US3754181A - Monolithic integrable constant current source for transistors connected as current stabilizing elements - Google Patents

Monolithic integrable constant current source for transistors connected as current stabilizing elements Download PDF

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Publication number
US3754181A
US3754181A US3754181DA US3754181A US 3754181 A US3754181 A US 3754181A US 3754181D A US3754181D A US 3754181DA US 3754181 A US3754181 A US 3754181A
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United States
Prior art keywords
current
transistor
collector
voltage
base
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Expired - Lifetime
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English (en)
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O Dietrich
W Kreitz
L Blossfeld
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TDK Micronas GmbH
ITT Inc
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Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05F—SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G05F1/00—Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and fed back to a device within the system to restore the detected quantity to its predetermined value or values, i.e. retroactive systems
    • G05F1/10—Regulating voltage or current 
    • G05F1/46—Regulating voltage or current  wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC
    • G05F1/56—Regulating voltage or current  wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices
    • G05F1/561—Voltage to current converters
    • 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
    • G05F3/22—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is DC using uncontrolled devices with non-linear characteristics being semiconductor devices using diode- transistor combinations wherein the transistors are of the bipolar type only
    • G05F3/222—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is DC using uncontrolled devices with non-linear characteristics being semiconductor devices using diode- transistor combinations wherein the transistors are of the bipolar type only with compensation for device parameters, e.g. Early effect, gain, manufacturing process, or external variations, e.g. temperature, loading, supply voltage
    • G05F3/227—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is DC using uncontrolled devices with non-linear characteristics being semiconductor devices using diode- transistor combinations wherein the transistors are of the bipolar type only with compensation for device parameters, e.g. Early effect, gain, manufacturing process, or external variations, e.g. temperature, loading, supply voltage producing a current or voltage as a predetermined function of the supply voltage

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT To reduce sensitivity to battery voltage variation in a multiple transistor monolithically integrated constant current source, the control transistor is replaced by an amplifier. Only a fraction of the sum of base currents of the source transistors is applied to the input of the amplifier. Also, the number of source transistors is not as limited by current gain factor as it is when a control transistor is used.
  • the control circuit in the conventional arrangement, consists of a transistor of the same conductivity type which, with its emitter is likewise connected to the voltage-conducting pole of the source of supply voltage U,, while the collector and the basethereof are directly connected to one another and, across a resistor R are connected to the other pole of the supply voltage which, in the drawings, is identical to the zero point-of the circuit.
  • the current stabilizing transistor T is controlled in that the base thereof is connectedtothe base of thecontrol transistor T with respect to direct current.
  • the current which is capable of being taken from 'the collectorof the current'stabilizing transistor T can be adjustedby varying the resistancevalue of "R0- iSuch transistors connected as current stabilizing elements, are very versatile in-use. Thus, for example, it
  • the present invention relates to a monolithic integrable control circuit for one or several transistors or transistor structures of the one conductivity type connected as current stabilizing elements, and having the same or different emitter configurations and which, is discretely designed or integrated circuits, serve as a substitute of ohmic resistors, preferably as substitutes of high-ohmic resistors, with the base-emitter sections thereof, in the case of several current-stabilizing elements, being connected in parallel in the same direction, with the control circuit consisting of one control transistor (-structure) of the one conductivity type, whose base-emitter section is connected in parallel in the same direction to the base-emitter section of the current stabilizing transistor (transist
  • the graphical representation of FIG. 1 is made in such a way that the point connecting the base of the control transistor T to the common base connection of the current stabilizing transistors T, to T, is either referred to as connecting point A or as the first connecting point. Moreover, the point connecting the collector of the control transistor T and the collector resistor R is referred to as D or as the second connecting point.
  • 1, is the collector resistance current
  • 1 is the current flowing in the collector of the current transistor
  • I is the value of one individual base current
  • R is the value of the collector resistor
  • U B is the value of the supply voltage
  • U is the base-emitter voltage of the control transistor
  • U is the value of potential across the collector resistor.
  • the collector current of the control transistor T is linked to the base current thereof through the direct current gain factor B in a grounded emitter circuit according to the equation where B is the direct current gain factor, this analogously also applying to the linkage between the base and the collector current of the current stabilizing transistors T to T
  • the equation relating to the collector current of the control transistor may also be written in the following form:
  • This current can be adjusted with the aid of the resistance value of the collector resistor R However, it is not only dependent upon this value, but also upon the number .n of transistors serving as current stabilizing elements, and on the direct current gain factor B thereof.
  • the manufacturing tolerances cause variations of the direct current gain factors B of the individual production batches so that in cases of dimensioning according to the lowest direct current gain factor B a greater collector current will flow in switching circuits with a higher B than would be actually necessary.
  • the conventional control circuit still has the further disadvantage that voltage variations superimposed upon the supply voltage, for example, the slow dropping of the battery voltage as occurring during the long service life of a dry battery, is noticed as a variation or fluctuation of the collector current flowing over the individual constant current transistors.
  • FIGS. 1 to 7 Further developments and types of embodiments of the inventive circuit arrangement are characterized in the claims, and will now be described in detail with reference to the further FIGS. 1 to 7 shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • FIG. I shows a prior art circuit having the disadvantagesdescribed above
  • FIG. 2 shows one type of embodiment of the invention in which the source of reference voltage is connectedto the voltage-conducting pole of the source of supply voltage
  • FIG. 3 shows one type of embodiment of the invention in which the source of reference voltage is con nected to the zero point of the circuit
  • FIG. 4 shows one circuit realized according to the basic circuit diagram shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 5 shows one circuit realized according to the basic circui't diagram shown in FIG. 3,
  • FIG. '6 shows another circuit realized according to the basic circuit diagram shown in FIG. 3, and,
  • FIG. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to FIG. 6.
  • the circuit arrangement according to FIG. 2 consists of the transistors T, to T, connected as current stabilizing elements, and of the control transistor T which are all connected in the same way as regards their baseemitter sections, as has already been described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 1.
  • the dc regulating amplifier V is now connected into the line extending between the-connecting points A and D, via the output of which there is flowing the common base current n-ll -)'l-,, of the transistors T, to T,, connected as constant-current elements, and of the transistor T and via the 'in' put thereof which is connected -to theconnecting point D, there only flows a fraction of this common base'curre'nt.
  • FIG. 4 shows a circuit arrangement representing a type of embodiment according to the basic circuit diagram shown in FIG. 2.
  • the dc regulating amplifier consists of the two transistors T and T
  • the transistor Ty is of the same conductivity type as the control transistor T and the current stabilizing transistors T, to T,, while the transistor T is complementary to these transistors.
  • the base-emitter section of the transistor T simultaneously serves as the source of reference voltage U thus resulting in a considerable simplification of the entire circuit.
  • the emitter of this transistor is connected to the voltage-conducting pole of the source of supply voltage U, while the base thereof is connected to the point D connecting the collector resistor R and the collector of the control transistor T
  • the collector of the transistor T is connected directly galvanically, with the emitter thereof being connected to the zero point of the circuit, while the collector thereof is connected to the point A, hence to the common base terminal of the transistors T to T,,.
  • the total current gain factor v of this do regulating amplifier is equal to the product from the current gain factors B, and B of the transistors T and Ty Therefore, in the base lead-in conductor of the transistor T there is flowing the base current (n+1 )I /B,B
  • FIG. 5 shows a circuit arrangement corresponding to the basic circuit diagram shown in FIG. 3.
  • the dc regulating amplifier V consists of the transistors Tm andTl-i. with the transistor Tr, being of the same conductivity type as transistors T to T,, and the transistor T being complementary to thesetransistors.
  • the base-emitter section of the transistor T serves as the source of reference voltage, with the emitter of this transistor being connected to the zero point of the circuit while its base is connected to the ollector of the control transistor T and to the collector resistorR hence to the connecting point D.
  • the collector of transistor T is connected directly galvanically to the base of transistor T with the emitter thereof being connected to he voltage conducting pole of the source of supply voltage U,,, and the collector thereof being connected directly galvanically to the common base terminal of the transistors T to T. and, on the other hand, to the zero point of the circuit across a resistor R
  • the total current gain factor v.0f this dc regulating amplifier, when neglecting'the current flowing across the register R is equal to the product from the current gain factors 8;, and B of the transistors T and Ty Accordingly, only that particular portion of the common base current of the transistors T to T, reduced by this factor is flowing across the collector resistor R
  • the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 6 represents another variety relating to the basic circuit diagram shown in FIG.
  • the dc regulating amplifier in this particular variety, again is composed of the transistor T which is complementary to the transistors T to T and of a further transistor T which is complementary to these transistors, i.e., the transistors T and T are of the same conductivity type but complementary in relation to the transistors T to T,,.
  • the base-emitter section of the transistor T is connected in the same way as in the example of embodiment according to FIG. 5, and also the collector is led galvanically directly to the base of transistor T whereas the collector, however, is connected across a resistor R to the voltage-conducting pole of the sup-v ply voltage U,,.
  • the emitter of transistor Ty is applied to the zero point of the circuit while the collector thereof is connected directly galvanically to the common base terminal of the transistors T to T,,.
  • the collector-emitter section of transistor T may be connected in parallel to the resistor Ry with the emitter of transistor T being connected to the voltage-conducting pole of the supply voltage.
  • there is flowing in the base lead-in conductor of the transistor T approximately the total base current (n+1 )l /B B as reduced by the product B 8
  • the current gain factors of the transistors T and T are indicated by the references B and B
  • the individual circuit arrangements according to the present invention still have the property of behaving differently with respect to the temperature coefficient.
  • the circuit arrangement according to FIG. 4 shows to have a positive temperature coefficient while the circuit arrangements according to FIGS. 5 to 7 show to have a negative temperature coefficient.
  • the current-stabilizing transistors are at a relatively low potential, mostly even at a potential which is negative with respect to the zero point of the circuit in the case where npn-transistors are used as differential transistor amplifiers.
  • the individual varieties of the control circuit with corresponding circuit or arrangement of the source of reference voltage may also be chosen with respect to this case of practical application, in such a way that quite depending on the desired characteristic there will be obtained either a positive or a negative temperature coefficient and an additional voltage stabilization.
  • the inventive control circuit is above all of advan tage to circuits operating with low voltages and small currents.
  • Such types of circuits for example, are multistage frequency divider circuits consisting of flip flop stages as used in the digital technique for storages, shift registers, translators, etc., or as may be employed in organs and in clocks or watches controlled by a standard frequency generator.
  • a monolithic integrable constant current source comprising:
  • a source of supply voltage having a voltage conducting pole and a zero voltage pole
  • control transistor having a base-emitter section connected in the same direction and parallel to the base-emitter section of one of said plurality of current stabilizing transistors;
  • a DC regulating amplifier receiving at its input a fraction of the common base current and delivering at its output the total common base current, said amplifier coupled between the junction of said resistor and collector of said control transistor and the junction of the bases of said plurality of current stabilizing transistors for comparing a reference voltage with the voltage at the junction of said resistor and control transistor collector for adjusting the difference to equal the potential at a common reference point, said regulating amplifier comprising:
  • first transistor having an emitter coupled to the voltage conducting pole of said reference voltage, and a base coupled to the junction of said resistor and the collector of said control transistor, the voltage acrosssaid voltage conducting pole and said base establishing said reference voltage; and second transistor having a base coupled to the collector of said first transistor, and emitter coupled to the zero pole of said supply voltage and a collector coupled to the junction of the bases of said plurality of current stabilizing transistors.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Continuous-Control Power Sources That Use Transistors (AREA)
  • Control Of Electrical Variables (AREA)
US3754181D 1970-12-09 1971-11-26 Monolithic integrable constant current source for transistors connected as current stabilizing elements Expired - Lifetime US3754181A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702060504 DE2060504C3 (de) 1970-12-09 1970-12-09 Monolithisch integrierbare Schaltungsanordnung zum Ansteuern eines oder mehrerer als stromkonstanthaltende Elemente angeordneter Transistoren

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US (1) US3754181A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS5716362B1 (enExample)
CH (1) CH546438A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2060504C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2117455A5 (enExample)
IT (1) IT941981B (enExample)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3887863A (en) * 1973-11-28 1975-06-03 Analog Devices Inc Solid-state regulated voltage supply
US3906332A (en) * 1972-11-18 1975-09-16 Itt Integrated circuit current supply
US3982171A (en) * 1974-01-02 1976-09-21 International Business Machines Corporation Gate current source
US4045683A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-08-30 Litton Systems, Inc. Drive circuit with constant current
US4047049A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-09-06 Litton Systems, Inc. Drive circuit with constant current output
FR2394847A1 (fr) * 1977-06-13 1979-01-12 Hermsdorf Keramik Veb Circuit a plusieurs generateurs de courant en parallele
US4260945A (en) * 1979-04-06 1981-04-07 Rca Corporation Regulated current source circuits
USRE30586E (en) * 1979-02-02 1981-04-21 Analog Devices, Incorporated Solid-state regulated voltage supply
US4278946A (en) * 1979-06-28 1981-07-14 Rca Corporation Current scaling circuitry
US4346343A (en) * 1980-05-16 1982-08-24 International Business Machines Corporation Power control means for eliminating circuit to circuit delay differences and providing a desired circuit delay
US4360785A (en) * 1980-05-27 1982-11-23 Rca Corporation Transistor amplifiers exhibiting low input offset potentials
US4383216A (en) * 1981-01-29 1983-05-10 International Business Machines Corporation AC Measurement means for use with power control means for eliminating circuit to circuit delay differences
FR2561470A1 (fr) * 1984-03-14 1985-09-20 Philips Nv Filtre transversal a couplage de charges
US5119014A (en) * 1991-03-05 1992-06-02 Kronberg James W Sequential power-up circuit
US5144117A (en) * 1990-02-27 1992-09-01 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Illumination type optical recorded information reading device
US6232753B1 (en) * 1998-12-22 2001-05-15 Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. Voltage regulator for driving plural loads based on the number of loads being driven
US7122997B1 (en) 2005-11-04 2006-10-17 Honeywell International Inc. Temperature compensated low voltage reference circuit

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2232125C3 (de) * 1972-06-30 1988-04-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Transistorschaltung zum Erzeugen zweier gegenläufig veränderbarer Gleichströme
DE2746742C2 (de) * 1977-10-18 1984-04-12 Philips Patentverwaltung Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg Schaltungsanordnung zum Stabilisieren einer Grenzspannung
DE2837476A1 (de) * 1978-08-28 1980-03-06 Philips Patentverwaltung Anordnung zur stromversorgung einer injektionslogikschaltung
US4214176A (en) * 1978-09-22 1980-07-22 Kushner Jury K Stabilized current sources network
DE3136780A1 (de) * 1981-09-16 1983-03-31 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Integrierte halbleiterschaltung
DE4012847A1 (de) * 1990-04-23 1991-10-31 Philips Patentverwaltung Integrierbare schaltungsanordnung

Citations (6)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2698416A (en) * 1954-03-09 1954-12-28 Gen Precision Lab Inc Voltage regulator
US3235786A (en) * 1962-02-12 1966-02-15 Ind Processes Ltd Voltage stabilizer with series transistors
US3555402A (en) * 1968-12-18 1971-01-12 Honeywell Inc Constant current temperature stabilized signal converter circuit
US3577167A (en) * 1968-02-29 1971-05-04 Rca Corp Integrated circuit biasing arrangements
US3588672A (en) * 1968-02-08 1971-06-28 Tektronix Inc Current regulator controlled by voltage across semiconductor junction device
US3614479A (en) * 1969-07-18 1971-10-19 Dezurik Corp Power supply and signal conditioner for electroner for electronic instrumentation

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2698416A (en) * 1954-03-09 1954-12-28 Gen Precision Lab Inc Voltage regulator
US3235786A (en) * 1962-02-12 1966-02-15 Ind Processes Ltd Voltage stabilizer with series transistors
US3588672A (en) * 1968-02-08 1971-06-28 Tektronix Inc Current regulator controlled by voltage across semiconductor junction device
US3577167A (en) * 1968-02-29 1971-05-04 Rca Corp Integrated circuit biasing arrangements
US3555402A (en) * 1968-12-18 1971-01-12 Honeywell Inc Constant current temperature stabilized signal converter circuit
US3614479A (en) * 1969-07-18 1971-10-19 Dezurik Corp Power supply and signal conditioner for electroner for electronic instrumentation

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3906332A (en) * 1972-11-18 1975-09-16 Itt Integrated circuit current supply
US3887863A (en) * 1973-11-28 1975-06-03 Analog Devices Inc Solid-state regulated voltage supply
US3982171A (en) * 1974-01-02 1976-09-21 International Business Machines Corporation Gate current source
US4045683A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-08-30 Litton Systems, Inc. Drive circuit with constant current
US4047049A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-09-06 Litton Systems, Inc. Drive circuit with constant current output
FR2394847A1 (fr) * 1977-06-13 1979-01-12 Hermsdorf Keramik Veb Circuit a plusieurs generateurs de courant en parallele
USRE30586E (en) * 1979-02-02 1981-04-21 Analog Devices, Incorporated Solid-state regulated voltage supply
US4260945A (en) * 1979-04-06 1981-04-07 Rca Corporation Regulated current source circuits
US4278946A (en) * 1979-06-28 1981-07-14 Rca Corporation Current scaling circuitry
US4346343A (en) * 1980-05-16 1982-08-24 International Business Machines Corporation Power control means for eliminating circuit to circuit delay differences and providing a desired circuit delay
US4360785A (en) * 1980-05-27 1982-11-23 Rca Corporation Transistor amplifiers exhibiting low input offset potentials
US4383216A (en) * 1981-01-29 1983-05-10 International Business Machines Corporation AC Measurement means for use with power control means for eliminating circuit to circuit delay differences
FR2561470A1 (fr) * 1984-03-14 1985-09-20 Philips Nv Filtre transversal a couplage de charges
US5144117A (en) * 1990-02-27 1992-09-01 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Illumination type optical recorded information reading device
US5119014A (en) * 1991-03-05 1992-06-02 Kronberg James W Sequential power-up circuit
US6232753B1 (en) * 1998-12-22 2001-05-15 Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. Voltage regulator for driving plural loads based on the number of loads being driven
US7122997B1 (en) 2005-11-04 2006-10-17 Honeywell International Inc. Temperature compensated low voltage reference circuit

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Publication number Publication date
DE2060504A1 (de) 1972-06-22
JPS5716362B1 (enExample) 1982-04-05
DE2060504C3 (de) 1973-08-30
IT941981B (it) 1973-03-10
CH546438A (de) 1974-02-28
FR2117455A5 (enExample) 1972-07-21
DE2060504B2 (de) 1973-02-01

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