📖 Overview
The Design of Band-Gap Reference Circuits provides engineers with practical guidance on designing voltage reference circuits for integrated circuits. The book draws from author Robert Pease's decades of experience as an analog circuit designer at National Semiconductor.
The text covers fundamental band-gap concepts, temperature compensation techniques, and methods for achieving precision and stability. Circuit examples and design considerations are presented with real-world applications in mind, focusing on practical implementation rather than pure theory.
Detailed schematics, equations, and performance data help readers understand the tradeoffs involved in reference circuit design. Troubleshooting tips and common pitfalls are discussed based on actual industry experience.
This technical reference work balances theoretical rigor with hands-on practicality, making complex concepts accessible while maintaining depth. The emphasis on real engineering challenges and proven solutions reflects Pease's direct, no-nonsense approach to analog design.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Robert Pease's overall work:
Engineering professionals and students praise Pease's clear explanations of complex analog concepts, particularly in "Troubleshooting Analog Circuits." Readers highlight his practical approach and inclusion of real-world examples.
What readers liked:
- Direct, conversational writing style
- Detailed troubleshooting methods
- Hand-drawn illustrations that clarify concepts
- Humor integrated into technical explanations
- Focus on practical problem-solving
What readers disliked:
- Some dated references and components
- Occasional tangential stories
- Print quality of diagrams in newer editions
- Limited coverage of digital circuits
Ratings across platforms:
Amazon: 4.7/5 (187 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (89 ratings)
One reader noted: "Pease writes like he's having a conversation with you at your bench." Another commented: "His real-world examples saved me countless hours of debugging."
Many electronics forums and professional review sites reference his work as a go-to resource for analog circuit design and troubleshooting.
📚 Similar books
Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits by Paul Gray, Paul Hurst, Stephen Lewis, and Robert Meyer
This text delves into bandgap references as part of a comprehensive treatment of analog circuit design principles and practical implementations.
Analog Circuit Design: A Tutorial Guide to Applications and Solutions by Bob Dobkin and Jim Williams The book contains detailed explanations of voltage references and precision circuits from engineers who developed these solutions at Linear Technology.
Designing Analog Chips by Hans Camenzind The text presents real-world circuit design techniques including bandgap references through the lens of an engineer who created numerous industry-standard integrated circuits.
Operation and Modeling of the MOS Transistor by Yannis Tsividis This work provides the theoretical foundation for understanding temperature effects and device behavior that underpin bandgap reference design.
CMOS Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation by R. Jacob Baker The book covers voltage references and analog building blocks with practical examples and implementation details for modern CMOS processes.
Analog Circuit Design: A Tutorial Guide to Applications and Solutions by Bob Dobkin and Jim Williams The book contains detailed explanations of voltage references and precision circuits from engineers who developed these solutions at Linear Technology.
Designing Analog Chips by Hans Camenzind The text presents real-world circuit design techniques including bandgap references through the lens of an engineer who created numerous industry-standard integrated circuits.
Operation and Modeling of the MOS Transistor by Yannis Tsividis This work provides the theoretical foundation for understanding temperature effects and device behavior that underpin bandgap reference design.
CMOS Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation by R. Jacob Baker The book covers voltage references and analog building blocks with practical examples and implementation details for modern CMOS processes.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 Robert Pease, known as "Bob" in the electronics community, wrote over 100 magazine articles about analog design and worked for decades at National Semiconductor developing precision analog circuits.
🔹 Band-gap references are fundamental building blocks in modern electronics, providing stable voltage references that remain constant across temperature changes - a crucial feature in everything from smartphones to medical devices.
🔹 The book includes detailed analysis of the Widlar band-gap reference, named after Bob Widlar, who was both a colleague and friendly rival of Pease at National Semiconductor.
🔹 Despite being published in 1999, this book remains one of the most comprehensive practical guides for designing band-gap references, including real-world solutions to common problems that engineers still face today.
🔹 The author was known for driving a 1969 Volkswagen Squareback for over 30 years and adamantly refused to use computer-aided design tools, preferring to design circuits by hand - yet his designs were incredibly precise and reliable.