Methods and circuits for triode region detection

A circuit for detecting operation in the triode region of a transistor in a constant current source comprising:

• a detector having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein the first input of the detector is coupled to the gate of the transistor;
• a program voltage source coupled to the second input of the detector;
• and
• a flag coupled to the output of the detector;
• the detector having parameters selected so that, when the voltage at the gate of the transistor satisfies a reference condition, the output of the detector sets the flag, wherein the reference condition is established relative to the voltage at the program voltage source and relative to the triode transition voltage of the transistor at a selected drain-source current.

A circuit for detecting operation in the triode region of a transistor in a constant current source comprising:

• a detector having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein the first input of the detector is coupled to the gate of the transistor;
• a program voltage source coupled to the second input of the detector, wherein the voltage at the program voltage source is established relative to the triode transition voltage of the transistor at a selected drain-source current;
• and
• a flag coupled to the output of the detector;
• the detector having parameters selected so that, when the voltage at the gate of the transistor satisfies a reference condition, the output of the detector sets the flag, wherein the reference condition is established relative to the voltage at the program voltage source.

A method for detecting operation in the triode region of a transistor in a constant current source comprising:

• detecting the voltage at the source of the transistor;
• detecting the voltage at the set point terminal of the constant current source;
• establishing a reference condition relative to the voltage at the set point terminal of the constant current source and relative to the triode transition voltage of the transistor at a selected drain-source current;
• determining if the voltage at the source of the transistor satisfies the reference condition;
• and
• setting a flag if the reference condition is satisfied.

A method for detecting operation in the triode region of a transistor in a constant current source comprising:

• detecting the voltage at the gate of the transistor;
• detecting the voltage at a program voltage source;
• establishing a reference condition relative to the voltage at the program voltage source and relative to the triode transition voltage of the transistor at a selected drain-source current;
• determining if the voltage at the gate of the transistor satisfies the reference condition;
• and
• setting a flag if the reference condition is satisfied.

A method for detecting operation in the triode region of a transistor in a constant current source comprising:

• detecting the voltage at the gate of the transistor;
• establishing the voltage of a program voltage source relative to the triode transition voltage of the transistor at a selected drain-source current;
• detecting the voltage at the program voltage source;
• establishing a reference condition relative to the voltage at the program voltage source;
• determining if the voltage at the gate of the transistor satisfies the reference condition;
• and
• setting a flag if the reference condition is satisfied.