The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 22, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 13, 1992
San L Lin, San Jose, CA (US);
Winbond Electronics North America Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for precise modulation of a reference current. A current generating apparatus in accordance with the invention is provided on an integrated circuit chip and includes a series connected chain comprising in the recited order: (a) an externally-set reference current source; (b) a current-to-voltage (I/V) converter for converting the reference current into an on-chip reference voltage, V.sub.ref ; (c) a voltage-to-current (V/I) converter for converting the reference voltage V.sub.ref into an on-chip, internal reference current I.sub.iref ; (d) a single-ended, voltage-operated current switch for modulating the internal reference current I.sub.iref to produce therefrom a modulated current signal, I.sub.M ; (e) a current-driven filter which receives the modulated current signal I.sub.M and produces therefrom a filtered voltage signal, V.sub.F ; (f) a voltage-to-current (V/I) converter for converting the filtered output voltage signal V.sub.F of the filter back into a current, I.sub.F, and (g) a current multiplier for multiplying the magnitude of the current output by the V/I converter to thereby produce an output current, I.sub.OUT.