1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a startup circuit as used to commence operation of a reference voltage source in a circuit design and more specifically relates to a startup circuit design that uses transistors operating at a lower voltage level than the provided Vdd and that operates to consume no static power after the reference source has reached normal operating parameters and that operates to avoid stressing any of the transistors in the startup circuit.
2. Discussion of Related Art
It is common in a variety of electronic application designs to provide a reference voltage source for generating one or more reliable voltage levels (e.g., NBIAS and/or PBIAS) for use within the application circuit. The reference source derives its operating power and generates the reference voltage from a ubiquitous power supply source in the application (e.g., Vdd voltage level and a corresponding Vss often ground or zero volts). Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a reference source may also be used to generate a constant source of precise current for some applications. The problems discussed below and the solutions provided by features and aspects hereof are similarly applicable to such a reference current source.
Typical reference source designs may not start operating by simple application of Vdd thereto depending on a number of design and environmental conditions. It is generally known in the design of reference sources that a startup circuit is required to transition the reference voltage from an inoperable or dead state to a normal, steady-state, operating state providing the stable, desired reference voltage levels. It is desirable that such a startup circuit consumes no power/current once the reference source has achieved its desired, normal, stable operating state. This is particularly desirable in low power electronic applications where conservation of electrical power is critical such as in remote process control applications and a variety of portable electronic applications.
A variety of startup circuits are well known as evidenced, for example, in: “Low Power Startup Circuits For Voltage and Current Reference with Zero Steady State Current” (Khan, et al.; ISLPED '03 Conference Proceedings; ACM; pp. 184-188, 2003). In particular, Khan describes two general varieties of startup circuits—a first that operates responsive to a power-up/power-down signal and a second responsive to the ramp up of Vdd provided ubiquitously in the application from power up of the common power supply.
Khan presents one particular exemplary embodiment in his
In older application designs, the various components (e.g., transistors) of the application operated at the voltage levels of the ubiquitous Vdd power supply. In more modern or low voltage applications, it is common that low voltage devices (e.g., transistors and other components) of the application circuit operate at a higher voltage domain. Hence, where Vdd may exceed the operating parameters of transistors of the startup circuit, startup circuits such as those exemplified by Khan may stress the transistors of the startup circuit causing immediate or eventual failure.
It is evident from the above discussion that a need exists for an improved startup circuit design that avoids applying stress conditions to any of the transistors of the startup circuit while providing flexibility and low power consumption of prior designs.
The present invention solves the above problems, thereby advancing the state of the useful arts, by providing systems and circuits including a startup circuit adapted for coupling to a reference source wherein the startup circuit may operate using lower voltage transistors than the ubiquitous Vdd source voltage, wherein the startup circuit consumes no current following establishment of a steady state operation of the reference source, and wherein the startup circuit is protected from stress conditions applied to any of its transistors.
One aspect hereof provides an apparatus including a power supply providing Vss and Vdd, a reference voltage source coupled to Vss and Vdd for generating a reference voltage signal (NBIAS), and a startup circuit coupled to Vss and Vdd and coupled to the reference voltage source to generate a startup signal applied to the reference voltage source to initiate operation of the reference voltage source. The startup circuit comprises a transistor having a maximum gate-source voltage (“stress voltage”) less than Vdd-Vss. The startup circuit is configured to consume no static current once the reference voltage source reaches its normal operating state. The startup circuit is configured to never generate a stress voltage in any of its transistors.
Another aspect hereof provides a startup circuit adapted for coupling to a reference voltage source. The startup circuit includes a fence capacitor (C0) coupled to a Vss voltage source and coupled to a node (CAP). The startup circuit further includes a first pmos transistor (M0) having its gate coupled to a signal (PBIAS) generated by the reference voltage source and having its source coupled to a Vdd voltage source and having its drain coupled to CAP, wherein PBIAS follows Vdd due to parasitic resistance within the reference voltage source. The startup circuit further includes a second pmos transistor (M1) having its gate diode coupled to CAP and having its source coupled to Vdd and having its drain coupled to CAP. The startup circuit further includes a third pmos transistor (M2) having its gate coupled to CAP and having its source coupled to Vdd and having its drain coupled to the reference voltage source to start current flow in the NBIAS signal path of the reference voltage source. The startup circuit is configured to apply a startup current to NBIAS in response to ramping up of Vdd. The startup circuit is configured to consume no static current once the reference voltage source reaches its normal operating state. The startup circuit is configured to never generate a stress voltage in M1.
As noted above, the startup circuit 102 of
By contrast,
M1306, unlike M1206 of
At start of operation of enhanced startup circuit 300, Vdd, PBIAS, NBIAS, and node CAP are all discharged to ground. Vdd is ramped from a power-on condition and PBIAS starts the following Vdd due to typical parasitic resistance within the design of the reference source. As Vdd starts increasing, the diode connected transistor M1306 will start conducting. Since transistor M2308 is mirrored to M1306, it will also start charging thereby providing startup current to the reference source (via NBIAS 114). A fence capacitor C0302 stores the charge of node CAP. As NBIAS continues to rise the reference source will start pushing PBIAS to its steady-state value such that it no longer follows Vdd. Finally, PBIAS will settle at its steady-state value less then Vdd. Since M1306 is diode connected, it will charge node CAP up to Vdd minus the threshold voltage of M1306. As the reference source eventually stabilizes in its normal, steady-state operating mode, PBIAS discharge such that conduction will start through transistor M0304 coupled to PBIAS 116 at its gate. M0304 will thus continue to charge node CAP (and C0302) up to Vdd. With node cap held at Vdd by the charge stored in the capacitor C0302, transistor M1306 will never experience a stress condition—neither will transistor M0304 or transistor M2308.
Thus, improved startup circuit 300 of
While the invention has been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character. One embodiment of the invention and minor variants thereof have been shown and described. Protection is desired for all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of the above-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples and illustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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