Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC

Marian Badila

Radu H Iacob

Cornel D Stanescu

Sabin A Eftimie

Andreea Creosteanu

A reference circuit includes a first transistor having a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal. The reference circuit further includes a resistive element including a first terminal coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the first current electrode. Additionally, the reference circuit includes a second transistor including a first current electrode coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element, a control electrode coupled to the second terminal, and a second current electrode coupled to the power supply terminal. The second transistor is configured to produce an output signal related to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor.

Circuits and methods of producing a reference current or voltage

In an embodiment, a low-dropout (LDO) regulator includes at least one of a programmable voltage reference and a programmable frequency compensation circuit and is configurable to produce an output voltage. The programmable voltage reference includes a floating-gate transistor coupled to a reference output and configurable for providing a reference voltage to an input of an error amplifier. The programmable frequency compensation circuit is responsive to a programmable current reference circuit that includes at least one floating-gate transistor that is configurable to adjust a frequency compensation parameter. A control circuit is provided to selectively program floating gates of the floating gate transistors to adjust the output voltage and/or to adjust a frequency component of the output voltage.

Floating-gate programmable low-dropout regulator and method therefor

In an embodiment, a circuit includes a first transistor having a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal. The circuit further includes a resistive element having a first terminal coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the power supply terminal. The circuit also includes a feedback circuit for providing a first current to the first control electrode of the first transistor and for preserving substantially the first current related to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor, through the resistive element. The feedback circuit includes an output terminal for providing an output signal in response to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor. In an embodiment, the first transistor is a floating-gate device with programmable threshold voltage.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Marian Badila