second Zener diode means connected in series with the conduction path of said second semiconductor means, means connecting said control electrode of said first semiconductor means to a common connection between said second semiconductor means and said second Zener diode means, means connecting said control electrode of said second semiconductor means to a common connection between said first semiconductor means and to said first Zener diode means, said first Zener diode means and one terminal of said conduction path of said second semiconductor means connected to said second terminal of said source means, said second Zener diode means and one terminal of said conduction path of said first semiconductor means connected to said first terminal of said source means, third and fourth semiconductor means of said first conductivity type having one terminal of the conduction paths thereof connected together in a common junction, the other terminal of the conduction path of said fourth semiconductor means connected to said second terminal of said source means, fifth semiconductor means of said first conductivity type having the conduction path thereof connected between the common junction at said third and fourth semiconductor means and said first terminal of said source means, sixth semiconductor means of said second conductivity type having the conduction path connected between the conduction path of said third semiconductor means and said second terminal of said source means, an output terminal, seventh semiconductor means of said second conductivity type having the conduction path thereof connected between said second terminal of said source means and said output terminal, the control electrodes of said third and fifth semiconductor means connected to said common connection between said second semiconductor means and said second Zener diode means to establish a conduction level in said third and fifth semiconductor means, and the control electrode of said sixth semiconductor means connected to said common connection between said first semiconductor means and said first Zener diode means to establish a conduction level therein, the control electrode of said seventh semiconductor means connected to the common junction at said third and sixth semiconductor means conduction paths to control the conduction of said seventh semiconductor means as a function of the voltage level at said common junction thereby to control the voltage at said output terminal, the control electrode of said fourth semiconductor means connected to said output terminal to control the relative conduction of said third and fourth semiconductor means as a function of the voltage level at said output terminal relative to the voltage supplied to the control electrodes of said third semiconductor means.

Claim 7

In combination, source means having first and second terminals, a plurality of semiconductor means, each of said semiconductor means having a conduction path with a terminal at each end thereof and a control electrode for controlling the conduction through said conduction path, said semiconductor means being of firsT or second conductivity type, first semiconductor means of said first conductivity type, second semiconductor means of said second conductivity type, first Zener diode means connected in series with the conduction path of said first semiconductor means, second Zener diode means connected in series with the conduction path of said second semiconductor means, means connecting said control electrode of said first semiconductor means to a common connection between said second semiconductor means and said second Zener diode means, means connecting said control electrode of said second semiconductor means to a common connection between said first semiconductor means and to said first Zener diode means, said first Zener diode means and one terminal of said conduction path of said second semiconductor means connected to said second terminal of said source means, said second Zener diode means and one terminal of said conduction path of said first semiconductor means connected to said first terminal of said source means, third and fourth semiconductor means of said first conductivity type having one terminal of the conduction paths thereof connected together in a common junction, the other terminal of the conduction path of said fourth semiconductor means connected to said second terminal of said source means, fifth semiconductor means of said first conductivity type having the conduction path thereof connected between the common junction at said third and fourth semiconductor means and said first terminal of said source means, sixth semiconductor means of said second conductivity type having the conduction path connected between the conduction path of said third semiconductor means and said second terminal of said source means, an output terminal, seventh semiconductor means of said second conductivity type having the conduction path thereof connected between said second terminal of said source means and said output terminal, the control electrodes of said third and fifth semiconductor means connected to said common connection between said second semiconductor means and said second Zener diode means to establish a conduction level in said third and fifth semiconductor means, and the control electrode of said sixth semiconductor means connected to said common connection between said first semiconductor means and said first Zener diode means to establish a conduction level therein, the control electrode of said seventh semiconductor means connected to the common junction at said third and sixth semiconductor means conduction paths to control the conduction of said seventh semiconductor means as a function of the voltage level at said common junction thereby to control the voltage at said output terminal, the control electrode of said fourth semiconductor means connected to said output terminal to control the relative conduction of said third and fourth semiconductor means as a function of the voltage level at said output terminal relative to the voltage supplied to the control electrodes of said third semiconductor means.

Claim 8

In a voltage regulating circuit of the type comprising first and second transistors connected in differential amplifier configuration; current source means connected to said differential pair to supply current thereto; means for providing a reference potential to the control electrode of said first transistor; means for connecting the control electrode of said second transistor in circuit with an output terminal the voltage at which is to be regulated; and a series pass transistor connected in series with said output terminal and adapted to regulate the supply of line current to said output terminal as a function of the signal applied to the control electrode of said series pass transistor, the improvement comprising: a further transistor having its conduction path connected in series circuit with the conduction path of said first transistor and connected to Operate as a constant current source, the conduction path of said further transistor exhibiting a relatively high impedance to said first transistor whereby the output signal from said first transistor is applied as a control signal to the control electrode of said series pass transistor.

Claim 9

In a voltage regulating circuit of the type comprising first and second transistors connected in differential amplifier configuration; current source means connected to said differential pair to supply current thereto; means for providing a reference potential to the control electrode of said first transistor; means for connecting the control electrode of said second transistor in circuit with an output terminal the voltage at which is to be regulated; and a series pass transistor connected in series with said output terminal and adapted to regulate the supply of line current to said output terminal as a function of the signal applied to the control electrode of said series pass transistor, the improvement comprising: a further transistor having its conduction path connected in series circuit with the conduction path of said first transistor and connected to Operate as a constant current source, the conduction path of said further transistor exhibiting a relatively high impedance to said first transistor whereby the output signal from said first transistor is applied as a control signal to the control electrode of said series pass transistor.

Claim 10

A voltage regulating circuit comprising: first and second transistors having one end of each of the conduction paths thereof connected together at a common junction; means for providing a relatively constant current to said common junction; means for providing a relatively fixed reference potential to the control electrode of said first transistor to bias said first transistor into conduction; means for connecting a load to the control electrode of said second transistor, the voltage drop across said load being the voltage to be regulated; feedback means including a third transistor having its control electrode connected in circuit with the other end of the conduction path of said first transistor and further having one end of its conduction path connected in circuit with the control electrode of said second transistor, the conduction path of said third transistor being connected in series circuit with the load for controlling the current level therethrough; a fourth transistor having its conduction path connected in series circuit with the conduction path of said first transistor; and means for providing a constant reference potential to the control electrode of said fourth transistor to bias said fourth transistor into conduction, the conduction path of said fourth transistor exhibiting a relatively high impedance to the output signal produced by said first transistor whereby said output signal is directly applied as a control signal to the control electrode of said third transistor.

Claim 11

A voltage regulating circuit comprising: first and second transistors having one end of each of the conduction paths thereof connected together at a common junction; means for providing a relatively constant current to said common junction; means for providing a relatively fixed reference potential to the control electrode of said first transistor to bias said first transistor into conduction; means for connecting a load to the control electrode of said second transistor, the voltage drop across said load being the voltage to be regulated; feedback means including a third transistor having its control electrode connected in circuit with the other end of the conduction path of said first transistor and further having one end of its conduction path connected in circuit with the control electrode of said second transistor, the conduction path of said third transistor being connected in series circuit with the load for controlling the current level therethrough; a fourth transistor having its conduction path connected in series circuit with the conduction path of said first transistor; and means for providing a constant reference potential to the control electrode of said fourth transistor to bias said fourth transistor into conduction, the conduction path of said fourth transistor exhibiting a relatively high impedance to the output signal produced by said first transistor whereby said output signal is directly applied as a control signal to the control electrode of said third transistor.

Claim 12

A voltage regulating circuit as recited in claim 7 wherein the impedance of the conduction path of said fourth transistor is substantially greater than the impedance of the conduction paths of said first, second and third transistors for the same value of bias condition, and wherein said first and second transistors are of one conductivity type and said third and fourth transistors are of a second conductivity type.

Claim 13

A voltage regulating circuit as recited in claim 8 further comprising: first and second terminals adapted for connection to a source of potential, said common junction being connected in circuit with said first terminal through said relatively constant current means; means for connecting the conduction paths of said third and fourth transistors in circuit with said second terminal; and circuit loading means connected between said first terminal and the control electrode of said second transistor.

Claim 14

In combination: first and second field effect transistors each having a conduction path and a control electrode for controlling the current flow therethrough, and a current source coupled to said paths for supplying current in parallel to said paths; a circuit point at a reference potential connected to the control electrode of the first transistor; a second circuit point at which a voltage to be regulated appears, connected to the control electrode of the second transistor, said voltage being a function of the current supplied to said second circuit point; current sensing means comprising a constant current element connected in series with the conduction path of the first transistor; a second current source; and a signal responsive conduction path located between said second current source and said second circuit point coupled to said current sensing means for regulating the flow of current from said second current source to said second circuit point to thereby regulate the voltage at said second circuit point.

Claim 15

In combination: first and second field effect transistors each having a conduction path and a control electrode for controlling the current flow therethrough, and a current source coupled to said paths for supplying current in parallel to said paths; a circuit point at a reference potential connected to the control electrode of the first transistor; a second circuit point at which a voltage to be regulated appears, connected to the control electrode of the second transistor, said voltage being a function of the current supplied to said second circuit point; current sensing means comprising a constant current element connected in series with the conduction path of the first transistor; a second current source; and a signal responsive conduction path located between said second current source and said second circuit point coupled to said current sensing means for regulating the flow of current from said second current source to said second circuit point to thereby regulate the voltage at said second circuit point.

Claim 16

The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said current sensing means comprises a third field effect transistor having a conduction path connected in series with that of the first transistor, and havinG a control electrode connected to a point of fixed reference potential for maintaining the impedance of said path at a given value.