Supply and temperature dependent linear signal generator

Abstract

A supply and temperature dependent linear signal generating circuit includes four transistors each having a unique current flowing therethrough and connected together to form a current multiplier. A first one of the currents is designed to be supply dependent and preferably adjustable in magnitude, a second one is designed to exhibit a specific temperature dependence, the third is designed to be both supply and temperature independent and the fourth current is defined as a ratio of the first three. The fourth current is, in one embodiment, impressed upon a network defined by a resistor divider and a voltage source to thereby define an output voltage V(T) that is both supply and temperature dependent according to the following equation: V(T)=KX*(T-TN), wherein KX is the slope of V(T) over temperature, T is the operating temperature and TN is a reference temperature at which V(T) is equal to zero. Preferably, TN is adjustable via the adjustable magnitude of the first current.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.