A detailed analysis of power-supply noise attenuation in bandgap voltage references

This paper discusses the power-supply noise attenuation (PSNA) in the frequency domain of four kinds of bandgap voltage reference that represent the basis of typical voltage references. This performance parameter becomes a fundamental design criterion in high-frequency applications where, due to the reduction in the loop gain, spurious signals coming from the power supply cannot be adequately rejected. Precise and simple models, useful for pencil and paper analysis are hereby developed for the four analyzed topologies and, where possible, compensation techniques are discussed. Moreover, the four topologies are compared in detail highlighting both their main features and drawbacks.