First-Order Temperature-Compensated Total-Current Reference

This paper includes the study of a known very simple reference current source, having two branches, where the temperature-compensation of the sum of branch currents (the total current) is done. This kind of approach is adequate when the reference must supply current in a charge with grounded or connected to voltage supply end. The first-order thermal compensation of the reference current is analyzed. It is established the equation representing the total current compensation condition. The current reference is designed in a CMOS 0.35μm process and his quality has been verified by computer simulation. The simulation results show the possibility of achieving good performances: an average thermal drift of -200 ppm/ C (or a complete variation smaller than 2%), for a current of 8...15μA, across a temperature range of 0 100 C. The second-order temperature-compensated total-current reference does the object of another paper, submitted in the same Conference. Key-Words: analog integrated circuits, reference-current source, temperature compensation