Abstract: A method of operating a voltage reference element such as a zener diode comprises applying at least two current values to the device in respective periods of time one said value being such as to provide desired reference voltage characteristics of the device and the other being such that the average current during both periods provides a selected power dissipation to set a required temperature of operation of the device.

Abstract: An electronic component is conditioned to remove distortion in a temperature response characteristic due to a temperature hysteresis effect, by subjecting the component to a controlled temperature variation prior to operation of the component at a given temperature. A circuit is disclosed wherein the component is a zener reference element and a bias voltage of cyclical waveform and of reducing magnitude is applied to a control transistor to cause corresponding variation of the temperature of the zener via an on-chip heater. The zener is subsequently operated at a normal bias voltage corresponding to the mean value of the cyclic waveform.