Research Progress on Bandgap and Non-Bandgap Reference Circuits

Guanglong Zhang

doi:10.54097/p8re4670

Authors

Guanglong Zhang School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/p8re4670

Keywords:

Bandgap Reference; Second-Order Temperature Compensation; Non-Bandgap Reference.

Abstract

Bandgap reference (BGR) circuits could provide stable, temperature-insensitive reference voltages or currents that are essential to system-level designs. These circuits are extensively employed in critical applications including voltage regulators, oscillators, and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Continuous advancements in bandgap reference techniques and CMOS process scaling have significantly enhanced the accuracy and temperature stability of modern reference circuits, making substantial contributions to progress in electronic engineering. This study reviews four classical first-order bandgap reference architectures, with particular emphasis on methods for second-order temperature compensation. Furthermore, it presents a detailed comparison and evaluation of two CMOS-only non-bandgap reference circuit topologies—namely those leveraging the subthreshold characteristics of MOSFETs and those employing capacitor-based biasing techniques. A comprehensive comparative analysis of key performance metrics between bandgap and non-bandgap reference circuits is provided. This research summarizes the architectural differences and performance trade-offs between bandgap and non-bandgap reference circuits, offering valuable perspectives for addressing critical challenges such as stability.

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