Patent · US Active

Test mode and test method for a temperature tamper detection circuit

US7443176B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
9References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 23, 2006
Grant dateOct 28, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 22, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01K15/00
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An integrated circuit temperature sensor includes a sensor to determine whether the integrated circuit is currently exposed to a relatively low or high temperature. A measured voltage across the base-emitter of a bipolar transistor is selected if the sensor indicates exposure to the relatively low temperature or, a measured delta voltage across the base-emitter of the bipolar transistor is selected if the sensor indicates exposure to the relatively high temperature. The voltage across the base-emitter is compared against a first reference for determining exposure to a too cold condition or the selected measured delta voltage across the base-emitter is compared against a second reference for determining exposure to a too hot condition. In a test mode, the measured delta voltage across the base-emitter and/or the measured voltage across the base-emitter are scaled.

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