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US 4,542,331 AGranted
Low-impedance voltage reference
AssigneeSignetics Corporation
InventorRichard M. Boyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A voltage reference for providing a reference voltage (V.sub.AB) between a pair of terminals (A and B) contains a diode (D) and a bipolar transistor (Q) whose base is coupled to one electrode of the diode. The collector of the transistor is coupled to a node (C) between one of the terminals (A) and the other electrode of the diode. The emitter of the transistor is coupled to the other terminal (B).
Claims20
A voltage reference which provides a reference voltage between a first terminal and a second termrnal at variable voltage the voltage reference comprising:
- a diode having a first electrode and a second electrode that form a rectifying junction;
- a bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a node between the first terminal and the first electrode, an emitter coupled to the second terminal, and a base coupled to the second electrode such that the diode is oriented in the forward conductive direction of the base-emitter junction of the transistor.
A circuit comprising:
- a voltage reference which provides a reference voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal, the reference comprising (1) a diode having a first electrode and a second electrode that form a rectifying junction and (2) a first bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a node between the first terminal and the first electrode, an emitter coupled to the second terminal, and a base coupled to the second electrode such that the diode is oriented in the forward conductive direction of the base-emitter junction of the transistor;
- a like-polarity second bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a first voltage supply, an emitter, and a base coupled to the first terminal;
- and
- a like-polarity third bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to the second terminal, an emitter, and a base coupled to the emitter of the second transistor.
1 more element
A gate comprising:
- a voltage reference which provides a reference voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal, the reference comprising (1) a Schottky diode having a first electrode and a second electrode that form a rectifying junction and (2) a first bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a node between the first terminal and the first electrode, an emitter coupled to the second terminal, and a base coupled to the second electrode such that the diode is oriented in the forward conductive direction of the base-emitter junction of the transistor;
- a like-polarity second bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a first voltage supply, an emitter, and a base coupled to the first terminal;
- a like-polarity third bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to the second terminal, an emitter, and a base coupled to the emitter of the second transistor;
- at least one input diode coupled to the first terminal so as to be back-to-back with the base-emitter junction of the second transistor;
- and
- a like-polarity output bipolar transistor having a collector, an emitter coupled to a second voltage supply, and a base coupled to the emitter of the third transistor.
3 more elements
A gate comprising:
- a voltage reference which provides a reference voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal, the reference comprising (1) a Schottky diode having a first electrode and a second electrode that form a rectifying junction and (2) a first bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a node between the first terminal and the first electrode, an emitter coupled to the second terminal, and a base coupled to the second electrode such that the diode is oriented in the forward conductive direction of the base-emitter junction of the transistor;
- a like-polarity second bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to a first voltage supply, an emitter, and a base coupled to the first terminal;
- a like-polarity third bipolar transistor having a collector coupled to the second terminal, an emitter, and a base coupled to the emitter of the second transistor;
- at least one input diode coupled to the first terminal so as to be back-to-back with the base-emitter junction of the second transistor;
- a resistor coupled between the first terminal and the first voltage supply;
- a like-polarity fourth bipolar transistor having a collector, an emitter, and a base coupled to the emitter of the second transistor;
- a resistor coupled between the collector of the fourth transistor and the first voltage supply;
- and
- a like-polarity output bipolar transistor having a collector, an emitter coupled to a second voltage supply, and a base coupled to the emitters of the third and fourth transistors.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.