Ambiq Micro, Inc.

Kenneth Gozie Ifesinachukwu

Scott McLean Hanson

Ajaykumar A Kanji

An improved reference current generator for use in an integrated circuit. A voltage difference generator generates two voltages that are separated by a relatively small electrical potential. The two closely separated voltages are applied across a resistive element with relatively large impedance value resulting in a small and stable reference current. The stable reference current is mirrored and, if desired, amplified for use on the integrated circuit. A driver selectively drives state information off chip for assisting in post-silicon correction of unwanted sensitivities. A configuration memory stores values used to adjust effective device widths and lengths for correcting unwanted sensitivities.

Low power tunable reference current generator

A method and apparatus for generating an improved reference voltage for use, for example, in a system requiring accurate low power operation. In particular, our reference voltage generator is adapted to output VREF as a function of the voltage difference between V1 and V2. The reference voltage generator is further adapted to include our reference voltage tuner to compensate for predetermined sensitivities of the reference voltage VREF, and to adjust the absolute value of VREF. During manufacturing and system test, a driver may be used to drive a buffered or unbuffered version of VREF to off-chip test functionality. Also, a configuration memory may be used to store the trim settings during normal operation, and make such settings available to outside resources.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Kenneth Gozie Ifesinachukwu