Advanced thermal sensor
US7427158B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K7/01
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing the complexity and size of thermal sensors, where the voltage of a thermally sensitive device is compared to a reference voltage that varies as a function of temperature, rather than being constant. One embodiment comprises a thermal sensing system including a reference voltage generator, a thermal sensor and a comparator. The reference voltage generator is configured to generate a non-constant reference voltage that varies as a known function of temperature. The thermal sensor is configured to generate a sensor voltage that also varies as a known function of temperature. The functions of the reference and sensor voltages cross at a known temperature/voltage. The comparator is configured to compare the sensor voltage and the reference voltage and to generate a comparison output signal based on the comparison of the sensor voltage and the first reference voltage. A transition in this signal indicates the reference temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.