Temperature and power supply independent voltage reference for integrated circuits
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsKevin M. Ovens, John D. Marsh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage reference circuit which includes a first diode having a first predetermined forward voltage drop as a function of current, a second diode having a second predetermined forward voltage drop as a function of current, lower by a preselected amount than said first diode voltage drop and connected to a voltage reference node and to one end of said first diode. A resistor is connected to the voltage reference node and to another end of the first diode such that the second diode and the resistor form a current path around the first diode. The arrangement is such that the temperature coefficient of voltage at the voltage reference node is less than that across the first diode.
Claims14
A voltage reference circuit, comprising:
- a first diode having a first predetermined forward voltage drop as a function of current;
- a second diode having a second predetermined forward voltage drop as a function of current, lower by a preselected amount than said first diode voltage drop and connected to a compensated node and to one end of said first diode;
- and
- a resistive element connected to said compensated node and to another end of said first diode such that said second diode and said resistive element form a current path around said first diode;
- wherein the temperature coefficient of voltage at said compensated node is less than that across said first diode.
A voltage reference circuit formed on a face of a semiconductor body, comprising:
- a first Schottky diode having a first predetermined forward voltage drop as a function of current;
- a current source in series with said first diode;
- a second Schottky diode having a second predetermined forward voltage drop as a function of current lower by a preselected amount than said first diode voltage drop and connected to a voltage reference node and to one end of said first diode;
- resistive means connected to said compensated node and to another end of said first diode such that said second diode and said resistive means form a current path around said first diode;
- and
- wherein the difference in the temperature coefficient of voltage of said first and second diodes is less than that of said first diode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.