Abstract:
Provided is a voltage reference circuit which is able to obtain high PSRR without a variation in power-supply voltage and an influence of noise. A voltage reference circuit for performing voltage-current conversion on forward voltages of PN junction elements and on a difference therebetween to generate a voltage so as not to depend on a temperature is constituted by an amplifier for controlling a temperature characteristic of a voltage of an output terminal, a source follower circuit for supplying a power to the amplifier, and a PMOS transistor which is controlled by the amplifier and which controls a current to flow into the PN junction elements.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-065977 filed on Mar. 22, 2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a bandgap voltage reference circuit for generating a reference voltage. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a circuit diagram of a conventional bandgap voltage reference circuit. The conventional bandgap voltage reference circuit is constituted by PMOS transistors  311 ,  312 , and  313 , bipolar transistors  301 ,  302 , and  303 , resistors  106 ,  107 ,  108 ,  109 ,  110 ,  331 , and  332 , amplifiers  102  and  321 , a power supply terminal  101 , and a ground terminal  100 . 
     The following describes connection. The amplifier  102  is configured such that an inverting input terminal is connected to a connecting point between an emitter of the bipolar transistor  301  and the resistor  107  and to the resistor  110 , a noninverting input terminal is connected to a connecting point between the resistor  108  and the resistor  106  and to the resistor  109 , and an output is connected to a gate of the PMOS transistor  311 . Another end of the resistor  107  is connected to the resistor  332  and another end of the resistor  108 . The bipolar transistor  301  is configured such that a base and a collector are connected to the ground terminal  100 . The bipolar transistor  302  is configured such that an emitter is connected to another end of the resistor  106  and a base and a collector are connected to the ground terminal  100 . The bipolar transistor  303  is configured such that an emitter is connected to another end of the resistor  109  and another end of the resistor  110  and a base and a collector are connected to the ground terminal  100 . The PMOS transistor  311  is configured such that a drain is connected to another end of the resistor  332  and an inverting input terminal of the amplifier  321 , and a source is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . The amplifier  321  is configured such that a noninverting input terminal is connected to a drain of the PMOS transistor  313  and the resistor  331 , and an output is connected to a gate of the PMOS transistor  312  and a gate of the PMOS transistor  313 . The PMOS transistor  312  is configured such that a drain is connected to an emitter of the bipolar transistor  303 , and a source is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . A source terminal of the PMOS transistor  313  is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . Another end of the resistor  331  is connected to the ground terminal  100 .
     [Non Patent Document 1] ISSCC 2010/SESSION 4/ANALOG TECHNIQUES/4.3 (FIG. 4.3.3)   

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a voltage reference circuit which is able to obtain high PSRR without a variation in a power-supply voltage and an influence of noise as compared with a conventional voltage reference circuit. 
     A voltage reference circuit of the present invention is a voltage reference circuit for performing voltage-current conversion on forward voltages of PN junction elements and on a difference therebetween so as to generate a voltage and includes an amplifier for controlling a temperature characteristic of a voltage of an output terminal, a source follower circuit for supplying a power to the amplifier, and a PMOS transistor for controlling a current to flow into the PN junction elements. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce a variation in a power-supply voltage and an influence of noise and to improve PSRR of an output voltage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram illustrating a voltage reference circuit according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram illustrating a voltage reference circuit according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram illustrating a conventional voltage reference circuit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram of a voltage reference circuit according to a first embodiment. 
     The voltage reference circuit of the first embodiment includes PMOS transistors  122 ,  123 , and  124 , NMOS transistors  125  and  126 , an Nch depression transistor  121 , resistors  106 ,  107 ,  108 ,  109 ,  110 ,  131 ,  132 , and  133 , PN junction elements  103 ,  104 , and  105 , an amplifier  102 , a constant current circuit  141 , a ground terminal  100 , a power supply terminal  101 , and an output terminal  151 . The PMOS transistors  122 ,  123 , and  124 , the NMOS transistors  125  and  126 , and the constant current circuit  141  constitute a voltage-current converting circuit  161 , and the PMOS transistor  122  works as an output transistor of the voltage-current converting circuit  161 . 
     The following describes connection. The amplifier  102  is configured such that a noninverting input terminal is connected to an anode of the PN junction element  103 , the resistor  107 , and the resistor  109 , an inverting input terminal is connected to a connecting point between the resistor  108  and the resistor  106  and to the resistor  110 , and an output is connected to another end of the resistor  107 , another end of the resistor  108 , and the output terminal  151 . A cathode of the PN junction element  103  is connected to the ground terminal  100 . The PN junction element  104  is configured such that an anode is connected to another end of the resistor  106  and a cathode is connected to the ground terminal  100 . The PN junction element  105  is configured such that an anode is connected to another end of the resistor  109 , another end of the resistor  110 , and a drain of the PMOS transistor  122 , and a cathode is connected to the ground terminal  100 . The PMOS transistor  122  is configured such that a gate is connected to a drain of the NMOS transistor  125 , a source is connected to the resistor  131 , and a back gate is connected to the source. The NMOS transistor  125  is configured such that a gate is connected to the source of the PMOS transistor  122 , a source is connected to the constant current circuit  141 , and a back gate is connected to the ground terminal  100 . Another end of the constant current circuit  141  is connected to the ground terminal  100 . The NMOS transistor  126  is configured such that a gate is connected to a connecting point between the resistor  132  and the resistor  133 , a drain is connected to a gate and a drain of the PMOS transistor  124 , a source is connected to the source of the NMOS transistor  125 , and a back gate is connected to the ground terminal  100 . Another end of the resistor  133  is connected to the ground terminal  100 , and another end of the resistor  132  is connected to the output terminal  151 . The PMOS transistor  123  is configured such that a gate is connected to the gate of the PMOS transistor  124 , a drain is connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor  125 , a source is connected to a source of the Nch depression transistor  121 , and a back gate is connected to the source. The PMOS transistor  124  is configured such that a source is connected to the source of the PMOS transistor  123 , and a back gate is connected to the source. The Nch depression transistor  121  is configured such that a gate is connected to the output terminal  151  and another end of the resistor  131 , a drain is connected to the power supply terminal  101 , and a back gate is connected to the ground terminal  100 . 
     The following describes an operation of the voltage reference circuit of the present embodiment. The PN junction elements  103  and  104  are configured with an appropriate area ratio (e.g., one to four), so as to output a voltage VBG to the output terminal  151  from an output of the amplifier  102 . A connecting point between the resistor  132  and the resistor  133  is assumed as a node X, and a connecting point between the resistor  131  and the source of the PMOS transistor  122  is assumed as a node Y. The voltage-current converting circuit  161  controls the PMOS transistor  122  so that a voltage of the node X and a voltage of the node Y which are obtained by dividing the output voltage VBG according to resistances are equal to each other. 
     The voltage VBG is obtained by adding voltages at both ends of the resistor  107  to an anode voltage of the PN junction element  103 . The anode voltage of the PN junction element  103  has a component which linearly decreases along with an increase in temperature and a component which nonlinearly decreases along with the increase in temperature. On the other hand, a current flowing in the resistor  107  linearly increases along with the increase in temperature. As a result, a temperature characteristic of the voltage VBG has nonlinearity due to the anode voltage of the PN junction element  103 . The PN junction element  105  is a PN junction element which is added so that the voltage VBG does not depend on the temperature. A current having a temperature characteristic different from that of the PN junction element  103  flows into the PN junction element  105 . In this case, a nonlinear component of the temperature characteristic of an anode voltage of the PN junction element  105  has a coefficient different from that of the nonlinear component of the anode voltage of the PN junction element  103 . On that account, a potential difference nonlinear to the temperature is caused between the anode of the PN junction element  103  and the anode of the PN junction element  105 . A current caused by the potential difference is supplied from the amplifier  102  and flows into the resistor  107  and the resistor  110 . Since the current having a nonlinear temperature characteristic flows in the resistor  107 , voltages having a nonlinear temperature characteristic are generated at both ends of the resistor  107 . A magnitude of these nonlinear components can be adjusted by changing a resistance value of the resistor  110 . The adjustment causes the nonlinear temperature characteristic of the voltages at both ends of the resistor  107  in a direction to cancel the nonlinear temperature characteristic of the anode voltage of the PN junction element  103 , thereby allowing the voltage VBG to be a constant voltage which does not depend on the temperature. 
     The Nch depression transistor  121  forms a source follower. Since its gate is connected to the output terminal, a source voltage becomes VBG+|Vtnd| where Vtnd denotes a threshold value of the Nch depression transistor  121 , and thus, it is possible to output a voltage sufficient to drive the voltage-current converting circuit  161 . The voltage-current converting circuit  161  is driven by using this voltage, and thus is able to be operated without a variation due to the power supply and an influence of power-supply noise. 
     Note that as the PN junction element, a diode or a bipolar transistor which is saturated and connected may be used. Further, the source follower may be formed of other configurations. The current source  141  may be a resistor. 
     As has been described above, according to the voltage reference circuit of the first embodiment, since the source follower of the Nch depression transistor of which the gate is connected to the output terminal is used for a power supply of the amplifier, it is possible to reduce a variation in a power-supply voltage and an influence of noise and to improve PSRR of an output voltage. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of a voltage reference circuit according to a second embodiment. 
     The voltage reference circuit of the second embodiment includes NMOS transistors  222 ,  223 , and  224 , PMOS transistors  225  and  226 , a Pch depression transistor  221 , resistors  206 ,  207 ,  208 ,  209 ,  210 ,  231 ,  232 , and  233 , PN junction elements  203 ,  204 , and  205 , an amplifier  202 , a constant current circuit  241 , a ground terminal  100 , a power supply terminal  101 , and an output terminal  251 . The NMOS transistors  222 ,  223 , and  224 , the PMOS transistors  225  and  226 , and the constant current circuit  241  constitute a voltage-current converting circuit  261 , and the NMOS transistor  222  works as an output transistor of the voltage-current converting circuit  261 . 
     The following describes connection. The amplifier  202  is configured such that a noninverting input terminal is connected to a cathode of the PN junction element  203 , the resistor  207 , and the resistor  209 , an inverting input terminal is connected to a connecting point between the resistor  208  and the resistor  206  and to the resistor  210 , and an output is connected to another end of the resistor  207 , another end of the resistor  208 , and the output terminal  251 . An anode of the PN junction element  203  is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . The PN junction element  204  is configured such that a cathode is connected to another end of the resistor  206  and an anode is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . The PN junction element  205  is configured such that a cathode is connected to another end of the resistor  209 , another end of the resistor  210 , and a drain of the NMOS transistor  222 , and an anode is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . The NMOS transistor  222  is configured such that a gate is connected to a drain of the PMOS transistor  225 , a source is connected to the resistor  231 , and a back gate is connected to the source. The PMOS transistor  225  is configured such that a gate is connected to the source of the NMOS transistor  222 , a source is connected to the constant current circuit  241 , and a back gate is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . Another end of the constant current circuit  241  is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . The PMOS transistor  226  is configured such that a gate is connected to a connecting point between the resistor  232  and the resistor  233 , a drain is connected to a gate and a drain of the NMOS transistor  224 , a source is connected to a source of the PMOS transistor  225 , and a back gate is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . Another end of the resistor  233  is connected to the power supply terminal  101 , and another end of the resistor  232  is connected to the output terminal  251 . The NMOS transistor  223  is configured such that a gate is connected to the gate of the NMOS transistor  224 , a drain is connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor  225 , a source is connected to a source of the Pch depression transistor  221 , and a back gate is connected to the source. The NMOS transistor  224  is configured such that a source is connected to the source of the NMOS transistor  223 , and a back gate is connected to the source. The Pch depression transistor  221  is configured such that a gate is connected to the output terminal  251  and another end of the resistor  231 , a drain is connected to the ground terminal  100 , and a back gate is connected to the power supply terminal  101 . 
     The following describes an operation of the voltage reference circuit of the present embodiment. The PN junction elements  203  and  204  are configured with an appropriate area ratio (e.g., one to four), so as to output a voltage VBG to the output terminal  251  from an output of the amplifier  202 . A connecting point between the resistor  232  and the resistor  233  is assumed as a node X, and a connecting point between the resistor  231  and the source of the NMOS transistor  222  is assumed as a node Y. The voltage-current converting circuit  261  controls the NMOS transistor  222  so that a voltage of the node X and a voltage of the node Y which are obtained by dividing the output voltage VBG according to resistances are equal to each other. 
     The voltage VBG is obtained by adding voltages at both ends of the resistor  207  to a cathode voltage of the PN junction element  203 . The cathode voltage of the PN junction element  203  has a component which linearly increases along with an increase in temperature and a component which nonlinearly increases along with the increase in temperature. On the other hand, a current flowing into the resistor  207  linearly increases along with the increase in temperature. As a result, a temperature characteristic of the voltage VBG has nonlinearity due to the cathode voltage of the PN junction element  203 . The PN junction element  205  is a PN junction element which is added so that the voltage VBG does not depend on the temperature. A current having a temperature characteristic different from that of the PN junction element  203  flows into the PN junction element  205 . In this case, a nonlinear component of the temperature characteristic of a cathode voltage of the PN junction element  205  has a coefficient different from that of the nonlinear component of the cathode voltage of the PN junction element  203 . On that account, a potential difference which is nonlinear to the temperature is caused between the cathode of the PN junction element  203  and the cathode of the PN junction element  205 . A current caused by the potential difference is supplied from the amplifier  202  and flows into the resistor  207  and the resistor  210 . Since the current having a nonlinear temperature characteristic flows in the resistor  207 , voltages having a nonlinear temperature characteristic are generated at both ends of the resistor  207 . A magnitude of these nonlinear components can be adjusted by changing a resistance value of the resistor  210 . The adjustment causes the nonlinear temperature characteristic of the voltages at both ends of the resistor  207  in a direction to cancel the nonlinear temperature characteristic of the cathode voltage of the PN junction element  203 , thereby allowing the voltage VBG to be a constant voltage which does not depend on the temperature. 
     The Pch depression transistor  221  forms a source follower. Since its gate is connected to the output terminal, a source voltage becomes VBG+|Vtpd| where Vtpd denotes a threshold value of the Pch depression transistor  221 , and thus, it is possible to output a voltage sufficient to drive the voltage-current converting circuit  261 . The voltage-current converting circuit  261  is driven by using this voltage, and thus is able to be operated without a variation due to the power supply and an influence of power-supply noise. 
     Note that as the PN junction element, a diode or a bipolar transistor which is saturated and connected may be used. Further, the source follower may be formed of other configurations. The current source  241  may be a resistor. 
     As has been described above, according to the voltage reference circuit of the second embodiment, since the source follower of the Pch depression transistor of which the gate is connected to the output terminal is used for a power supply of the amplifier, it is possible to reduce a variation in a power-supply voltage and an influence of noise and to improve PSRR of an output voltage.