IP Library Granted Patent US 7,872,519
Granted Patent B2
US 7,872,519 · App. 12/417,455 · Granted Jan 18, 2011

Voltage divider circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,872,519
App. No.
12/417,455
Granted
Jan 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a voltage divider circuit for dividing an input voltage in accordance with a predetermined ratio with high accuracy, in which a source current does not flow from a voltage source and a sink current does not flow into the voltage source. The voltage divider circuit according to the present invention includes: a first resistor; a constant current circuit for outputting a current flowing through the first resistor correspondingly to an input voltage as a constant current; a first current mirror circuit, in which the constant current becomes an input current, for outputting a first output current; a second current mirror circuit, in which the first output current becomes an input current, for outputting a second output current; and a second resistor connected to an output terminal to which the second output current of the second current mirror circuit is output, in which a divided voltage, which is a potential difference between both ends of the second resistor, is adjusted by a current mirror ratio between the first current mirror circuit and the second current mirror circuit, and a resistance ratio between the second resistor and the first resistor.

Claims (21)

1. A voltage divider circuit, comprising:

a first resistor;

a constant current circuit for outputting a constant current flowing through the first resistor correspondingly to an input voltage;

a first current mirror circuit responsive to the constant current to output a first constant current;

a second current mirror circuit responsive to the first constant current to output a second constant current;

a second resistor through which the second constant current flows, wherein a potential difference across the second resistor is a function of a current mirror ratio between the first current mirror circuit and the second current mirror circuit, and a resistance ratio between the second resistor and the first resistor; and

a MOS transistor having a source connected to the second resistor and turned on to flow the second constant current through the second resistor, the MOS transistor having a gate being biased at the input voltage so that the potential difference becomes a divided voltage of the input voltage.

2. A voltage divider circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the constant current circuit includes:

an operational amplifier in which the input voltage is input to a non-inverting input terminal thereof and an inverting input terminal thereof is grounded via the first resistor; and

a first MOS transistor for outputting the constant current from a drain thereof, in which a gate thereof is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a source thereof is connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.

3. A voltage divider circuit according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first current mirror circuit includes:

a second MOS transistor in which a source thereof is connected to a power source and a gate thereof is connected to a drain thereof; and

a third MOS transistor in which a source thereof is connected to the power source and a gate thereof is connected to the drain of the second MOS transistor; and

the constant current flows from the drain of the second MOS transistor, and the first constant current flows from a drain of the third MOS transistor.

4. A voltage divider circuit according to claim 1 , wherein:

the second current mirror circuit includes:

a fourth MOS transistor in which a source thereof is grounded and a gate thereof is connected to a drain thereof; and

a fifth MOS transistor in which a source thereof is grounded and a gate thereof is connected to the drain of the fourth MOS transistor; and

the first constant current flows into the drain of the fourth MOS transistor, and the second constant current flows from a drain of the fifth MOS transistor via the second resistor.

5. A voltage divider circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the MOS transistor is a sixth MOS transistor in which a drain thereof is connected to a power source, and a source thereof is connected to the drain of the fifth MOS transistor via the second resistor.

Assignments (3)
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 →