EP0383571A1 - Starter circuit for integrated circuit - Google Patents

Starter circuit for integrated circuit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0383571A1
EP0383571A1 EP90301565A EP90301565A EP0383571A1 EP 0383571 A1 EP0383571 A1 EP 0383571A1 EP 90301565 A EP90301565 A EP 90301565A EP 90301565 A EP90301565 A EP 90301565A EP 0383571 A1 EP0383571 A1 EP 0383571A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit
transistor
current
starting
starter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90301565A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Hirofumi c/o Intellectual Property Office Endo
Hidetoshi c/o Intellec. Prop. Center Matsumoto
Taneji c/o Intellectual Property Office Ohoka
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omron Corp
Original Assignee
Omron Corp
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omron Corp, Omron Tateisi Electronics Co filed Critical Omron Corp
Publication of EP0383571A1 publication Critical patent/EP0383571A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05F—SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G05F3/00—Non-retroactive systems for regulating electric variables by using an uncontrolled element, or an uncontrolled combination of elements, such element or such combination having self-regulating properties
    • G05F3/02—Regulating voltage or current
    • G05F3/08—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is dc
    • G05F3/10—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is dc using uncontrolled devices with non-linear characteristics
    • G05F3/16—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is dc using uncontrolled devices with non-linear characteristics being semiconductor devices
    • G05F3/20—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is dc using uncontrolled devices with non-linear characteristics being semiconductor devices using diode- transistor combinations
    • G05F3/26—Current mirrors
    • G05F3/265—Current mirrors using bipolar transistors only

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a starter circuit of an integrated circuit (IC) and, more particularly, to a starter circuit capable of reducing current consumption in an integrated circuit.
  • IC integrated circuit
  • an IC device has a circuit arrangement in which two cascade-connected circuits employing a mutual biasing method in a constant-current circuit or constant-voltage circuit are started by a transistor.
  • Circuitry which relies upon mutual biasing referred to here is a circuit arrangement in which the base current of the transistor constituting one circuit is driven by the transistor of the other circuit.
  • the circuitry does not possess transistors in which base current is supplied from positive or negative power supply terminals directly or via a resistor.
  • This circuit includes a pair of transistors Q1, Q2 whose bases are connected together to form a first circuit.
  • the emitter of the transistor Q1 is connected to a -V potential via a resistor R1, the emitter of the transistor Q2 is connected directly to -V, and its base and collected are connected together.
  • the circuit also includes a pair of transistors Q3, Q4 whose bases are connected together to form a second circuit.
  • the emitters of the transistors Q3, Q4 are connected to a +V potential, and the collectors of the transistors Q3, Q4 are connected to the collectors of the transistors Q1, Q2, respectively.
  • the first and second circuits are cascade-connected.
  • the first circuit comprising the transistors Q1, Q2 is a current mirror circuit, and so is the second circuit comprising the transistors Q3, Q4. Accordingly, the circuit of Fig. 3 is a constant-current circuit constituted by the two current mirrors connected in cascade. Further, a starter circuit comprising a series circuit composed of a transistor Q5 and a resistor R5 is connected to the cascade-connected circuitry composed of the first and second circuits, and the base of transistor Q5 is connected to the collectors of the transistors Q3, Q1.
  • a current flows into the starter circuit composed of transistor Q5 when the power supply is ON.
  • currents also flow into the transistors Q4, Q1, after which the transistors Q3, Q4 are biased by the transistor Q1 and the transistors Q1, Q2 are biased by the transistor Q4.
  • the transistor Q5 for the starter circuit is required when the power supply which starts the biasing circuitry is turned ON. Once the circuits comprising the transistors Q1, Q2 and transistors Q3, Q4 start operating, however, the transistor Q5 no longer performs any useful function. Nevertheless, a constant current flows into the transistor Q5. This is an impediment to reducing overall current consumption.
  • the mutual biasing circuitry comprising the transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 cannot be started.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a starter circuit for an integrated circuit in which the integrated circuit, which employs mutual biasing, can be started, and in which current consumption can be reduced after the integrated circuit is started.
  • a starter circuit for an integrated circuit is characterized by comprising a first circuit having a pair of transistors (Q1, Q2) whose bases are connected together, a second circuit having a pair of transistors (Q3, Q4) whose bases are connected together, the first and second circuits being cascade-connected so as to be mutually biased, a starting transistor (Q5) for starting the first and second circuits, and a capacitor (C5) connected to the starting transistor for forming the starter circuit into a capacitive load.
  • a starting current may flow into the starting transistor when a power supply is ON, thereby starting the mutual biasing circuit constituted by the first and second circuits. Once the starting current flows, however, since the starter circuit forms a capacitive load by means of the capacitors after once the capacitor is charged, the current no longer flows and, hence, current consumption thenceforth can be reduced to almost zero.
  • Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an integrated circuit illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • transistors Q1, Q2 constituting a first circuit are connected in cascade with transistors Q3, Q4 constituting a second circuit, and the circuits are mutually biased.
  • the circuitry is similar to that of Fig. 3.
  • These mutually biased circuits are provided with a transistor Q5 for starting them when the power supply is turned ON.
  • the transistor Q5 has a collector connected to +V, and an emitter connected to -V via a serially connected resistor R5 and capacitor C5.
  • the capacitor C5 is connected between the resistor R5 and -V.
  • a starting current flows through the transistor Q5, resistor R5 and capacitor C5 at start-up when the power supply is turned ON, as a result of which the transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 are started.
  • the capacitor C5 is charged by this starting current so that the potential of its positive terminal rises.
  • the potential at the positive terminal of capacitor C5 eventually reaches the base potential of the transistor Q5, the base-emitter voltage of transistor Q5 becomes zero and the current ceases flowing. This indicates that current consumption in the starter circuit upon attainment of the steady state at the end of starting is zero.
  • the foregoing indicates that though the starter circuit comprising the transistor Q5 and resistor R5 operates when the integrated circuit is started, the transistor Q5 is cut out of the circuitry after starting is achieved. Thus, current which is ineffective with regard to functioning of the integrated circuit after starting can be eliminated.
  • Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of an integrated circuit illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the first circuit comprising the transistors Q1, Q2 is connected in cascade with the second circuit comprising the transistors Q3, Q4, and a circuit for starting this circuitry is provided.
  • the circuitry is similar to that of Fig. 1.
  • the emitter of the starting transistor Q5 is connected via the resistor R5 to the point at which the collectors of the transistors Q3, Q1 are connected together, the collector of the transistor Q5 is connected to -V, and the capacitor C5 is connected between the base of transistor Q5 and -V.
  • a current flows into the transistor Q5 through the resistor R5 when the power supply is turned ON.
  • This current serves as a starting current which starts the integrated circuit comprising the Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4.
  • the capacitor C5 is charged by the biasing current of the transistor Q5.
  • the transistor Q5 is turned OFF, whereby the starting current is made zero. As a result, needless power consumption can be reduced.
  • the current charging the capacitor C5 is solely the base current of the transistor Q5. Therefore, the capacitance value as seen from the base terminals of the transistors Q3, Q4 is h fe times that of the circuit shown in Fig. 1, so that the rise in potential at the positive terminal of capacitor C5 is slowed in comparison with the circuit of Fig. 1. This makes stabler starting possible.
  • the resistor R5 in the integrated circuit of Fig. 1 is merely for the purpose of deciding the charging time of the capacitor C5. Therefore, unlike the arrangement of Fig. 3, it is unnecessary for the resistor R5 to have a very high value. As a result, the surface area of the integrated circuit that is occupied by the resistor can be reduced.
  • a capacitor for forming the starter circuit into a capacitive load is connected to a starting transistor.
  • the integrated circuit can be started by passing a current at the time of start-up, after which the capacitor is charged and the starting transistor turned off as a consequence. From this point onward, therefore, unnecessary current consumption can be made zero.
  • the resistor connected to the starting transistor can be made small, the degree of integration of the integrated circuit can be raised accordingly. Moreover, the reliability of operation of the integrated circuit can be improved.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Control Of Electrical Variables (AREA)
  • Semiconductor Integrated Circuits (AREA)
  • Bipolar Integrated Circuits (AREA)
EP90301565A 1989-02-15 1990-02-14 Starter circuit for integrated circuit Withdrawn EP0383571A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP37002/89 1989-02-15
JP3700289A JPH02214911A (ja) 1989-02-15 1989-02-15 集積回路の起動回路

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0383571A1 true EP0383571A1 (en) 1990-08-22

Family

ID=12485504

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90301565A Withdrawn EP0383571A1 (en) 1989-02-15 1990-02-14 Starter circuit for integrated circuit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0383571A1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH02214911A (ja)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR940004026Y1 (ko) * 1991-05-13 1994-06-17 금성일렉트론 주식회사 바이어스의 스타트업회로

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2253237A1 (ja) * 1973-12-04 1975-06-27 Philips Nv
DE2616363A1 (de) * 1975-04-24 1976-12-02 Philips Nv Vorrichtung zur lieferung eines geregelten stromes

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2253237A1 (ja) * 1973-12-04 1975-06-27 Philips Nv
DE2616363A1 (de) * 1975-04-24 1976-12-02 Philips Nv Vorrichtung zur lieferung eines geregelten stromes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH02214911A (ja) 1990-08-27

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