Method and system for signal generation via a temperature sensing crystal integrated circuit

US8566061B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Broadcom Corporation · US

Inventors

• Evan McCarthy · Brooks Road, US
• John Walley · Ladera Ranch, US
• Jeon Hyun-Gyu · Pleasanton, US
• Amir Ibrahim · Newport Beach, US
• Sunil Kanekal · San Jose, US
• Jared Welz · Henry's Drive, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 20, 2011
• Grant date: Oct 22, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 20, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01K7/32
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Aspects of the invention may comprise an integrated circuit comprising a memory, a temperature sensor, a crystal, and a communication module. Data stored in the memory may indicate a frequency of the crystal as a function of temperature and/or time. The memory may be writable via the communication module. Data stored in the memory of the integrated circuit may be updated based on an age and/or time of use of the integrated circuit. The time of use may be one or both of: how long the crystal has been oscillating since its most-recent start up, and how long the crystal has been in use over its lifetime. An electronic device may calculate a frequency of an oscillating signal output by the crystal based on a temperature indication from the temperature sensor and data read from the memory of the integrated circuit.