Integrated circuit with temperature sensor and method for heating the circuit

US6798706B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Infineon Technologies AG · DE

Inventors

• Roland Barth · Schreiber, CA
• Alexander Benedix · Hersbruck, DE
• Reinhard Düregger · Poing, DE
• Stephan Grosse · Hersbruck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 28, 2003
• Grant date: Sep 28, 2004
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01K7/01
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A temperature sensor is integrated together with an integrated circuit on a chip, the sensor delivering a temperature-dependent measuring signal or at least emitting a signal when the chip temperature falls below a specific prescribed value. For such an eventuality, the chip includes a special circuit device thereon, by which a current flow is generated through a provided structure of electrical conductors that keeps the temperature of the integrated circuit above a prescribed minimum temperature.