Arrangement and method for providing a temperature-dependent signal
Assigneeaustriamicrosystems AG
InventorMark Niederberger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arrangement and a method for providing a temperature-dependent signal. Several current sources (1, 2) are provided, which are switchably connected to one or more diodes (8). The conducting-state voltage of the diode is compared with a reference signal (Vr) in a comparator (10). A control circuit (12) controls the current sources (1, 2) so that for calibrating in each calibration step, only one of the current sources is activated and, in another calibration step, all of the current sources (1, 2) are activated. Therefore, error terms can be calculated, which allow a very exact provision of a temperature-dependent signal with respect to the matching of the current sources to each other.
Claims11
An arrangement for providing a temperature-dependent signal, comprising:
- a first current source, which is switchably connected to a diode;
- a second current source, which is switchably connected to the diode;
- a comparator, which is coupled at one input to the first and to the second current source and which receives a reference signal at a second input;
- and
- a control circuit with an input, which is coupled to an output of the comparator, and with outputs for connecting and disconnecting the current sources, such that for calibration in a first calibration state only the first current source is activated, in a second calibration state only the second current source is activated, and in a third calibration state all of the current sources are activated, and with an output of the control circuit for providing the temperature-dependent signal in a normal operating mode.
An arrangement for providing a temperature-dependent signal, comprising
- a first current source connected to a diode;
- a second current source connected to the diode;
- a comparator, which is coupled at one input to the first and to the second current source and which receives a reference signal at a second input;
- a control circuit with an input, which is coupled to an output of the comparator, and with outputs for connecting and disconnecting the current sources, such that for calibration in a first calibration state only the first current source is activated, in a second calibration state only the second current source is activated, and in a third calibration state all of the current sources are activated, and with an output of the control circuit for providing the temperature-dependent signal in a normal operating mode;
- and
- a common bias source configured to control the current sources, a respective current mirror being provided to control the current sources with the common bias source which comprises a common input transistor of each respective current mirror;
- wherein one of a base signal and gate signal in an associated current mirror is switchable to connect and disconnect the current sources.
A method for providing a temperature-dependent signal comprising the steps of:
- generating a first current with a first current source;
- generating a second current with a second current source;
- generating a third current with the first and the second current sources;
- comparing a voltage across a diode carrying the first, the second, or the third current with a reference signal;
- calculating error terms as a function of the three currents;
- and
- providing a temperature-dependent signal compensated with respect to the error terms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.