CURRENT

MIRROR
ENGR. ALBERT ANTHONY M.
DELGADO, MECE
Current mirrors functions as a simple
current regulator. This circuit is utilize in
various applications of analog circuits
because it supplies nearly constant
current to a load regardless of what that
load may be.

CURRENT MIRRORS
CURRENT MIRRORS
In terms of the operation of
the circuit, the base emitter
junction of TR1 acts like a
diode because the collector
and base are connected
together.

CURRENT MIRRORS OPERATION

The current into TRI is set externally
by other components, and as a result
there is a given voltage built up
across the base emitter junction of
TR1.
As the base emitter voltage on both
transistors is the same, the current in
one transistor will exactly mirror that
of the second, assuming that both
transistors are accurately matched.

CURRENT MIRRORS OPERATION

Therefore the current flowing into TR1 will be mirrored into
TR2 and hence into the load R1.

CURRENT MIRRORS OPERATION

Practically we
cannot use
resistors to
regulate current
in ICs because it
would be bulky.

APPLICATIONS
There are many sophisticated current mirrors that have higher
output resistances than the basic mirror (more closely approach an
ideal mirror with current output independent of output voltage) and
produce currents less sensitive to temperature and device parameter
variations and to circuit voltage fluctuations. These multi-transistor
mirror circuits are used both with bipolar and MOS transistors. These
circuits include:
• the Widlar current source
• the Wilson current mirror used as a current source
• Cascoded current sources

APPLICATIONS