
REF19x Series
One caveat to this approach is that although rail-to-rail output 
amplifiers work best in the application, these operational amplifiers 
require a finite amount (mV) of headroom when required to 
provide any load current. The choice for the circuit’s negative 
supply should take this issue into account. 
Rev. I | Page 21 of 28 
100
1μF
1k
1μF
–V
REF
REF19x
GND
4
V
IN
V
OUT
100k
SLEEP
TTL/CMOS
A1 = 1/2 OP295,
1/2 OP291
V
IN
10k
2N3906
3
6
2
SLEEP
10k
+5V
–5V
A1
0
Figure 24. Negative Precision Voltage Reference Uses No Precision Resistors 
STACKING REFERENCE ICS FOR 
ARBITRARY OUTPUTS 
Some applications may require two reference voltage sources 
that are a combined sum of standard outputs. The circuit shown 
in Figure 25 shows how this stacked output reference can be 
implemented. 
R1
3.9k
(SEE TEXT)
C1
0.1μF
+VS
V
S
 > V
OUT2
 + 0.15V
V
COMMON
V
COMMON
OUTPUT TABLE
U1/U2
REF192/REF192
REF192/REF194
REF192/REF195
V
OUT1
 (V)
2.5
2.5
2.5
V
OUT2
(V)
5.0
7.0
7.5
+V
OUT2
C2
1μF
C3
0.1μF
+V
OUT1
C4
1μF
U2
(SEE TABLE)
2
6
3
4
U1
REF19x
(SEE TABLE)
2
6
3
4
+
+
V
O
 (U2)
V
O
 (U1)
0
Figure 25. Stacking Voltage References with the REF19x 
Two reference ICs are used, fed from a common unregulated 
input, V
S
. The outputs of the individual ICs are connected in 
series, as shown in Figure 25, which provide two output 
voltages, V
OUT1
 and V
OUT2
. V
OUT1
 is the terminal voltage of U1, 
while V
OUT2
 is the sum of this voltage and the terminal voltage 
of U2. U1 and U2 are chosen for the two voltages that supply 
the required outputs (see Output Table in Figure 25). If, for 
example, both U1 and U2 are REF192s, the two outputs are 2.5 V 
and 5.0 V. 
While this concept is simple, some cautions are needed. Since 
the lower reference circuit must sink a small bias current from 
U2 (50 μA to 100 μA), plus the base current from the series 
PNP output transistor in U2, either the external load of U1 or 
R1 must provide a path for this current. If the U1 minimum 
load is not well defined, Resistor R1 should be used, set to a 
value that conservatively passes 600 μA of current with the 
applicable V
OUT1
 across it. Note that the two U1 and U2 
reference circuits are locally treated as macrocells, each having 
its own bypasses at input and output for best stability. Both U1 
and U2 in this circuit can source dc currents up to their full 
rating. The minimum input voltage, V
S
, is determined by the 
sum of the outputs, V
OUT2
, plus the dropout voltage of U2. 
A related variation on stacking two 3-terminal references is 
shown in Figure 26, where U1, a REF192, is stacked with a  
2-terminal reference diode, such as the AD589. Like the  
3-terminal stacked reference above, this circuit provides two 
outputs, VOUT1 and VOUT2, which are the individual terminal 
voltages of D1 and U1, respectively. Here this is 1.235 V and 2.5 V, 
which provides a V
OUT2
 of 3.735 V. When using 2-terminal 
reference diodes, such as D1, the rated minimum and maximum 
device currents must be observed, and the maximum load 
current from V
OUT1
 can be no greater than the current setup by 
R1 and V
O
 (U1). When V
O
 (U1) is equal to 2.5 V, R1 provides a 
500 μA bias to D1, so the maximum load current available at 
V
OUT1
 is 450 μA or less. 
D1
AD589
R1
4.99k
(SEE TEXT)
C1
0.1μF
+V
V
S
 > V
OUT2
 + 0.15V
V
COMMON
V
COMMON
+V
3.735V
C2
1μF
+V
1.235V
C3
1μF
U1
REF192
2
6
3
4
+
+
V
O
 (U1)
V
O
 (D1)
0
Figure 26. Stacking Voltage References with the REF192 
PRECISION CURRENT SOURCE 
In low power applications, the need often arises for a precision 
current source that can operate on low supply voltages. As shown 
in Figure 27, any one of the devices in the REF19x family of 
references can be configured as a precision current source.  
The circuit configuration illustrated is a floating current source 
with a grounded load. The output voltage of the reference is 
bootstrapped across R
SET
, which sets the output current into the 
load. With this configuration, circuit precision is maintained for 
load currents in the range from the reference’s supply current 
(typically 30 μA) to approximately 30 mA. The low dropout 
voltage of these devices maximizes the current source’s output 
voltage compliance without excess headroom.