IP Library Granted Patent US 7,893,681
Granted Patent B2
US 7,893,681 · App. 12/334,221 · Granted Feb 22, 2011

Electronic circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,893,681
App. No.
12/334,221
Granted
Feb 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a bandgap circuit provided with first and second bipolar transistors that are coupled at a first node and a current mirror circuit provided with third and fourth transistors with respective control terminals coupled at a second node. The electronic circuit further includes a fifth transistor that is bipolar which is coupled to an output terminal of the third transistor where a base of the fifth transistor is coupled to a collector of the second transistor and a sixth transistor that is bipolar that is coupled to an output terminal of the fourth transistor with a base of the sixth transistor coupled to the first node. A control circuit controls a current provided to the bandgap circuit based on an output of the current mirror circuit. A reference voltage output terminal is provided between the control circuit and the bandgap circuit and outputs a reference voltage.

Claims (42)

1. An electronic circuit comprising:

a bandgap circuit comprising a first bipolar transistor and a second bipolar transistor wherein the respective bases of the first bipolar transistor and the second bipolar transistor are coupled at a first node;

a current mirror circuit comprising a third transistor and a fourth transistor, wherein the respective control terminals of the third transistor and the fourth transistor are coupled at a second node, a fifth transistor, that is a bipolar transistor, coupled to an output terminal of the third transistor wherein a base of the fifth transistor is coupled to a collector of the second transistor, and a sixth transistor, that is a bipolar transistor, coupled to an output terminal of the fourth transistor wherein a base of the sixth transistor is coupled to the first node;

a control circuit that controls a current provided to the bandgap circuit based on an output of the current mirror circuit; and

a reference voltage output terminal provided between the control circuit and the bandgap circuit and outputting a reference voltage.

2. The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an emitter area of the fifth transistor to an emitter area of the first transistor is equal to the ratio of an emitter area of the sixth transistor to an emitter area of the first transistor times a ratio of an output current of the third transistor to an output current of the fourth transistor.

3. The electronic circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the first transistor and the second transistor have base currents that are equal in magnitude.

4. The electronic circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the second transistor comprises a plurality of transistors that have the same configuration as that of the first transistor and are coupled in parallel.

5. The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , the electronic circuit further comprising:

a first resistor coupled to an emitter of the second transistor; and

a second resistor provided between the reference voltage output terminal and a collector of the first transistor,

wherein the collector of the first transistor is coupled to the first node.

6. The electronic circuit according to claim 5 , wherein a base-emitter voltage of the first transistor and a voltage across the second resistor have temperature coefficients of opposite polarity.

7. The electronic circuit according to claim 6 , wherein the temperature coefficient of the base-emitter voltage of the first transistor and the temperature coefficient of the voltage across the second resistor have the same absolute value.

8. The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit includes a seventh transistor with a control terminal coupled to the output of the current mirror circuit.

9. The electronic circuit according to claim 8 , wherein the seventh transistor is a normally-on transistor.

10. An electronic circuit comprising:

a bandgap circuit comprising a first bipolar transistor and a second bipolar transistor wherein the respective bases of the first bipolar transistor and the second bipolar transistor are coupled at a first node;

a current mirror circuit comprising a third transistor and a fourth transistor, that are bipolar transistors, wherein the respective control terminals of the third transistor and the fourth transistor are coupled at a second node, a fifth transistor, that is a bipolar transistor, coupled to an output terminal of the third transistor wherein a base of the fifth transistor is coupled to a collector of the second transistor, and a sixth transistor, that is a bipolar transistor, coupled to an output terminal of the fourth transistor wherein a base of the sixth transistor is coupled to the first node, wherein the collectors of the third and fourth transistor are output terminals;

a control circuit that controls a current provided to the bandgap circuit based on an output of the current mirror circuit; and

a reference voltage output terminal provided between the control circuit and the bandgap circuit and outputting a reference voltage.

11. The electronic circuit according to claim 10 , wherein a ratio of an emitter area of the fifth transistor to an emitter area of the first transistor is equal to the ratio of an emitter area of the sixth transistor to an emitter area of the first transistor times a ratio of an output current of the third transistor to an output current of the fourth transistor.

12. The electronic circuit according to claim 11 , wherein the first transistor and the second transistor have base currents that are equal in magnitude.

13. The electronic circuit according to claim 12 , wherein the second transistor comprises a plurality of transistors that have the same configuration as that of the first transistor and are coupled in parallel.

14. The electronic circuit according to claim 10 , the electronic circuit further comprising:

a first resistor coupled to an emitter of the second transistor; and

a second resistor provided between the reference voltage output terminal and a collector of the first transistor,

wherein the collector of the first transistor is coupled to the first node.

15. The electronic circuit according to claim 14 , wherein a base-emitter voltage of the first transistor and a voltage across the second resistor have temperature coefficients of opposite polarity.

16. The electronic circuit according to claim 15 , wherein the temperature coefficient of the base-emitter voltage of the first transistor and the temperature coefficient of the voltage across the second resistor have the same absolute value.

17. The electronic circuit according to claim 10 , wherein the control circuit includes a seventh transistor with a control terminal coupled to the output of the current mirror circuit.

18. The electronic circuit according to claim 17 , wherein the seventh transistor is a normally-on transistor.

19. An electronic system comprising:

data input circuitry;

data storage circuitry;

data processing circuitry; and

data output circuitry, wherein said electronic system comprises an electronic circuit comprising:

a bandgap circuit comprising a first bipolar transistor and a second bipolar transistor wherein the respective bases of the first bipolar transistor and the second bipolar transistor are coupled at a first node;

a current mirror circuit comprising a third transistor and a fourth transistor, wherein the respective control terminals of the third transistor and the fourth transistor are coupled at a second node, a fifth transistor, that is a bipolar transistor, coupled to an output terminal of the third transistor wherein a base of the fifth transistor is coupled to a collector of the second transistor, and a sixth transistor, that is a bipolar transistor, coupled to an output terminal of the fourth transistor wherein a base of the sixth transistor is coupled to the first node;

a control circuit that controls a current provided to the bandgap circuit based on an output of the current mirror circuit; and

a reference voltage output terminal provided between the control circuit and the bandgap circuit and outputting a reference voltage.

20. The electronic system according to claim 19 , wherein a ratio of an emitter area of the fifth transistor to an emitter area of the first transistor is equal to the ratio of an emitter area of the sixth transistor to an emitter area of the first transistor times a ratio of an output current of the third transistor to an output current of the fourth transistor.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 059721/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036050/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 035201/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2009
From: ARAI, KENJI
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 022150/0722 →