Curvature compensated bandgap voltage reference

1. A bandgap voltage reference circuit, comprising:

a current generation stage configured to generate a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current and a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current;

an output stage, coupled to the current generation stage, configured to combine the PTAT current and the CTAT current to generate a bandgap voltage reference; and

a curvature correction circuit configured to generate a curvature correction current;

wherein the curvature correction current substantially cancels a non-linear dependence on temperature of the bandgap voltage reference when applied to the bandgap voltage reference circuit, thereby generating a curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference, and

wherein the curvature correction current is applied within the current generation stage of the bandgap voltage reference circuit.

2. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 1 , wherein the curvature correction circuit comprises a plurality of temperature dependent current sinking circuits, wherein each of the temperature dependent current sinking circuits is configured to generate a respective current when temperature exceeds a respective temperature trip point.

3. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 2 , wherein the curvature correction circuit comprises a temperature-independent current source, wherein the temperature-independent current source is configured to generate a current proportional to the CTAT current.

4. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 3 , wherein the curvature correction current is proportional to the sum of the currents generated by the plurality of temperature dependent current sinking circuits and the current generated by the temperature-independent current source.

5. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 4 , wherein the current generated by the temperature-independent current source has a negative temperature coefficient, and wherein the currents generated by the temperature dependent current sinking circuits have positive temperature coefficients.

6. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of temperature dependent current sinking circuits comprises a temperature trip point monitoring circuit.

7. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 1 , wherein a temperature coefficient of the curvature correction current increases with temperature.

8. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 1 , wherein a temperature coefficient of the curvature correction current is approximately opposite to a temperature coefficient of the bandgap voltage reference over temperature.

9. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 1 , wherein the curvature correction current varies according to a linear piecewise continuous function versus temperature.

10. The bandgap voltage reference circuit of claim 1 , wherein the curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference is substantially independent of temperature.

11. A method for generating a curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference in a bandgap voltage reference circuit, comprising:

generating a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current and a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current;

generating a curvature correction current using the PTAT current and the CTAT current, wherein the curvature correction current substantially cancels a non-linear dependence on temperature of a bandgap voltage reference generated using the PTAT and the CTAT current; and

combining the curvature correction current with the PTAT current and the CTAT current to generate the curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference,

wherein combining the curvature correction current with the PTAT current and the CTAT current comprises applying the curvature correction current at a current generation stage of the bandgap voltage reference circuit.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the curvature correction current comprises generating a current proportional to the CTAT current.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein generating the curvature correction current comprises generating a plurality of currents having positive temperature coefficients, and wherein each of the plurality of currents takes a non-zero value when temperature exceeds a respective temperature trip point.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the curvature correction current is proportional to the sum of the current proportional to the CTAT current and the plurality of currents.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a temperature coefficient of the curvature correction current increases with temperature.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein a temperature coefficient of the curvature correction current is approximately opposite to a temperature coefficient of the bandgap voltage reference over temperature.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the curvature correction current varies according to a linear piecewise continuous function versus temperature.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the curvature-compensated voltage reference is substantially independent of temperature.

19. A method for generating a curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference in a bandgap voltage reference circuit, comprising:

generating a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current and a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current;

generating a curvature correction current using the PTAT current and the CTAT current, wherein the curvature correction current exhibits a parabolic dependence on temperature substantially opposite to a parabolic dependence on temperature of a bandgap voltage reference generated using the PTAT and the CTAT current; and

combining the curvature correction current with the PTAT current and the CTAT current to generate the curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference.