IP Library Granted Patent US 7,479,821
Granted Patent B2
US 7,479,821 · App. 11/724,940 · Granted Jan 20, 2009

Cascode circuit and semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,479,821
App. No.
11/724,940
Granted
Jan 20, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reference voltage circuit having a high power supply rejection ratio, and can operate at low voltage is provided. The reference voltage circuit includes a bias circuit constructed such that a depletion type transistor ( 3 ) is connected in series to a power supply voltage supply terminal of a load circuit, an enhancement type MOS transistor ( 4 ) for detecting current through the load circuit to operate as a current source is connected to the load circuit, a depletion type MOS transistor ( 5 ) is connected in series to the transistor ( 4 ), and a gate terminal of the transistor ( 5 ) is connected to a source terminal of the transistor ( 5 ), in which the gate terminal of the depletion type transistor ( 3 ) is connected to the source terminal of the depletion type transistor ( 5 ).

Claims (56)

1. A cascode circuit comprising:

a first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a source and a gate connected to each other;

a second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, for supplying power to a load circuit connected to a source of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor; and

a control current source connected to the source of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, the control current source being controlled by current through the load circuit, wherein

the drain-source voltage of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is set to be higher than threshold voltage, and the substrate potential is set to be lower than source potential of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, and

the drain-source voltage of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is set to be higher than threshold voltage, and the substrate potential is set to be lower than source potential of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

2. A cascode circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate potential of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor and the substrate potential of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor are grounded.

3. A cascode circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control current source comprises a first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a gate connected to the load circuit and having a drain connected to the source of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

4. A semiconductor device comprising the cascode circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the load circuit is a reference voltage circuit comprising:

a third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a drain connected to the source of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor and having a source and a gate connected to the gate of the first N-channel enhancement type type MOS transistor; and

a second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain and a gate connected to the source of the third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

5. A semiconductor device comprising the cascode circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the load circuit is a source follower circuit comprising:

a third N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain connected to the source of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor; and

a second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain and a gate connected to the source of the third N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor and to the gate of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor.

6. A semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor.

7. A semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

8. A semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor, and

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

9. A semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor.

10. A semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

11. A semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor, and

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

12. A semiconductor device comprising a cascode circuit, the cascode circuit comprising:

a first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a source and a gate connected to each other;

a second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a drain connected to a source of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, and having a source and a gate connected to each other;

a second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain connected to the source of the third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain connected to the source of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a fourth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a fifth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a drain connected to a source of the fourth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, and having a gate connected to the source of the third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor; and

a plurality of serially connected resistances connected to the gates of the first and second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistors and to a source of the fifth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, wherein

the cascode circuit is constructed such that positive constant voltage is output from an arbitrary point of connection of the plurality of serially connected resistances, and

substrate potentials of all the MOS transistors are grounded.

13. A semiconductor device according to claim 12 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor.

14. A semiconductor device according to claim 12 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

15. A semiconductor device according to claim 12 , wherein

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor, and

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

16. A semiconductor device comprising a cascode circuit, the cascode circuit comprising:

a first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a source and a gate connected to each other;

a second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a drain connected to a source of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, and having a source and a gate connected to each other;

a second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain connected to the source of the third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor having a drain connected to the source of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a fourth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor;

a fifth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor having a drain connected to a source of the fourth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, and having a gate connected to the source of the third N-channel depletion type MOS transistor; and

a plurality of serially connected resistances connected to the gates of the first and second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistors and to a source of the fifth N-channel depletion type MOS transistor, wherein

the cascode circuit is constructed such that positive constant voltage is output from an arbitrary point of connection of the plurality of serially connected resistances, and

substrate potentials of all the MOS transistors are grounded.

17. A semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor.

18. A semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

19. A semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor is made larger than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel enhancement type MOS transistor, and

the transconductance coefficient of the first N-channel depletion type MOS transistor is made smaller than the transconductance coefficient of the second N-channel depletion type MOS transistor.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 8, 2023
From: ABLIC INC.
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 064021/0575 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 045567/0927 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037783 FRAME: 0166. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 23, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037903/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION .
Reel/Frame 037783/0166 →