Temperature compensated bias generator

A method for generating a bias for biasing a load, comprising the steps of:

• generating a substantially constant voltage with a voltage generator circuit formed on a semiconductor substrate that varies as a function of temperature with a first temperature coefficient;
• impressing the substantially constant voltage across an impedance device that is integrally formed with the voltage generator circuit on the semiconductor substrate and having a second temperature coefficient to drive a current therethrough, the level of the current defined by the impedance device, the impedance device varying in value as a function of temperature and the first and second temperature coefficients having the same polarity, the first and second temperature coefficients being of a known value and the first and second temperature coefficients are substantially equal, such that the current through said impedance device has a substantially zero temperature coefficient;
• and
• mirroring the current through the impedance device to a current source, the current through the current source directly proportional to the current through the impedance device.

A method for generating a bias for biasing a load, comprising the steps of:

• generating a substantially constant voltage with a voltage with a voltage generator circuit formed on a semiconductor substrate that varies as a function of temperature with a first temperature coefficient;
• impressing the substantially constant voltage across an impedance device that is integrally formed with the voltage generator circuit on the semiconductor substrate and having a second temperature coefficient to drive a current therethrough, the level of the current defined by the impedance device, the impedance device varying in value as a function of temperature and the first and second temperature coefficients having the same polarity, and the first and second temperature coefficients being of a known value;
• wherein the step of impressing the substantially constant voltage across the impedance device comprises impressing the substantially constant voltage across first and second resistors disposed in parallel, each of the first and second resistors having a different temperature coefficient, the combination of the temperature coefficients of the first and second resistors providing the resultant second temperature coefficient;
• and
• mirroring the current through the first and second resistors to a current source, the current through the current source directly proportional to the current through the first and second resistors.