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








Voltage Reference Cell Table Summary
Proof of Silicon Preliminary Specifications (please see disclaimers)
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 |