Segmented Current Generation Circuit for Wide-Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor integrated circuits face challenges in maintaining constant voltage and current across a wide temperature range, particularly between −40° C. and 140° C., where existing bandgap reference circuits exhibit significant voltage variations and inadequate temperature compensation.
Innovation Solution
A current generation circuit comprising multiple current cells and a combining circuit that generates temperature-dependent currents, with low-temperature and high-temperature correction cells using current mirror circuits to produce correction currents with specific temperature coefficients, which are combined to achieve a stable current across the desired temperature range, thereby compensating for temperature-dependent variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a bandgap reference circuit is used to generate constant voltage, then voltage stability is improved in a limited temperature range (30-110°C), but voltage variation increases in a wide temperature range (-40°C to 140°C) with variations of about 5 to 6 mV
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature compensation is divided into multiple segments: primary temperature compensation and secondary temperature compensation. Each segment addresses specific temperature ranges and compensation needs, allowing the circuit to maintain stability across a broader temperature spectrum by combining multiple compensation mechanisms rather than relying on a single compensation approach
Solution Approach 2:
Different compensation circuits are designed with different temperature characteristics to address specific temperature regions. The primary temperature compensation circuit handles general temperature drift, while the secondary temperature compensation circuit provides additional correction for residual variations, creating localized optimization for different temperature zones within the overall wide temperature range
2Stability of the object's composition
If primary and secondary temperature compensation are applied in a bandgap reference circuit, then temperature characteristic flatness is improved in a certain temperature range, but the compensation effectiveness decreases in extreme temperature regions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature dependence parameter of the compensation current by using a current generation circuit with a positive temperature coefficient. This allows the compensation current to vary with temperature in a controlled manner, providing enhanced compensation effectiveness in extreme temperature regions where traditional fixed compensation approaches fail
Data Source
AI summary
The current generation circuit includes a plurality of current cells and a combining circuit. A temperature-dependent current generated by each of the current cells is zero in a temperature range intrinsic to the current cell, and linearly changes with respect to a temperature outside the temperature range. The combining circuit combines the plurality of temperature-dependent currents generated by the plurality of current cells and outputs a correction current.