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:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1996
Applicant:
Inventor:
Robert S Cargill, Portland, OR (US);
Assignee:
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G05F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
327538 ; 327540 ; 323316 ;
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.