Fundamentals of voltage reference and how to select the right ones for your application

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CONTENT The Need for Voltage Reference Different Types of Voltage Reference and Their Characteristics To Select The Right Voltage Reference

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The Need for Voltage Reference

Every Industry Depends on Standards All Respected Reference Standards Must Remain Stable Over Temperature Extremes All interconnected systems, including control systems, are only as good as their weakest element. All components (sensors, actuators, communications, computing, interfaces, algorithms, etc) must be of roughly comparable accuracy and performance.

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The Need for Voltage Reference

Power Supplies AC-DC, DC-DC, Battery, Battery Chargers Industrial Programmable Logic Control, Motor Control, Instrumentation, Automatic Test Equipment, Handheld Measurements Data Processing Servers, Computers, Peripherals, Handheld Medical Fluid Testing, X-Ray, Sonogram, AED, Infusion, monitors Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Entertainment, Audio, Video Servo-Motor Control, LCD/LED Adjustments, Volume Control Data loggers/Bar Code Scanners Point of Sale terminals, Purity Safety Temperature monitoring Communications Base Stations, Networking Equipment, Cell Phones, Radios, Fiber Optic Systems, Powerline 4

DACs ADCs Analog Scaling Circuits Analog Sensors Comparator thresholds

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

A Voltage Reference is a device that generates a precise voltage output from a widely varying voltage input.

Voltage

Head Room Low Drop Out Voltage

Voltage Reference

Voltage

Time

Time

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

There are two types: Series and Shunt

Power Source 1

Voltage Reference 2

Load 3

Power Source 1 Voltage Reference 2

3-pin device

2-pin device
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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Shunt Reference
2-pin device
Power Source 1 Voltage Reference 2

A Zener Diode

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Shunt Reference
Similar in concept to a zener diode but with much better specifications Operates in parallel with its load Requires an external resistor Regulates by adjusting its current such that Vsupply drop across External R = Reference Output Voltage Another way of looking at this is to keep a constant voltage at OUT, the sum of reference current plus load current must be constant.

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Shunt Reference
Generally Regulators Have Voltage Tolerances Wider Than 1% I References Are Typically More Precise The internal Reference could be a Zener, Buried Zener or Bandgap

Power Regulator 1.5% Accuracy

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Shunt Reference Characteristics
No limit to maximum power supply voltage, Just size external resistor accordingly. Good choice for high voltage applications. Lowest operating current, 1uA for MAX6006 series Same maximum current drawn from the power supply regardless of load. Current either goes thru the load or the shunt reference. Not a good choice for low power systems if there is a large difference between typical and maximum load currents. Because they are simple two terminal devices, shunt regulators can be used in many novel circuit configurations: Negative voltage references, floating voltage references, clipping and limiting circuits.

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Shunt Reference Key Parameters: Minimum Reverse Breakdown Current
Minimum current thru the reference necessary for good regulation Also known as Minimum Operating Current

Maximum Reverse Breakdown Current

Maximum current the reference can tolerate without damage

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Shunt Reference Design Equation:
VSUPPLY VREF IMO ILMAX R1 = = = = = Power Supply Voltage Reference Output Voltage Reference Min. Operating Current Maximum Load Current External Resistor

R1 = (VSUPPLYmin VREF) / ( IMO + ILMAX) Worst Case Current thru R1 = (VSUPPLYmax VREF) / R1 Worst Case Power in R1 = (VSUPPLYmax VREF)2 / R1 Worst Case Power in Shunt Ref = VREF x (IMO + ((VSUPPLYmax VREF) / R1))

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Series Reference
Operates in series with the load Regulates by adjusting internal resistance such that Vsupply internal voltage drop = Vout reference voltage

The Internal Reference Usually Is Bandgap Reference

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Series Reference
Bandgap Basics A bandgap reference develops two voltages: One has a positive temperature coefficient (tempco) and one has a negative tempco. Together, they have a zero-tempco sum at the output. The positive tempco is usually derived from the difference of two VBE's running at different current levels. The negative tempco uses the naturally negative tempco of the VBE voltage (see Figure). In practice, the tempco sum is not exactly zero. Depending on design details like the IC circuit design, packaging, and manufacturing test capabilities, these devices can usually achieve a Vout tempcos between 1 and 100ppm per degree C.
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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Series Reference
Bandgap Basics (continuous)
VBG = VBE 2 +
VVREF = (1 +

2 R2 ln(M )VT R1

R3 )V BG R4

Each Step Is More Precise, We Stop When It Is Just Good Enough To Meet Requirements

Laser Trim
(Removes 1st Order Effects) (Removes 3rd Order Effects)

Curvature Correction
Temp. Sensor

+
P DAC

VREF Out

PROM
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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Series Reference Characteristics Supply voltage must be low enough not to damage IC but high enough to allow regulation IC must be sized to handle the power dissipation in its series pass element. With no load current, the only power dissipation is due to the quiescent current of the reference. Good choice when there is a large variation between maximum and typical currents

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Series Reference Key Parameters: Maximum Supply Voltage
Maximum input voltage the reference can tolerate without damage

Minimum Supply Voltage

Minimum supply voltage necessary for good voltage regulation

Quiescent Supply Current

Current used by the reference with no load connected

Maximum Power Dissipation (Not in Parametric Search Engine)

Maximum Power Dissipation the reference can tolerate without damage

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Different Types of Voltage Reference

Series Reference Equations:
IQ = Quiescent Current VSUPPLY = Supply Voltage ILOAD = Load Current VREF = VOUT

Worst Case Power Dissipation = ((VSUPPLYmax VREF) x ILOADmax) + (VSUPPLYmax x IQ)

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Select The Right Reference

Series or Shunt?

The Dilemma Is Always The Same, It Is A Cost Performance Trade-Off What Is Just Good Enough For The Application?
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Select The Right Reference

Series or Shunt? The Parametric Table On www.maxim-ic.com Helps

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All Voltage References

Series or Shunt?

High Lighted Product Areas

Just Shunt

Just Series
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Download as an Active Excel File for Use without Internet Access

Hidden Columns

Check / Uncheck
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Compare

Choose to Narrow Selected Parts

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Select The Right Reference

Design Example To Decide Series or Shunt

We want the lowest power solution Vsupply_max = 5.5V Vsupply_min = 3.0V Vref = 2.5V ILmax= 1uA Series Reference Iquiescent = 5uA Shunt Reference IMO = 1uA

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Select The Right Reference

Design Example To Decide Series or Shunt

Worst Case Series Ref Power Dissipation = ((Vsupply_max Vref) x ILOAD_max) + (Vsupply_max x IQ) WC_P_Series = ((5.5V 2.5V) x 1uA) + (5.5V x 5uA) = 30.5uW

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Select The Right Reference

Design Example To Decide Series or Shunt

Worst Case Power Dissipation Shunt

R1 = (Vsupply_min Vref) / ( Imo + ILmax) R1 = (3.0V 2.5V) / (1uA + 1uA) = 250K Worst Case Current thru R1 = (Vsupply_max Vref) / R1 WC_I_R1 = (5.5V 2.5V) / 250K = 12uA Worst Case Power in R1 = (Vsupply_max Vref)^2 / R1 WC_P_R1 = (5.5V 2.5V)^2 / 250K = 36uW Worst Case Power in Shunt Ref = Vref x (Imo + ((Vsupply_max Vref) / R1)) WC_P_SHUNT = 2.5 X (1uA + (5.5V 2.5V)/250K) = 32.5uW Worst Case Total Power = 36uW + 32.5uW = 68.5uW

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Select The Right Reference

Design Example Result

The 250k resistor in the shunt circuit was necessary to get 1uA of load current and 1uA of Imo at 3.0V With a 5.5V supply, the 250k resistor now allows 6 times more current to flow. This extra current isnt needed by the load so it is dissipated in the shunt reference

The moral of the story is to always go through the worst case calculations for both series and shunt references.

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Select The Right Reference

Conclusion
Better than 0.1% initial accuracy and a 25ppm TempCo, probably select a series reference. Want the lowest operating current, consider a shunt reference. Be careful when combining a shunt reference with a widely varying power supply or load. For power-supply voltages higher than 40V, a shunt reference may be your only choice. Consider shunt references when building a negative reference, floating reference, clipping circuit, or limiting circuit.
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Thank You and Good Luck!

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