Thermal sensor system and method based on current ratio
US9316542B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2012 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K7/01
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermal sensor system including at least one thermal sensor, a voltage control network, a current gain network, a current compare sensor, and a controller. The voltage control network applies reference and delta voltage levels to a thermal sensor, which develops reference and delta current signals. The current gain network is used to adjust current gain. The current compare sensor is responsive to the reference and delta current signals and provides a comparison metric. The controller selects a temperature subrange and controls the current gain network to adjust the gain of the delta current signal to determine a gain differential value indicative of the temperature. The controller may select from among different sized thermal sensors, current mode gain values, and control voltages corresponding with each of multiple temperature subranges. Any one or more of these parameters may be adjusted to adjust an operating point for selecting a corresponding temperature subrange.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.