Rail-supply insensitive CMOS current generator

Minimal power start-up circuit design for self-biased CMOS current generators

“…A new start-up configuration has been presented and shown to meet all the requirements of the list. The standby power dissipation, in the nW range, has been shown to be minimal and current and voltage waveforms have been obtained to illustrate circuit operation Although the design dealt with a particular SBCG and particular values of V DD and I o , the configuration can be considered universal in that it can be used , or adapted for use, with other types of SBCG (see e.g, [1]) and other value of I o and V DD provided the MOSFETs employed have the appropriate voltage ratings and associated channel lengths.…”

“…HE self-biased current generator (SBCG) is a circuit scheme widely used for the generation of DC currents that are rail-voltage insensitive and , in some cases, PTAT (Proportional to Absolute Temperature) [1]. However, the SBCG is inherently bi-stable in nature and requires a start-up circuit to guarantee operation in the desired stable mode.…”