Reference voltage generator with fast start-up and low stand-by power

A reference voltage generator 3 wherein the comprising:

• a reference stage which generates a reference voltage signal:
• a controller coupled to the reference stage to receive the reference voltage signal, the controller generating a control signal responsive to the reference voltage signal;
• and
• a pull-up stage coupled to the controller to receive the control signal and coupled to the reference stage to pull up the reference voltage signal responsive to the control signal:
• wherein the controller includes:
• a control voltage generator which generates a control voltage signal:
• a comparator coupled to the control voltage generator the comparator generating an output signal responsive to the difference between the reference voltage signal and the control voltage signal:
• a latch coupled to the comparator for latching the output signal from the comparator, thereby generating a level detection signal;
• and
• a flip-flop coupled to the latch, the flip-flop generating the control signal responsive to the level detection signal.

A reference voltage generator comprising:

• a reference stage which generates a reference voltage signal;
• a controller coupled to the reference stage to receive the reference voltage signal, the controller generating a control signal responsive to the reference voltage signal:
• and
• a pull-up stage coupled to the controller to receive the control signal and coupled to the reference stage to pull up the reference voltage signal responsive to the control signal;
• wherein the controller includes:
• a control voltage generator which generates a control voltage signal;
• a comparator coupled to the control voltage generator the comparator generating an output signal responsive to the difference between the reference voltage signal and the control voltage signal;
• and
• a flip-flop which disables the comparator and control voltage generator responsive to the output signal from the comparator.

A reference voltage generator 7 comprising:

• a reference stage which generates a reference voltage signal:
• a controller coupled to the reference stage to receive the reference voltage signal the controller generating a control signal responsive to the reference voltage signal:
• a pull-up stage coupled to the controller to receive the control signal and coupled to the reference stage to pull up the reference voltage signal responsive to the control signal:
• a first power supply node:
• a second power supply node;
• a reference node:
• and
• wherein the reference stage generates the reference voltage signal at the reference node, and the controller generates the control signal at the control node, and
• wherein the pull-up stage includes a transistor having a source coupled to the first power supply node, a drain coupled to the reference node, and a gate coupled to the control node, whereby the transistor pulls up the reference voltage signal responsive to the control signal at the control node.

A reference voltage generator 7 comprising:

• a reference stage which generates a reference voltage signal;
• a controller coupled to the reference stage to receive the reference voltage signal, the controller generating a control signal responsive to the reference voltage signal;
• a pull-up stage coupled to the controller to receive the control signal and coupled to the reference stage to pull up the reference voltage signal responsive to the control signal;
• a first power supply node;
• a second power supply node:
• a reference node:
• and
• a control node:
• wherein the reference stage generates the reference voltage signal at the reference node, and the controller generates the control signal at the control node;
• and
• wherein the controller includes a control voltage generator including a first transistor having a source coupled to the first power supply node, a drain coupled to a control voltage node, and a gate coupled to the second power supply node, and a second transistor having a source coupled to the second power supply node, a drain coupled to the control voltage node, and a gate coupled to the first power supply node.

A reference voltage generator comprising:

• means for generating a reference voltage signal;
• means for generating a control signal responsive to the reference voltage signal;
• and
• means for pulling up the reference voltage signal responsive to the control signal, said means being capable of being switched off during normal operation:
• wherein the means for generating a control signal switches off the means for pulling up the reference voltage sisal when the reference voltage signal reaches a predetermined voltage.

A method for generating a reference voltage signal comprising:

• applying power to a reference generator, thereby generating a reference voltage signal;
• switching on a pull-up stage coupled to the reference generator when the power is applied, thereby pulling up the reference voltage signal;
• and
• switching off the pull-up stage when the reference voltage signal reaches a predetermined voltage.