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:
Feb. 06, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1999
Michel Frechette, Plano, TX (US);
Maher A. Abuzaid, Plano, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for converting an analog control voltage to a PTAT current. A plurality of differential transistor pairs is provided, each differential pair including a reference transistor and a non-reference transistor, each transistor having a current path and a control electrode. A first output is coupled to a first end of the current path of each of said non-reference transistors and output means is coupled to a first end of the current path of each of the reference transistors. A plurality of current sources is provided, one current source for each differential pair, each current source having a current path coupled to an opposing end of the current path of a different one of the transistor pairs and a control electrode. A PTAT current generator is coupled to the control electrode of each of the current sources. Each differential pair is provided with a pair of electron emitting electrodes coupled together, the current source being coupled to the electron emitting electrodes. The current sources can provide the same or different current outputs. A pair of such circuits can be provided, each with a different slope, with a control determining which circuit output will be provided to the system.