Temperature sensing device in an integrated circuit
US7034507B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A temperature sensing device can be embedded in a memory circuit in order to sense the temperature of the memory circuit. One oscillator generates a temperature variable signal that increases frequency as the temperature of the oscillator increases and decreases frequency when the temperature of the oscillator decreases. A temperature invariant oscillator generates a fixed width signal that is controlled by an oscillator read logic and indicates a temperature sense cycle. An n-bit counter is clocked by the temperature variable signal while the fixed width signal enables/inhibits the counter. The faster the counter counts, the larger the count value at the end of the sense cycle indicated by the fixed width signal. A larger count value indicates a warmer temperature. A smaller count value indicates a colder temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.