Patent attributes
A constant-current circuit comprising: a temperature-compensation circuit to output a temperature-compensated first current; and a current-supply circuit to supply a second current to the temperature-compensation circuit, the temperature-compensation circuit including a voltage-multiplication circuit including a first transistor to generate a base-collector voltage obtained by multiplying a base-emitter voltage by a predetermined ratio, a second transistor identical in conductivity type and substantially equal in base-emitter voltage to the first transistor, a first resistor having two ends connected to a first-transistor collector and second-transistor base, respectively, and a second resistor having two ends connected to first and second-transistor emitters, respectively, the first current being output according to a second-transistor collector current, the second current being supplied to a connection point between a second-transistor base and the first resistor, to generate between both ends of the first resistor a voltage varying substantially in proportion to temperature.