Reference circuit arrangement and method for generating a reference voltage using a branched current path

A method for generating a reference voltage comprising:

• providing a first current from a branched current path connecting a first and second terminal via an intermediate terminal, wherein the intermediate terminal is connected to a reference terminal connected with a ground potential;
• providing a second current from a second current path coupled in-between the first and second terminal via the reference terminal;
• controlling, at the first and second terminal, a virtual ground potential using a feedback loop;
• and
• generating a reference voltage depending on the first and second current,
• wherein the branched current path is implemented as a star or Y-connection,
• wherein the branched current path comprises:
• a matched pair of a first and second resistor connecting, in series, the first and second terminal via the intermediate terminal, and
• an intermediate resistor matched with the pair of the first and second resistor and connecting the intermediate terminal to the reference terminal,
• wherein the resistance Rn of the intermediate resistor is given by
• R
• n
• =
• (
• N
• -
• 1
• )
• 2
• ⁢
• R
• 1
• =
• (
• N
• -
• 1
• )
• 2
• ⁢
• R
• 2
• ,
• and
• wherein N is an integer or real number greater than 1 and R1, R2 denotes the resistance of the first and second resistor, respectively.

A reference circuit arrangement comprising:

• a branched current path connecting a first and second terminal via an intermediate terminal, wherein the intermediate terminal is connected to a reference terminal;
• a second current path coupled between the first and second terminal via the reference terminal connected with a ground potential;
• a feedback loop connected to the first and second terminal designed to control, at the first and second terminal, a virtual ground potential;
• a reference path connected to the feedback loop having a reference input for receiving from the feedback loop a reference current and having a reference output to provide a reference voltage;
• wherein the second current path comprises a proportional-to-absolute-temperature resistor coupled between the first and second terminal via a first reference element and a second reference element each connected to the reference terminal,
• wherein the branched current path comprises:
• a matched pair of a first and second resistor connecting, in series, the first and second terminal via the intermediate terminal, and
• an intermediate resistor matched with the pair of the first and second resistor and connecting the intermediate terminal to the reference terminal,
• wherein the resistance Rn of the intermediate resistor is given by
• R
• n
• =
• (
• N
• -
• 1
• )
• 2
• ⁢
• R
• 1
• =
• (
• N
• -
• 1
• )
• 2
• ⁢
• R
• 2
• ,
• and
• wherein N is an integer or real number greater than 1 and R1, R2 denotes the resistance of the first and second resistor, respectively.