Voltage References ≲350nA

2 US Patents Issued & Proof of Silicon

Voltage References (VREF) & VREF + IREF in one with Low Temperature Coefficient (TC): This section contains a number of CMOS ultra-low power (e.g. nano-ampere) VREFs and VREF + IREF combined, having low TCs.   The VREFs offered here are bandgap (e.g., VREF≈VBG≈1.2), fractional bandgap (e.g., VREF≈VBG/2≈0.6), and fractional (VREF≈0.4v) and the TC can be programmed or trimmed.  The VREF and IREF circuits include start-up and a power-off capability as well.   VREFs generally includes an internal buffer (BUF) to drive larger loads (e.g. Mega Ωs) in a SoC.  Some of the common traits of VREF & IREF circuits are summarized below.  Testing is ongoing, with specific performance metrics labeled as TBD. 

  • Bandgap voltage (including fractional VBG) and current reference cells, in standard digital CMOS, having low TC while operating in subthreshold at ultra-low current consumption IDD
  • No clock, no switch-capacitor, and no related noise or injections into substrate
  • Narrow variations over process also due to VREF and IREFless sensitivity to VTH
  • The Intellectual Property (IP) cells here are generally portable from trailing-to-bleeding edge CMOS
VREF1: 180µm x 150µm
VREF2: 100µm x 85µm
VREF3:144µm x 77µm
VREF4: 132µm x 87µm
VREF5: 460µm x 250µm
VREF6: 440µm x 290µm
VREF7: 200µm x 130µm
VREF8: 100µm x 82µm

Voltage Reference Cell Table Summary

Proof of Silicon Preliminary Specifications (please see disclaimers)

VREF & IREF Summary Table
Cell Name TSMC Fab Node Cell Size (µm × µm) VDD High (V) VDD Low (V) IDD (nA) VREF (V) TC (PPM/C) VC (dB) Comments
VREF1 180nm 180 × 150 2 1.5 153 1.28 150 68 No resistors & low noise
VREF2 180nm 100 × 85 2 0.7 25 0.43 350 76 No resistors
VREF3 180nm 144 × 77 2 0.7 26 0.44 340 74 No resistors
VREF4 180nm 132 × 87 2 0.7 29 0.43 230 69 No resistors
VREF5 180nm 460 × 250 2 1 270 0.63 TBD TBD Fractional Bandgap VREF, Test in progress
VREF6 180nm 440 × 290 1 1 290 0.63 TBD TBD Fractional Bandgap VREF, Test in progress
VREF7+IREF 65nm 200 × 130 1 0.8 330 0.63 TBD TBD Fractional Bandgap VREF & IREF (50nA typ), Test in progress
VREF8 65nm 100 × 82 1 0.7 49 0.43 TBD TBD No resistors, Test in progress