Low power integrated circuit white noise source
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorAnthony G. Mellissinos
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Abstract
A low power white noise source is fabricated on an integrated circuit. The noise source includes a bipolar junction transistor (Q.sub.BJT) having an emitter terminal coupled to a common circuit potential, a collector terminal coupled to a source of current (CS), and a base terminal coupled through a resistance (R.sub.B) to a bias signal (V.sub.bias). The resistance has a resistance value selected to enhance a noise signal generated by the transistor in a collector current thereof. The noise source further includes a transresistance amplifier (AMP) having an input coupled to the collector terminal for converting the noise signal to a voltage signal (NOISE OUT) having white noise characteristics.
Claims5
A noise source fabricated on an integrated circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of bipolar junction transistors each having an emitter terminal coupled to a circuit common potential, a collector terminal coupled to an output of an associated current source, and a base terminal coupled through an associated resistance to a bias signal, the associated resistance coupled to the base terminal of each of said transistors having a resistance value selected to enhance a noise signal generated by said transistor in a collector current thereof;
- and
- transresistance amplifier means having an input coupled to said collector terminal of one of said transistors for converting said noise signal to a voltage signal having white noise characteristics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.