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(11) | EP 2 592 521 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Methods and circuits for providing stable current and voltage references based on currents flowing through ultra-thin dielectric layer components |
| (57) Low-power circuits for providing stable voltage and current references rely on currents
flowing through ultra-thin dielectric layer components for operation. A current reference
circuit includes driving circuitry operative to apply a voltage to the first terminal
of the component with respect to the second terminal of the component in order to
cause a current to flow through the dielectric layer, and sources a reference output
current that is based on the current flow through the dielectric layer in response
to the applied voltage. A voltage reference circuit includes a current source which
applies a current to the ultra-thin dielectric layer component, and maintains an output
node at a stable reference output voltage level based on the voltage across the ultra-thin
dielectric layer component in response to the current flow through the dielectric
layer.
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