Thermal sensor with temperature control
US8959994B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K2219/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a thermal sensor. a capacitor voltage of a capacitor is compared with a reference voltage, and an output voltage is generated based on the comparison. The output voltage has a pulse density indicative of a temperature detected by the thermal sensor. The capacitor is charged or discharged using at least one of a first current signal or a second current signal based on a logic level of the output voltage. The first current signal is a temperature-independent signal, and the second current signal is a temperature-dependent signal dependent on the temperature detected by the thermal sensor. In some embodiments, a clock rate of a clock signal is varied in accordance with the detected temperature to control a timing operation for supplying the first current signal to the capacitor and/or the reference voltage is varied in accordance with the detected temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.