Bandgap reference voltage circuit

摘要

A bandgap reference voltage circuit having a bandgap start-up circuit for initiating operation of the bandgap reference voltage circuit, a bandgap core circuit for developing a bandgap reference voltage, and a bandgap output circuit for supplying a bandgap reference voltage. The bandgap start-up circuit is connected to a low impedance leg in the bandgap core circuit and the bandgap output circuit has a feedback circuit that is connected to a high impedance leg in the bandgap core circuit. The connection of the bandgap start-up circuit to the low impedance leg of the bandgap core circuit eliminates the possibility of metastable operation of the bandgap reference voltage circuit. This bandgap reference voltage circuit can be used in battery powered units having reduced supply voltages as low as, for example, 1.7V and the arrangement of the feedback circuit of the bandgap output circuit allows supplying of reference voltages greater and less than typical bandgap voltage.