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US 2019/0317542 A1Published application
Zener diode voltage reference circuit
AssigneeNXP USA, Inc.
InventorSimon BRULE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit includes a voltage reference circuit including a Zener diode having a first terminal coupled to a first node and a second terminal coupled to a first voltage supply terminal. A proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) circuit is coupled at the first node and configured to generate a PTAT current. A PTAT compensation circuit is coupled at the first node. The PTAT compensation circuit includes a first current mirror having a first branch coupled at the first node.
Claims20
A voltage reference circuit comprising:
- a Zener diode having a first terminal coupled to a first node and a second terminal coupled to a first voltage supply terminal (GND);
- a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) circuit coupled at the first node, the PTAT circuit configured to generate a PTAT current;
- and
- a PTAT compensation circuit coupled at the first node, the PTAT compensation circuit comprising a first current mirror having a first branch coupled at the first node.
1 more element
A method of generating a reference voltage, the method comprising:
- providing a Zener diode coupled between a first node and a first voltage supply terminal;
- generating a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current by way of a PTAT circuit coupled at the first node, the PTAT current establishing a PTAT voltage across a first resistor coupled at the first node;
- and
- injecting a PTAT compensation current at the first node by way of a PTAT compensation circuit coupled at the first node, the PTAT compensation circuit comprising:
- a first transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a second voltage supply terminal and a second current electrode coupled at the first node;
- and
- a second transistor having a first current electrode coupled to the second voltage supply terminal and a second current electrode coupled to control electrodes of the first and second transistors;
- and
- a third transistor having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the second transistor, a control electrode coupled to the PTAT circuit, and a second current electrode coupled to the first voltage supply terminal.
6 more elements
A semiconductor device comprising:
- a Zener diode-coupled between a first node-and a first voltage supply terminal;
- a PTAT circuit coupled at the first node, the PTAT current establishing a PTAT voltage across a first resistor coupled at the first node to generate a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current;
- and
- a PTAT compensation circuit coupled at the first node to inject a PTAT compensation current at the first node, the PTAT compensation circuit comprising:
- a first transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a second voltage supply terminal and a second current electrode coupled at the first node;
- and
- a second transistor having a first current electrode coupled to the second voltage supply terminal and a second current electrode coupled to control electrodes of the first and second transistors;
- and
- a third transistor having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the second transistor, a control electrode coupled to the PTAT circuit, and a second current electrode coupled to the first voltage supply terminal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.