Patent · US Expired

Integrated circuits with temperature-change and threshold-voltage drift compensation

US6933869B1 · kind B1 · utility

29Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 17, 2004
Grant dateAug 23, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 17, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2029/5002
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Integrated circuits are stabilized by monitoring changes that affect circuit operation and by compensating for those changes using power supply adjustments. Changes in operating temperature and threshold voltage changes may be measured. Differential measurements may be made in which threshold voltages measured in continuously-biased monitoring circuits are compared to threshold voltages measured in intermittently-biased monitoring circuits. Temperature changes may be monitored using a temperature monitoring circuit based on an adjustable current source and a diode. Monitoring and compensation circuitry on the integrated circuits may use analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters controlled by a control unit to make temperature and threshold voltage measurements and corresponding compensating changes in power supply voltages.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.