COMBINED BIAS SUPPLY AND POWER SHUT-OFF CIRCUIT

摘要

2064085 9101594 PCTABS00003 A microcircuit bias-current supply (10) in a wristwatch-pager (12). An FM-radio receiver in a microcircuit paging device operates intermittently with a short on-time and long off-time to reduce power consumption and preserve battery life. The bias-supply circuit (10) distributes predetermined bias currents to a plurality of functional circuit areas (12) of the microcircuit die, the bias currents being disabled during off-time of the receiver such that the current drain of the entire microcircuit is virtually zero, being in the range of nanoamps. The inefficiencies and disadvantages of a series switch power on and off are eliminated by providing a plurality of switched current sources (44a-44n) which perform the dual function of circuit biasing and current switching.