Patent ID: 7112947

Claim:
A bandgap reference current source for generating a reference current (I REF ) having: (a) at least two bipolar transistors having base terminals that are interconnected and connected to a fixed reference potential, the at least two bipolar transistors having collector terminals that are connected to a collector current ratio setting circuit configured to set a specific current ratio (m) between two collector currents flowing through the collector terminals, the at least two bipolar transistors having emitter terminals that are connected via a first resistor to a current node, the current node configured to add emitter currents flowing through the emitter terminals to form a summation current from which the reference current is formed, the current node also connected to a second resistor, the second resistor being further operably connected to the two base terminals, said second resistor configured to receive a first current (I 3 ) flowing therethrough, (b) the collector current ratio setting circuit, comprising a first reference current source pair configured to generate first and second reference currents in the specific current ratio (m) and a second reference current source pair configured to generate third and fourth reference currents in the specific current ratio (m).