Methods and circuits for providing stable current and voltage references based on currents flowing through ultra-thin dielectric layer components

A circuit comprising:

• a component having a first terminal, a second terminal, and an ultra-thin dielectric layer disposed between the first and second terminals such that the first and second terminals contact the dielectric layer and are physically separated from each other;
• and
• a current source coupled to the component, including at least one transistor, and configured to apply a current to the first terminal of the component to cause the current to flow from the first terminal through the dielectric layer to the second terminal,
• wherein the component provides a reference output voltage between the first and second terminals in response to the current flow through the dielectric layer, and
• wherein the current source further includes an impedance device controlling the current applied by the current source to the first terminal of the component and operative to cause the current applied by the current source to the first terminal of the component to vary with temperature so as to compensate for variations in the reference output voltage across the component over temperature.

A circuit comprising:

• a component having a first terminal, a second terminal, and an ultra-thin dielectric layer disposed between the first and second terminals such that the first and second terminals contact the dielectric layer and are physically separated from each other;
• and
• a current source coupled to the component and configured to apply a current to the first terminal of the component to cause the current to flow from the first terminal through the dielectric layer to the second terminal,
• wherein the component provides a reference output voltage between the first and second terminals in response to the current flow through the dielectric layer,
• wherein the current source comprises:
• a first transistor having a first drain terminal coupled to the first terminal of the component, and having a first source terminal coupled to a first power supply node;
• a diode-connected second transistor having a second gate terminal and a second drain terminal coupled to a first gate terminal of the first transistor, and a second source terminal coupled to the first power supply node;
• a source-follower third transistor having a third drain terminal coupled to the first gate terminal of the first transistor, and a third gate terminal coupled to the first terminal of the component;
• and
• an impedance device coupled between a third source terminal of the third transistor and a second power supply node,
• wherein the second terminal of the component is coupled to the second power supply node, and
• wherein the component provides the reference output voltage at the first terminal.

A circuit comprising:

• a component having a first terminal, a second terminal, and an ultra-thin dielectric layer disposed between the first and second terminals such that the first and second terminals contact the dielectric layer and are physically separated from each other;
• and
• a current source coupled to the component and configured to apply a current to the first terminal of the component to cause the current to flow from the first terminal through the dielectric layer to the second terminal,
• wherein the component provides a reference output voltage between the first and second terminals in response to the current flow through the dielectric layer,
• wherein the current source comprises:
• a differential amplifier circuit having a first input coupled to the first terminal of the component;
• and
• an impedance coupled at an output of the differential amplifier,
• wherein the output of the differential amplifier is configured to control the current source such that a voltage across the impedance tracks the reference output voltage at the first terminal of the component.

A circuit comprising:

• a component having a first terminal, a second terminal, and an ultra-thin dielectric layer disposed between the first and second terminals such that the first and second terminals contact the dielectric layer and are physically separated from each other;
• and
• a current source coupled to the component and configured to apply a current to the first terminal of the component to cause the current to flow from the first terminal through the dielectric layer to the second terminal,
• wherein the component provides a reference output voltage between the first and second terminals in response to the current flow through the dielectric layer, and
• wherein the circuit further comprises at least one of:
• an oscillator circuit coupled to the first terminal of the component, wherein the oscillator circuit comprises a current reference generator circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to generate a stable current reference based on the reference output voltage provided by the component, and circuitry configured to generate an oscillator output signal by cyclically charging a capacitor using the stable current reference;
• and
• a power-on-reset circuit coupled to the first terminal of the component and configured to generate a power-on-reset output signal in response to detecting that a power supply level or a fraction of the power supply level exceeds the reference output voltage at the first terminal of the component.