Integrated circuit temperature sensing method
US7459955B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K7/01
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system for sensing the temperature of an integrated circuit are presented. The method compares a first current that is proportional to a temperature reading of the integrated circuit to a reference current. While the first current is greater than the reference current, a counter is incremented, and the reference current is increased in response to incrementing the counter. A system for sensing the temperature of an integrated circuit includes a first current source providing a source current to a node. The first current source is based on an input from a proportional to absolute temperature device. The system also includes a second current source providing a sink current to the node, with the amount of sink current being based on an input from a digital control module. The system also includes a comparator coupled to the node to provide a comparator signal that indicates a relationship between the source current and the sink current.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.