Method and reference circuit for bias current switching for implementing an integrated temperature sensor

A reference circuit for implementing an integrated temperature sensor comprising:

• a reference current source coupled to a current mirror;
• said current mirror providing a first bias current to a thermal sensing diode;
• said current mirror including two current mirror stages;
• a first current mirror stage coupled to said thermal sensing diode and a second current mirror stage coupled to said dummy load diode;
• said two current mirror stages being defined by a first pair of series connected P-channel field effect transistors (FETs), and a second pair of series connected P-channel FETs;
• a current multiplier coupled to said current mirror providing a multiplied current;
• said current multiplier including a pair of series connected P-channel field effect transistors (PFETs);
• a pair of transistors coupled to said current multiplier, said respective transistors selectively switching the multiplied current between said thermal sensing diode and a dummy load diode to provide a second bias current to the thermal sensing diode;
• said second bias current including the first bias current and the multiplied current from the current multiplier.