Abstract:
Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit including a variable resistor circuit of the small layout area, which is free from an error in resistance caused by ON-state resistances of switch elements for trimming, and is also free from power supply voltage dependence and temperature dependence. The semiconductor integrated circuit including a variable resistor circuit includes: a resistor circuit including a plurality of series-connected resistors; a selection circuit including a plurality of switch elements for selecting a connected number of the plurality of series-connected resistors; and a control circuit for controlling ON-state resistances of the plurality of switch elements. The control circuit controls the ON-state resistances of the plurality of switch elements so as to obtain a predetermined ratio to a resistance of the plurality of series-connected resistors of the resistor circuit.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-133266 filed on Jun. 10, 2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit including a variable resistor circuit. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates a semiconductor integrated circuit including a conventional variable resistor circuit. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a trimming circuit  351  includes PMOS transistors  310 ,  311 , and  312 , NPN transistors  313 ,  314 , and  315 , constant current sources  316 ,  317 , and  318 , control signal input pads  321 ,  322 , and  323 , and wirings D, E, and F. The PMOS transistors  310 ,  311 , and  312  each have a source connected to a VDD terminal and a gate connected to a control terminal VG. The NPN transistor  313  has a base connected to the constant current source  316  and the control signal input pad  321 , an emitter connected to a VSS terminal, and a collector connected to the wiring D and a drain of the PMOS transistor  310 . The NPN transistor  314  has a base connected to the constant current source  317  and the control signal input pad  322 , an emitter connected to the VSS terminal, and a collector connected to the wiring E and a drain of the PMOS transistor  311 . The NPN transistor  315  has a base connected to the constant current source  318  and the control signal input pad  323 , an emitter connected to the VSS terminal, and a collector connected to the wiring F and a drain of the PMOS transistor  312 . 
         [0006]    A constant voltage circuit  341  includes an amplifier  301 , resistors  302  to  306 , and NMOS transistors  307 ,  308 , and  309 . The resistors  302  to  306  together form an output voltage dividing circuit. The NMOS transistors  307 ,  308 , and  309  have sources and drains which are connected in parallel to the resistors  303 ,  304 , and  305 , respectively. The source and the drain of the NMOS transistor  307  are connected across the resistor  303 , and a gate thereof is connected to the wiring D. The source and the drain of the NMOS transistor  308  are connected across the resistor  304 , and a gate thereof is connected to the wiring E. The source and the drain of the NMOS transistor  309  are connected across the resistor  305 , and a gate thereof is connected to the wiring F. The amplifier  301  has a non-inverting input terminal connected to a Vref terminal. The resistor  302  has one terminal connected to an output of the amplifier  301  and a VR terminal, and another terminal connected to an inverting input terminal of the amplifier  301  and the resistor  303 . The resistors  302  to  306  are connected in series. 
         [0007]    The semiconductor integrated circuit including the conventional variable resistor circuit is a circuit capable of trimming an output voltage to be output from the output terminal VR by trimming a resistance of the variable resistor circuit. The resistors  303  to  305  are subjected to trimming. When the control signal input pads  321 ,  322 , and  323  are open, respective collector voltages of the NPN transistors  313 ,  314 , and  315  are Lo, and the NMOS transistors  307 ,  308 , and  309  are OFF. In this state, the resistors  303  to  305  are not short-circuited but connected to other adjacent elements. When 0 V is applied to the control signal input pads  321 ,  322 , and  323 , the NPN transistors  313 ,  314 , and  315  become an interrupted state. Accordingly, the collector voltages are changed to Hi, and the NMOS transistors  307 ,  308 , and  309  are turned ON. In this state, the resistors  303  to  305  are short-circuited. This way, trimming can be performed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-335593 (FIG. 1)). 
         [0008]    In the semiconductor integrated circuit including the conventional variable resistor circuit as configured above, there is an error in trimming amount depending on ON-state resistances of the NMOS transistors as switch elements. It is therefore difficult to trim the resistance with accuracy. Further, there is another problem that, even if the trimming is performed taking the ON-state resistances into account, the trimmed resistance has an error because of power supply voltage dependence or temperature dependence of the ON-state resistances. Still further, there is another problem that the layout area of the circuit is increased because it is necessary to increase the size of the NMOS transistors for reducing the ON-state resistances to reduce the influence of the ON-state resistances. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is therefore an object thereof to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit including a variable resistor circuit of the small layout area, which is capable of trimming a resistance with accuracy and is free from power supply voltage dependence and temperature dependence. 
         [0010]    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit including a variable resistor circuit, including: a resistor circuit including a plurality of series-connected resistors; a selection circuit including a plurality of switch elements for selecting a connected number of the plurality of series-connected resistors; and a control circuit for controlling ON-state resistances of the plurality of switch elements, in which the control circuit controls the ON-state resistances of the plurality of switch elements so as to obtain a predetermined ratio to a resistance of the plurality of series-connected resistors of the resistor circuit. 
         [0011]    Therefore, according to the semiconductor integrated circuit including the variable resistor circuit of the present invention, the ON-state resistances of the switch elements for varying the resistance can be controlled to eliminate an error in trimming amount caused by the ON-state resistances of the switch elements. Besides, the present invention can provide the effect of eliminating the power supply voltage dependence and the temperature dependence and the effect of reducing the layout area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable resistor circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable resistor circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram illustrating a semiconductor integrated circuit including a conventional variable resistor circuit; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram illustrating a semiconductor integrated circuit including the variable resistor circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram illustrating a semiconductor integrated circuit including the variable resistor circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention are described below. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable resistor circuit  180  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The variable resistor circuit  180  corresponds to the resistors  303  to  305  and the trimming circuit  351  of the related art. The variable resistor circuit  180  according to the first embodiment includes resistors  101  to  101   n  together forming a resistor circuit, a resistor  113  as a reference resistor, inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1, NMOS transistors  102  to  102   n+ 1 and  114 , selector switches  116  to  120 , an amplifier  110 , constant current circuits  111  and  112 , and a register circuit  115 . 
         [0020]    The amplifier  110  has a non-inverting input terminal connected to the constant current circuit  111  and a drain of the NMOS transistor  114 , an inverting input terminal connected to the constant current circuit  112  and one terminal of the resistor  113 , and an output connected to a gate of the NMOS transistor  114 . The resistor  113  has another terminal connected to a VSS terminal  153 . The NMOS transistor  114  has a source connected to the VSS terminal  153 . The n resistors  101  to  101   n  are connected in series, and one end of the n series-connected resistors  101  to  101   n  is connected to an output terminal  151  and another end thereof is connected to a drain of the NMOS transistor  102   n+ 1. The NMOS transistor  102   n+ 1 has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   n+ 1 and a source connected to an output terminal  154 . The NMOS transistor  102   n  has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   n , a drain connected to a connection point between one terminal of the resistor  101   n  and one terminal of the resistor  101   n− 1, and a source connected to the output terminal  154 . The NMOS transistor  102   n− 1 has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   n− 1, a drain connected to another terminal of the resistor  101   n− 1, and a source connected to the output terminal  154 . The NMOS transistor  102   a  has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   a , a drain connected to a connection point between the resistors  101  and  101   a , and a source connected to the output terminal  154 . The NMOS transistor  102  has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103 , a drain connected to the output terminal  151 , and a source connected to the output terminal  154 . The register circuit  115  receives respective output signals of the selector switches  116  to  120 . The register circuit  115  has an output terminal  130  connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103 , an output terminal  130   a  connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   a , an output terminal  130   n− 1 connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   n− 1, an output terminal  130   n  connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   n , and an output terminal  130   n +1 connected to an input terminal of the inverter 103n+1. The inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 each have a power supply terminal connected to the output of the amplifier  110 . The output terminal  154  is connected to the VSS terminal  153 . 
         [0021]    Next, an operation of the variable resistor circuit  180  according to the first embodiment as configured above is described. 
         [0022]    Each of the selector switches  116  to  120  is switched in response to an external signal corresponding to a desired resistance, and outputs the switched signal to the register circuit  115 . Based on the input signals, the register circuit  115  determines respective signals of the output terminals  130  to  130   n+ 1. 
         [0023]    When Hi is output from the output terminal  130  of the register circuit  115 , the output of the inverter  103  is Lo, and the NMOS transistor  102  is turned OFF. When Lo is output from the output terminal  130  of the register circuit  115 , the output of the inverter  103  is Hi, and the NMOS transistor  102  is turned ON. The other output terminals and NMOS transistors have the same relationships. 
         [0024]    For example, when Lo is output from the output terminal  130  and Hi is output from all the other output terminals, only the NMOS transistor  102  is turned ON, and hence a resistance between the output terminals  151  and  154  is an ON-state resistance of the NMOS transistor  102 . 
         [0025]    As another example, when Lo is output from the output terminal  130   a  and Hi is output from all the other output terminals, only the NMOS transistor  102   a  is turned ON, and hence the resistance between the output terminals  151  and  154  is a series resistance of the resistance of the resistor  101  and an ON-state resistance of the NMOS transistor  102   a.    
         [0026]    As another example, when Lo is output from the output terminal  130   n  and Hi is output from all the other output terminals, only the NMOS transistor  102   n  is turned ON, and hence the resistance between the output terminals  151  and  154  is a series resistance of the resistances from the resistors  101  to  101   n− 1 and an ON-state resistance of the NMOS transistor  102   n.    
         [0027]    As another example, when Lo is output from the output terminal  130   n+ 1 and Hi is output from all the other output terminals, only the NMOS transistor  102   n+ 1 is turned ON, and hence the resistance between the output terminals  151  and  154  is a series resistance of the resistances from the resistors  101  to  101   n  and an ON-state resistance of the NMOS transistor  102   n+ 1. 
         [0028]    The constant current circuits  111  and  112  each supply a current I, which is substantially the same as a current I that flows between the output terminals  151  and  154  when a circuit or an external device is connected between the output terminals  151  and  154 . The resistors  101  to  101  n and the resistor  113  have the same resistance R. The NMOS transistors  102  to  102   n+ 1 and the NMOS transistor  114  have the same size. 
         [0029]    A voltage at the inverting input terminal of the amplifier  110  is a voltage I×R, which is determined by the current I of the constant current circuit  112  and the resistance R of the resistor  113 . A voltage at the non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier  110  is also the voltage I×R because the NMOS transistor  114  is controlled by the output of the amplifier  110  so as to obtain the same voltage as the voltage at the inverting input terminal. In other words, the NMOS transistor  114  operates in the non-saturation region so that an ON-state resistance thereof is controlled to the same resistance R as that of the resistor  113 . 
         [0030]    Because the power supply terminals of the inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 are connected to the output of the amplifier  110 , the inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 each output the voltage I×R as Hi. The NMOS transistors  102  to  102   n+ 1 have the same size as that of the NMOS transistor  114 , and hence when the inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 output Hi, the NMOS transistors  102  to  102   n+ 1 operate in the non-saturation region so that the ON-state resistances thereof are controlled to the resistance R. 
         [0031]    Therefore, for example, when the output terminal  130  of the register circuit  115  is Lo, the resistance between the output terminals  151  and  154  is the resistance R of the ON-state resistance of the NMOS transistor  102 . As another example, when the output terminals  130  and  130   a  of the register circuit  115  are Lo, the resistance between the output terminals  151  and  154  is a series resistance  2 R of the resistance of the resistor  101  and the ON-state resistance of the NMOS transistor  102   a.    
         [0032]    As described above, in the variable resistor circuit  180  according to this embodiment, the ON-state resistances of the NMOS transistors, which are trimming switches, are also used as the resistance R. Therefore, unlike the conventional variable resistor circuit, the resistance can be controlled with accuracy without causing an error by the ON-state resistances of the NMOS transistors. Further, the ON-state resistances of the NMOS transistors are controlled by the currents of the constant current circuits and the resistor, and hence power supply voltage dependence and temperature dependence can be reduced. Besides, the layout area can also be reduced because it is not necessary to reduce the ON-state resistances. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable resistor circuit  280  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The variable resistor circuit  280  corresponds to the resistors  303  to  305  and the trimming circuit  351  of the related art. The variable resistor circuit  280  according to the second embodiment includes resistors  101  to  101   n  together forming a resistor circuit, a resistor  113  as a reference resistor, inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1, PMOS transistors  201  to  201   n+ 1 and  204 , selector switches  116  to  120 , an amplifier  110 , constant current circuits  111  and  112 , and a register circuit  115 . 
         [0034]    The amplifier  110  has a non-inverting input terminal connected to the constant current circuit  111  and a drain of the PMOS transistor  204 , an inverting input terminal connected to the constant current circuit  112  and one terminal of the resistor  113 , and an output connected to a gate of the PMOS transistor  204 . The resistor  113  has another terminal connected to a VDD terminal  152 . The PMOS transistor  204  has a source connected to the VDD terminal  152 . The n resistors  101  to  101   n  are connected in series, and one end of the n series-connected resistors  101  to  101   n  is connected to an output terminal  251  and another end thereof is connected to a drain of the PMOS transistor  201   n+ 1. The PMOS transistor  201   n+ 1 has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   n+ 1 and a source connected to an output terminal  252 . The PMOS transistor  201   n  has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   n , a drain connected to a connection point between one terminal of the resistor  101   n  and one terminal of the resistor  101   n− 1, and a source connected to the output terminal  252 . The PMOS transistor  201   n− 1 has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   n− 1, a drain connected to another terminal of the resistor  101   n− 1, and a source connected to the output terminal  252 . The PMOS transistor  201   a  has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103   a , a drain connected to a connection point between the resistors  101  and  101   a , and a source connected to the output terminal  252 . The PMOS transistor  201  has a gate connected to an output of the inverter  103 , a drain connected to the output terminal  251 , and a source connected to the output terminal  252 . The register circuit  115  receives respective output signals of the selector switches  116  to  120 . The register circuit  115  has an output terminal  130  connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103 , an output terminal  130   a  connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   a , an output terminal  130   n− 1 connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   n− 1, an output terminal  130   n  connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   n , and an output terminal  130   n+ 1 connected to an input terminal of the inverter  103   n+ 1. The inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 each have a VSS terminal connected to the output of the amplifier  110 . The output terminal  252  is connected to the VDD terminal  152 . In other words, the variable resistor circuit  280  according to the second embodiment operates with reference to the VDD terminal  152 . 
         [0035]    Next, an operation of the variable resistor circuit  280  according to the second embodiment as configured above is described. 
         [0036]    The selector switches  116  to  120  are each switched in response to an external signal corresponding to a desired resistance, and outputs the switched signal to the register circuit  115 . Based on the input signals, the register circuit  115  determines respective signals of the output terminals  130  to  130   n+ 1. 
         [0037]    When Hi is output from the output terminal  130  of the register circuit  115 , the output of the inverter  103  is Lo, and the PMOS transistor  201  is turned ON. When Lo is output from the output terminal  130  of the register circuit  115 , the output of the inverter  103  is Hi, and the PMOS transistor  201  is turned OFF. The other output terminals and PMOS transistors have the same relationships. 
         [0038]    For example, when Hi is output from the output terminal  130  and Lo is output from all the other output terminals, only the PMOS transistor  201  is turned ON, and hence a resistance between the output terminals  252  and  251  is an ON-state resistance of the PMOS transistor  201 . 
         [0039]    As another example, when Hi is output from the output terminal  130   a  and Lo is output from all the other output terminals, only the PMOS transistor  201  a is turned ON, and hence the resistance between the output terminals  252  and  251  is a series resistance of the resistance of the resistor  101  and an ON-state resistance of the PMOS transistor  201   a.    
         [0040]    As another example, when Hi is output from the output terminal  130   n  and Lo is output from all the other output terminals, only the PMOS transistor  201   n  is turned ON, and hence the resistance between the output terminals  252  and  251  is a series resistance of the resistances from the resistors  101  to  101   n− 1 and an ON-state resistance of the PMOS transistor  201   n.    
         [0041]    As another example, when Hi is output from the output terminal  130   n+ 1 and Lo is output from all the other output terminals, only the PMOS transistor  201   n+ 1 is turned ON, and hence the resistance between the output terminals  252  and  251  is a series resistance of the resistances from the resistors  101  to  101   n  and an ON-state resistance of the PMOS transistor  201   n+ 1. 
         [0042]    The constant current circuits  111  and  112  each supply a current I, which is substantially the same as a current I that flows between the output terminals  252  and  251  when a circuit or an external device is connected between the output terminals  252  and  251 . The resistors  101  to  101   n  and the resistor  113  have the same resistance R. The PMOS transistors  201  to  201   n+ 1 and the PMOS transistor  204  have the same size. 
         [0043]    A voltage at the inverting input terminal of the amplifier  110  is a voltage −I×R with reference to the VDD terminal, which is determined by the current I of the constant current circuit  112  and the resistance R of the resistor  113 . A voltage at the non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier  110  is also the voltage −I×R because the PMOS transistor  204  is controlled by the output of the amplifier  110  so as to obtain the same voltage as the voltage at the inverting input terminal. In other words, the PMOS transistor  204  operates in the non-saturation region so that an ON-state resistance thereof is controlled to the same resistance R as that of the resistor  113 . 
         [0044]    Because the VSS terminals of the inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 are connected to the output of the amplifier  110 , the inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 each output the voltage −I×R as Lo. The PMOS transistors  201  to  201   n+ 1 have the same size as that of the PMOS transistor  204 , and hence when the inverters  103  to  103   n+ 1 output Lo, the PMOS transistors  201  to  201   n+ 1 operate in the non-saturation region so that the ON-state resistances thereof are controlled to the resistance R. 
         [0045]    Therefore, for example, when the output terminal  130  of the register circuit  115  is Hi, the resistance between the output terminals  252  and  251  is the resistance R of the ON-state resistance of the PMOS transistor  201 . As another example, when the output terminals  130  and  130   a  of the register circuit  115  are Hi, the resistance between the output terminals  252  and  251  is a series resistance  2 R of the resistance of the resistor  101  and the ON-state resistance of the PMOS transistor  201   a.    
         [0046]    As described above, in the variable resistor circuit  280  according to this embodiment, the ON-state resistances of the PMOS transistors, which are trimming switches, are also used as the resistance R. Therefore, unlike the conventional variable resistor circuit, the resistance can be controlled with accuracy without causing an error by the ON-state resistances of the PMOS transistors. Further, the ON-state resistances of the PMOS transistors are controlled by the currents of the constant current circuits and the resistor, and hence power supply voltage dependence and temperature dependence can be reduced. Besides, the layout area can also be reduced because it is not necessary to reduce the ON-state resistances. 
         [0047]    Note that, in the description above, the ON-state resistances of the MOS transistors as the trimming switches are used as the same resistance as those of the resistors forming the resistor circuit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the ON-state resistances may be a resistance twice or half the resistances of the resistors forming the resistor circuit. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram illustrating a semiconductor integrated circuit including the variable resistor circuit  180  according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The semiconductor integrated circuit of  FIG. 4  includes an amplifier  301 , a resistor  302 , and the variable resistor circuit  180 , thereby constituting a constant voltage circuit. 
         [0049]    The amplifier  301  has a non-inverting input terminal connected to a Vref terminal. The resistor  302  has one terminal connected to an output of the amplifier  301  and a VR terminal, and another terminal connected to an inverting input terminal of the amplifier  301  and the output terminal  151  of the variable resistor circuit  180 . The output terminal  154  of the variable resistor circuit  180  is connected to the VSS terminal  153 . 
         [0050]    As described above, when the variable resistor circuit of the present invention is used as a constant voltage circuit, an output voltage with high trimming accuracy can be obtained, the power supply voltage dependence and the temperature dependence can be reduced, and the layout area can be reduced. 
         [0051]    Further, even when the variable resistor circuit  280  is used to constitute a constant voltage circuit as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , an accurate output voltage can be obtained as well. 
         [0052]    Note that, the constant voltage circuit has been described as an example of the semiconductor integrated circuit including the variable resistor circuit, but the same effects can be obtained as long as the variable resistor circuit according to the present invention is used for a semiconductor integrated circuit including a resistor circuit.