Voltage reference circuit with breakpoint compensation

A voltage reference circuit comprising:

• a pair of transistors having collector, base and emitter terminals, the base terminals being coupled together;
• means coupled to the collector terminals of the pair of transistors for providing a pair of currents thereto;
• means for attempting to maintain the pair of currents approximately equal;
• a plurality of resistors coupled to the pair of transistors to provide a reference voltage;
• and
• means for providing a compensation current in accordance with operating temperature of the voltage reference circuit, the compensation current being applied to the collector terminal of one of the pair of transistors.

A voltage reference circuit comprising:

• a plurality of transistors, each having emitter, base and collector terminals and a source current flowing thereto from a current source;
• means for maintaining the source currents flowing to each of the plurality of transistors approximately equal;
• resistor means coupled to the plurality of transistors for providing a reference voltage in accordance with conduction of the plurality of transistors;
• and
• means coupled to the collector terminal of one of the plurality of transistors for providing to the collector terminal a temperature compensation current in accordance with temperature.