US3867685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fractional current supply
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-01
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A relatively small value of current is obtained in an integrated circuit by separating a larger current into two or more parts. The circuit includes two transistors and at least two strings of the same number of series connected diodes. Currents in a fixed ratio to one another are applied in the forward direction to the two strings of diodes and the voltages thereby obtained are applied to the respective base electrodes of the transistors. The larger current is applied in parallel to the emitter-to-collector paths of the two transistors and that part of this current which passes through the one of the transistors drawing the smaller of the two currents, is the current of interest.
Inventors
- 👤 Adel Abdel Aziz Ahmed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:59
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F3/00; G05F3/02; G05F3/08; G05F3/10; G05F3/16; G05F3/20; G05F3/22; H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/45; H03F3/45071; H03F3/45479
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A fractional current supply having: supply means for supplying an operating potential between first and second terminals thereof, one of which terminals provides a common point of interconnection; a first and a second transistors, each having a base electrode and an emitter electrode with a base-emitter junction therebetween and each having a collector electrode, said emitter electrodes being joined to each other by direct connection; means for supplying a first current connected between the first terminal of said supply means and said direct connection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors, poled to forward-bias the base-emitter junctions of said first and said second transistors; means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrode of said first transistor to the second terminal of said supply means; utilization means for a fractional current, said utilization means included in direct current conductively coupling of the collector electrode of said second transistor to the second terminal of said supply means, said fractional current comprising the collector current of said second transistor; a first serial combination of N diodes, connected between said first transistor base electrode and said common point of interconnection, where N is an integer greater than one; a second serial combination of N diodes, connected between said second transistor base electrode and said common point of interconnection; means for applying a second current to said first serial combination of diodes in the forward direction; and means for applying a third current to said second serial combination of diodes in the forward direction, which third current is in continually fixed proportion to said second current, said proportion being chosen to maintain a larger forward bias potential across the base-emitter junction of said first transistor than across the base-emitter junction of said second transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
A fractional current supply having: supply means for supplying an operating potential between first and second terminals thereof, one of which terminals provides a common point of interconnection; a first and a second transistors, each having a base electrode and an emitter electrode with a base-emitter junction therebetween and each having a collector electrode, said emitter electrodes being joined to each other by direct connection; means for supplying a first current connected between the first terminal of said supply means and said direct connection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors, poled to forward-bias the base-emitter junctions of said first and said second transistors; means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrode of said first transistor to the second terminal of said supply means; utilization means for a fractional current, said utilization means included in direct current conductively coupling of the collector electrode of said second transistor to the second terminal of said supply means, said fractional current comprising the collector current of said second transistor; a first serial combination of N diodes, connected between said first transistor base electrode and said common point of interconnection, where N is an integer greater than one; a second serial combination of N diodes, connected between said second transistor base electrode and said common point of interconnection; means for applying a second current to said first serial combination of diodes in the forward direction; and means for applying a third current to said second serial combination of diodes in the forward direction, which third current is in continually fixed proportion to said second current, said proportion being chosen to maintain a larger forward bias potential across the base-emitter junction of said first transistor than across the base-emitter junction of said second transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each of the N diodes in said first serial combination has the same effective forward-biased junction area as each other; each of the N diodes in said second serial combination has the same effective forward-biased junction area as each other and the effective forward-biased junction area of the N diodes in said first serial combination differs from the effective forward-biased junction areas of the N diodes in said second serial combination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said means for supplying a second and a third currents includes substantially identical means for producing said second current and means for producing said third current, thereby maintaining said second and said third currents in substantially one-to-one proportion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said first transistor has an effective base-emitter junction area larger than that of said second transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said first transistor has at least one other transistor connected in parallel therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein: at least one additional serial combination of diodes N in number is connected in parallel with said second serial combination of diodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said means for supplying a second and a third currents includes substantially identical means for producing said second current and means for producing said third current thereby maintaining said second and said third currents in substantially one-to-one proportion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said first transistor has an effective-base emitter junction area larger than that of said second transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said first transistor has at least one other transistor connected in parallel therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each of the N diodes in said second serial combination has at least one other diode connected in parallel therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying a second current and a third current in fixed porportion therewith comprises: a first and a second resistive elements having conductances in said fixed proportion, said first resistive element being in series combination with said first serial combination, said second resistive element being in series connection with said second serial combination; and means for connecting said first and said second series connections in parallel combination and for applying said reference and operating potential, to said parallel combination from said means for supplying potentials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
224 words
A fractional current supply comprising: means for supplying an operating potential and a reference potential; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a first bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward biased semiconductor junction operated at a first current density, where m is greater than one; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a second bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward biased semiconductor junction operated at a second current density lower than and in continually fixed proportion with said first current density, said first bias potential thereby being larger than said second bias potential as a linear function of absolute temperature; first and second transistors having base electrodes respectively connected to receive said first and said second bias potentials, having emitter electrodes joined to each other by direct connection, and having collector electrodes; a current supply means connected between said reference potential and said direct connection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors; means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrode of said first transistor to said operating potential; and means for direct current coupling the collector electrode of said second transistor to said operating potential and for utilizing said fractional current, which flows as the collector current of said second transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
224 words
A fractional current supply comprising: means for supplying an operating potential and a reference potential; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a first bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward biased semiconductor junction operated at a first current density, where m is greater than one; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a second bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward biased semiconductor junction operated at a second current density lower than and in continually fixed proportion with said first current density, said first bias potential thereby being larger than said second bias potential as a linear function of absolute temperature; first and second transistors having base electrodes respectively connected to receive said first and said second bias potentials, having emitter electrodes joined to each other by direct connection, and having collector electrodes; a current supply means connected between said reference potential and said direct connection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors; means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrode of said first transistor to said operating potential; and means for direct current coupling the collector electrode of said second transistor to said operating potential and for utilizing said fractional current, which flows as the collector current of said second transistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for supplying a current which is to be fractionalized comprises: resistive means connecting the interconnected emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors to said reference potential.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
197 words
In combination: first and second terminals respectively for receiving a reference potential and for receiving an operating potential; first and second transistors, each having a base electrode, a collector electrode and an emitter electrode, connected at their emitter electrodes; N series-connected first diodes connected between said first terminal and the base electrode of the first transistor, N being an integer greater than one; N series-connected second diodes connected between said first terminal and the base electrode of the second transistor; a current supply connected to the emitter electrodes of said transistors for supplying a current to be fractionaliZed; a second current supply connected to the base electrode of the first transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected first diodes; a third current supply, providing current which continually is smaller than and in a fixed proportion to said second current, connected to the base electrode of the second transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected second diodes; a connection from the collector electrode of the first transistor to said second terminal; and a fractional current utilization circuit connected between the collector electrode of the second transistor and said second terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
197 words
In combination: first and second terminals respectively for receiving a reference potential and for receiving an operating potential; first and second transistors, each having a base electrode, a collector electrode and an emitter electrode, connected at their emitter electrodes; N series-connected first diodes connected between said first terminal and the base electrode of the first transistor, N being an integer greater than one; N series-connected second diodes connected between said first terminal and the base electrode of the second transistor; a current supply connected to the emitter electrodes of said transistors for supplying a current to be fractionaliZed; a second current supply connected to the base electrode of the first transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected first diodes; a third current supply, providing current which continually is smaller than and in a fixed proportion to said second current, connected to the base electrode of the second transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected second diodes; a connection from the collector electrode of the first transistor to said second terminal; and a fractional current utilization circuit connected between the collector electrode of the second transistor and said second terminal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
266 words
A fractional current supply including: means for supplying a first, a second, and a third currents; a first pair of transistors, the first and the second of which each have an emitter and a base and a collector electrodes, their said emitter electrodes being interconnected with each other and connected to receive said first current; at least one subsequent pair of transistors, the first and the second of which each have an emitter and a base and a collector electrodes, their said emitter electrodes being interconnected with each other and connected to the collector electrode of the second transistor of said precedent pair; a separate diode connecting the base electrode of said first transistor of each subsequent pair to the base electrode of the first transistor of the precedent pair and being arranged to be forward biased by passage therethrough of said second current; a separate diode connecting the base electrode of said second transistor of each subsequent pair to the base electrode of the second transistor of the precedent pair and being arranged to be forward biased by passage therethrough of said third current; means for referring the base electrodes of said first and second transistors of one of said pairs to a common reference potential; and means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrodes of said first and said second transistors of each said pair to said means for supplying said currents, which means includes utilization means for the fractional current provided at the collector electrode of said second transistor of the last of said subsequent pairs in response to said first current.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
266 words
A fractional current supply including: means for supplying a first, a second, and a third currents; a first pair of transistors, the first and the second of which each have an emitter and a base and a collector electrodes, their said emitter electrodes being interconnected with each other and connected to receive said first current; at least one subsequent pair of transistors, the first and the second of which each have an emitter and a base and a collector electrodes, their said emitter electrodes being interconnected with each other and connected to the collector electrode of the second transistor of said precedent pair; a separate diode connecting the base electrode of said first transistor of each subsequent pair to the base electrode of the first transistor of the precedent pair and being arranged to be forward biased by passage therethrough of said second current; a separate diode connecting the base electrode of said second transistor of each subsequent pair to the base electrode of the second transistor of the precedent pair and being arranged to be forward biased by passage therethrough of said third current; means for referring the base electrodes of said first and second transistors of one of said pairs to a common reference potential; and means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrodes of said first and said second transistors of each said pair to said means for supplying said currents, which means includes utilization means for the fractional current provided at the collector electrode of said second transistor of the last of said subsequent pairs in response to said first current.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
A fractional current supply as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means for referring the base electrodes of said first and second transistors of one of said pairs to a common reference potential comprises: a first and a second pluralities of diodes, each of which pluralities contains a like number of diodes as the other, said first plurality of diodes serially connected from the base electrode of said first transistor of said first pair to said common reference potential and arranged to be forward biased by said second current, and said second plurality of diodes serially connected from the base electrode of said second transistor of said first pair to said common reference potential and arranged to be forward biased by said third current.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
203 words
A fractional current supply comprising: means for supplying a reference potential and another potential; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a first bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward-biased semiconductor junction operated at a first current density, where m is greater than one; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a second bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward-biased semiconductor junction operated at a second current density lower than and in continually fixed proportion to said first current density, said first bias potential thereby being larger than said second bias potential as a linear function of absolute temperature; first and second transistors having base electrodes respectively connected to receive said second and first bias potentials, hAving joined emitter electrodes, and having collector electrodes; current supply means connected between said other potential and said joined emitter electrodes; means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrode of said first transistor to said reference potential; and means for direct current coupling the collector electrode of said second transistor to said reference potential and for utilizing said fractional current, which flows as the collector current of said second transistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
203 words
A fractional current supply comprising: means for supplying a reference potential and another potential; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a first bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward-biased semiconductor junction operated at a first current density, where m is greater than one; means for supplying as referred to said reference potential a second bias potential m times as large as the offset potential across a forward-biased semiconductor junction operated at a second current density lower than and in continually fixed proportion to said first current density, said first bias potential thereby being larger than said second bias potential as a linear function of absolute temperature; first and second transistors having base electrodes respectively connected to receive said second and first bias potentials, hAving joined emitter electrodes, and having collector electrodes; current supply means connected between said other potential and said joined emitter electrodes; means for direct current conductively coupling the collector electrode of said first transistor to said reference potential; and means for direct current coupling the collector electrode of said second transistor to said reference potential and for utilizing said fractional current, which flows as the collector current of said second transistor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
189 words
In combination: a reference terminal for receiving a reference voltage; first and second transistors, each having a base electrode, a collector electrode and an emitter electrode, connected at their emitter electrodes; N series-connected first diodes connected between said reference terminal and the base electrode of the first transistor, N being an integer greater than one; N series-connected second diodes connected between said reference terminal and the base electrode of said second transistor; a current supply connected to the emitter electrodes of said transistors for supplying a current to be fractionalized; a second current supply connected to the base electrode of the first transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected first diodes; a third current supply, providing current which continually is larger than and in a fixed proportion to said second current, connected to the base electrode of the second transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected second diodes; a connection from the collector electrode of the first transistor to said reference terminal; and a fractional current utilization circuit connected between the collector electrode of the second transistor and said reference terminal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
189 words
In combination: a reference terminal for receiving a reference voltage; first and second transistors, each having a base electrode, a collector electrode and an emitter electrode, connected at their emitter electrodes; N series-connected first diodes connected between said reference terminal and the base electrode of the first transistor, N being an integer greater than one; N series-connected second diodes connected between said reference terminal and the base electrode of said second transistor; a current supply connected to the emitter electrodes of said transistors for supplying a current to be fractionalized; a second current supply connected to the base electrode of the first transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected first diodes; a third current supply, providing current which continually is larger than and in a fixed proportion to said second current, connected to the base electrode of the second transistor for supplying current in the forward direction to the series-connected second diodes; a connection from the collector electrode of the first transistor to said reference terminal; and a fractional current utilization circuit connected between the collector electrode of the second transistor and said reference terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
97 words
In combination: two transistors, each having base, emitter and collector electrodes joined at their emitter electrodes; two terminals for operating voltages, one direct current connected to the collector electrodes and the other direct current connected to the joined emitter electrodes; means coupled to both base electrodes for establishing a difference in quiescent potential Delta V other than zero between the base electrodes which is linearly proportional to the absolute temperature of said transistors; and fractional current utilization means in the connection between the one of the collector electrodes carrying the smaller collector current and said one terminal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
97 words
In combination: two transistors, each having base, emitter and collector electrodes joined at their emitter electrodes; two terminals for operating voltages, one direct current connected to the collector electrodes and the other direct current connected to the joined emitter electrodes; means coupled to both base electrodes for establishing a difference in quiescent potential Delta V other than zero between the base electrodes which is linearly proportional to the absolute temperature of said transistors; and fractional current utilization means in the connection between the one of the collector electrodes carrying the smaller collector current and said one terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |