WO1998028674B1 - High efficiency base current helper - Google Patents
High efficiency base current helperInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998028674B1 WO1998028674B1 PCT/US1997/022560 US9722560W WO9828674B1 WO 1998028674 B1 WO1998028674 B1 WO 1998028674B1 US 9722560 W US9722560 W US 9722560W WO 9828674 B1 WO9828674 B1 WO 9828674B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- current
- transistor
- base
- source
- collector
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims 6
- 230000001105 regulatory Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000001603 reducing Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000006722 reduction reaction Methods 0.000 abstract 1
Abstract
High efficiency base current helper to improve the accuracy of current mirrors particularly useful for current mirror utilizing relatively low beta bipolar junction transistors. The high efficiency base current helper utilizes two feedback loops, the first attempting to force the bias rail voltage to a mirror reference voltage and the second sensing excess current in the first loop and forcing it to match a reference level. This causes the first loop to be biased with no more excess current than desired for any process or temperature condition yielding dramatic reductions in wasted bias current. A specific exemplary embodiment is disclosed.
Claims
1. A base current helper comprising: a first transistor having an emitter, a base and a collector, the collector being coupled to a first source of current; a first feedback circuit coupled to the base and the collector of the first transistor and to a second source of current, the first feedback circuit regulating a part of the current in the second source of current from the base of the first transistor to maintain the voltage on the collector of the first transistor; a second feedback circuit coupled to the first feedback circuit and to the second source of current, the second feedback circuit controlling the amount of current provided by the second source of current responsive to the base current requirements of the first transistor .
2. The base current helper of claim 1 wherein the first feedback circuit comprises a second transistor responsive to the voltage on the collector of the first transistor to divert some of the current of the second source of current away from the base of the first transistor and to the second transistor.
3. The base current helper of claim 2 wherein the second feedback circuit controls the amount of current 18
provided by the second source of current responsive to the base current requirements of the first transistor by controlling the current in the second transistor.
4. A base current helper comprising: first and second sources of current, the second source of current being controllable; first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having an emitter, a base and a collector, the collector of the first transistor being coupled to the first source of current and to the base of the second transistor; the second source of current being coupled to the base of the first transistor and to the emitter of the second transistor; and a feedback circuit coupled to the collector of the second transistor and to the second source of current.
5. The base current helper of claim 4 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor in series with the collector of the second transistor and a comparison circuit controlling the second source of current to maintain the voltage drop across the resistor equal to a predetermined voltage.
6. The base current helper of claim 5 wherein the predetermined voltage is a voltage generated by a third source of current passing through a second resistor.
7. The base current helper of claim 5 wherein the second source of current is a third transistor having an 19
emitter, a base and a collector, the comparison circuit controlling the base of the third transistor.
8. The base current helper of claim 5 wherein the second source of current is coupled to the base of the first transistor through a voltage level shifting circuit.
9. The base current helper of claim 7 wherein the collector of the third transistor is coupled to the base of the first transistor and to the emitter of the second transistor.
10. A current mirror for mirroring current to at least one additional transistor comprising: a first transistor having an emitter, a base and a collector, the collector being coupled to a first source of current, the emitter and base of the first transistor being coupled to the emitter and base of at least one additional transistor to which the current in the first transistor is mirrored; a first feedback circuit coupled to the base and the collector of the first transistor and to a second source of current, the first feedback circuit controlling a part of the current in the second source of current away from the base of the first transistor to maintain the voltage on the collector of the first transistor; a second feedback circuit coupled to the first feedback circuit and to the second source of current, the second feedback circuit controlling the amount of current provided by the second source of current
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP97949797A EP0944869A1 (en) | 1996-12-20 | 1997-12-09 | High efficiency base current helper |
| JP52880598A JP2001507150A (en) | 1996-12-20 | 1997-12-09 | High efficiency base current helper |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/770,519 US6011427A (en) | 1996-12-20 | 1996-12-20 | High efficiency base current helper |
| US08/770,519 | 1996-12-20 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1998028674A1 WO1998028674A1 (en) | 1998-07-02 |
| WO1998028674B1 true WO1998028674B1 (en) | 1998-10-15 |
Family
ID=25088825
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1997/022560 WO1998028674A1 (en) | 1996-12-20 | 1997-12-09 | High efficiency base current helper |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6011427A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0944869A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2001507150A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1998028674A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6163216A (en) | 1998-12-18 | 2000-12-19 | Texas Instruments Tucson Corporation | Wideband operational amplifier |
| US6339319B1 (en) * | 2000-07-28 | 2002-01-15 | Agere Systems Guardian Corp. | Cascoded current mirror circuit |
| US20080136464A1 (en) * | 2006-12-06 | 2008-06-12 | Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute | Method of fabricating bipolar transistors and high-speed lvds driver with the bipolar transistors |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4350904A (en) * | 1980-09-22 | 1982-09-21 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Current source with modified temperature coefficient |
| US4700144A (en) * | 1985-10-04 | 1987-10-13 | Gte Communication Systems Corporation | Differential amplifier feedback current mirror |
| US4952867A (en) * | 1986-03-12 | 1990-08-28 | Beltone Electronics Corporation | Base bias current compensator |
| US4675594A (en) * | 1986-07-31 | 1987-06-23 | Honeywell Inc. | Voltage-to-current converter |
| US4763021A (en) * | 1987-07-06 | 1988-08-09 | Unisys Corporation | CMOS input buffer receiver circuit with ultra stable switchpoint |
| JPH04291608A (en) * | 1991-03-20 | 1992-10-15 | Fujitsu Ltd | Power supply circuit |
| CA2162180A1 (en) * | 1993-05-13 | 1994-11-24 | William H. Herndon | Bias voltage distribution system |
| KR0131746B1 (en) * | 1993-12-01 | 1998-04-14 | 김주용 | Internal voltage down converter |
-
1996
- 1996-12-20 US US08/770,519 patent/US6011427A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-12-09 JP JP52880598A patent/JP2001507150A/en active Pending
- 1997-12-09 EP EP97949797A patent/EP0944869A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-12-09 WO PCT/US1997/022560 patent/WO1998028674A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
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