Method and circuit arrangement for generating an output voltage
AssigneeATMEL Germany GmbH
InventorUllrich Drusenthal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An output voltage is generated, in that an initializable current source is transferred into a current-conducting state by an initializing signal produced by an initializing unit, and then provides current to a voltage-limiting element. The output voltage is tapped from the voltage-limiting element. Thereby, a small operating current consumption can be achieved with a large supply voltage range.
Claims19
Method for generating an output voltage (UA), with at least one current source (IQ) or at least one current sink, which respectively comprise a control input (ISB1), a current input (E) and a current output (A), and a voltage-limiting element (VC), characterized in that
- by means of an initializing signal applied to the control input (ISB1), the current output (A) of the current source (IQ) or the current input of the current sink is transferred from a first current-less state into a second current-conducting state, and
- in the second state, the voltage-limiting element (VC) is provided with a current (I1) by means of the current output (A) of the current source (IQ) or by means of the current input of the current sink, and
- an output voltage (UA) is tapped at an output (AS) of the voltage-limiting element (VC).
A method of generating an output voltage using a circuit including a voltage-limiting element and a current driver arrangement selected from the group consisting of current sources and current sinks, wherein the method comprises the steps:
- a) applying a supply voltage to a supply terminal of said current driver arrangement;
- b) applying an initializing signal to an initializing control input of said current driver arrangement;
- c) after said step a) and before said step b), keeping said current driver arrangement in a current-less state in which said current driver arrangement does not produce a current;
- d) only after and in response to said step b), transferring said current driver arrangement from said current-less state into a current-conducting state in which said current driver arrangement produces a current;
- e) flowing said current produced by said current driver arrangement through said voltage-limiting element;
- and
- f) during said step e), tapping said output voltage from a voltage output of said voltage-limiting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.