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US5160882A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Voltage generator having steep temperature coefficient and method of operation

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-30
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Granted: 1992-11-03
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Expires: 2010-03-30
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed a circuit and method for providing bias voltage levels which are precisely controlled as a function of temperature. The circuit is arranged to mix a precise bandgap regulated voltage with a temperature compensated circuit to provide the required output. The temperature compensated circuit is in turn arranged to mimic the temperatue sensitive components in the output circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Timothy A. Ten Eyck

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 16:03
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0175; H03K19/017509; H03K19/017518; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/462; G05F3/00; G05F3/02; G05F3/08; G05F3/10; G05F3/16; G05F3/20; G05F3/30; H03K19/003; H03K19/00369; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/907

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 209 words
A method of providing a bias voltage output controlled as a function of temperature, said method comprising: generating a first voltage which is constant over a wide temperature range: generating a second voltage operative to mimic the voltage/temperature characteristics of an output circuit connected to said bias voltage output, including the steps of maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and providing, under control of a pair of transistors biased under control of said constant current level, a voltage drop as a function of temperature substantially exactly as produced by transistors in said output circuit; and amplifying and mixing said first and second voltages to provide said bias voltage output, including the steps of establishing a differential transistor pair, arranging a pair if transistors into a current mirror pair and using one transistor thereof to set the bias level of said differential transistor pair, maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and providing an output emitter follower transistor connected to said constant current level and to the base of a first transistor of said differential transistor pair for establishing said bias voltage output at a constant level dependent upon temperature but independent of the number of output circuits connected to bias voltage output.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 209 words
A method of providing a bias voltage output controlled as a function of temperature, said method comprising: generating a first voltage which is constant over a wide temperature range: generating a second voltage operative to mimic the voltage/temperature characteristics of an output circuit connected to said bias voltage output, including the steps of maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and providing, under control of a pair of transistors biased under control of said constant current level, a voltage drop as a function of temperature substantially exactly as produced by transistors in said output circuit; and amplifying and mixing said first and second voltages to provide said bias voltage output, including the steps of establishing a differential transistor pair, arranging a pair if transistors into a current mirror pair and using one transistor thereof to set the bias level of said differential transistor pair, maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and providing an output emitter follower transistor connected to said constant current level and to the base of a first transistor of said differential transistor pair for establishing said bias voltage output at a constant level dependent upon temperature but independent of the number of output circuits connected to bias voltage output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of: connecting said first voltage to said base of said first transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step of: connecting said first-mentioned pair of transistors to the base of the second transistor of said differential transistor pair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said amplifying and mixing step includes causing said bias voltage output to have a temperature coefficient of approximately -4.89 millivolts per degree centigrade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 233 words
A bias voltage circuit for providing a bias voltage output controlled as a function of temperature, said circuit comprising: a bandgap regulator circuit having a voltage output which is constant over a wide temperature range: a compensation network operative to mimic the voltage/temperature characteristics of an output circuit connected to the output of said bias voltage circuit, including a current source for maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and a pair of transistors biased under control of said constant current, said transistors arranged to provide a voltage drop as a function of temperature substantially exactly as produced by transistors connected in the output circuit; and a circuit for amplifying and mixing the outputs of said bandgap regulator circuit and said compensation network to provide said bias voltage output, including a differential transistor pair coupled between said compensation network and said bandgap regulator circuit, a current mirror pair having one transistor thereof used to set the bias level of said differential transistor pair, a constant current source for maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and an output emitter follower transistor connected to said constant current source and to the base of a first transistor of said differential transistor pair for providing said bias voltage output at a constant level dependent upon temperature but independent of the number of output circuits connected to said bias voltage circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 233 words
A bias voltage circuit for providing a bias voltage output controlled as a function of temperature, said circuit comprising: a bandgap regulator circuit having a voltage output which is constant over a wide temperature range: a compensation network operative to mimic the voltage/temperature characteristics of an output circuit connected to the output of said bias voltage circuit, including a current source for maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and a pair of transistors biased under control of said constant current, said transistors arranged to provide a voltage drop as a function of temperature substantially exactly as produced by transistors connected in the output circuit; and a circuit for amplifying and mixing the outputs of said bandgap regulator circuit and said compensation network to provide said bias voltage output, including a differential transistor pair coupled between said compensation network and said bandgap regulator circuit, a current mirror pair having one transistor thereof used to set the bias level of said differential transistor pair, a constant current source for maintaining a constant current level for a given supply voltage, and an output emitter follower transistor connected to said constant current source and to the base of a first transistor of said differential transistor pair for providing said bias voltage output at a constant level dependent upon temperature but independent of the number of output circuits connected to said bias voltage circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The circuit set forth in claim 5 wherein said voltage from said bandgap regulator is also connected to said base of said first transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The circuit set forth in claim 6 wherein said voltage from said compensation network is connected to the base of the second transistor of said differential transistor pair.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit set forth in claim 5 wherein the output of said bias voltage circuit varies approximately -4.89 millivolts per degree centigrade.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4460865A Cited
US4533842A Cited
US4968905A Cited
US5087831A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
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