Circuit and method of providing a constant current

Details Circuit and method of providing a constant current Circuit and method of providing a constant current

1997-02-11

1998-09-01

Hecker, Stuart N.

Electricity: power supply or regulation systems

Self-regulating

Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...

330288, G05F 316

Patent

active

058015230

ABSTRACT:
A current source (20) uses a current mirror having an input coupled for receiving a first reference current. A first transistor (34) is serially coupled in the input of the current mirror. A second transistor (38) has a first conduction terminal coupled for receiving a second reference current, and a second conduction terminal coupled to an output of the current mirror. The first conduction terminal of the second transistor is coupled to common control inputs (42) of the first and second transistors. As the output voltage of the current source decreases the current mirror transistors are forced to have the same drain-source voltage and gate voltage, and operate at substantially the same point in their linear region. The tracking of the drain-source voltages of the current mirror transistors allow the current source to maintain a constant output current when operating at very low output voltages.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4855618 (1989-08-01), Brokaw
patent: 5252910 (1993-10-01), Agaesse
patent: 5359296 (1994-10-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 5525927 (1996-06-01), Yung et al.
patent: 5589800 (1996-12-01), Peterson
patent: 5654629 (1997-08-01), Theus
patent: 5680038 (1997-10-01), Fiedler
patent: 5696440 (1997-12-01), Harada

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Circuit and method of providing a constant current does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Circuit and method of providing a constant current, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Circuit and method of providing a constant current will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-272997