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. 24, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 17, 2007
Christophe Holuigue, München, DE;
Martin Gröpl, Sonthofen, DE;
Christophe Holuigue, München, DE;
Martin Gröpl, Sonthofen, DE;
National Semiconductor Germany AG, Unterhaching, DE;
Abstract
The invention concerns a controllable current source or 'charge pump' () in an integrated circuit, comprising two supply terminals (KK) for the application of two supply potentials (VV) as well as an output terminal (Kout) for the delivery of an output current, connected via a first controllable current path (T) with the first supply terminal (K), and via a second controllable current path (T) with the second supply terminal (K). In order to improve the current source () with regard to the quality of the output signal, it is provided according to the invention that the controllable current source () furthermore has a replica (TT) of the current paths (TT) in their non-controlled state, of which a replica output terminal (Kout') is connected via a current mirror (Tto T) with the output terminal (Kout).