# US 10,310,454 B2 · Overtemperature condition identified using a signal characteristic > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,454 B2 - Document ID: US10310454B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/287,508 - Filed: 2016-10-06 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-06 - Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG - Applicants: Infineon Technologies AG - Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310454B2 ## CPC - G05B 13/021: {in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance} - G01K 3/005: {Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature (fire detection G08B17/00)} - G01K 3/08: giving differences of values (using thermoelectric elements G01K7/02); giving differentiated values - G01M 99/002: {Thermal testing (flaw detection G01N25/72)} - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A sensor may bias a signal to have a characteristic. The characteristic of the signal may depend on a temperature of the sensor such that the characteristic of the signal is outside of a permitted range, associated with the characteristic, when the temperature of the sensor satisfies a temperature threshold. The temperature threshold may be associated with an operating temperature range of the sensor. The sensor may provide the signal having the characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor, comprising: one or more components to: bias a signal to have a characteristic, the characteristic of the signal to depend on a temperature of the sensor such that the characteristic is outside of a permitted range, associated with the characteristic, when the temperature of the sensor satisfies a temperature threshold, the temperature threshold being associated with an operating temperature range of the sensor, and a temperature dependence of the characteristic, while the temperature of the sensor is outside of the operating temperature range, being greater than a temperature dependence of the characteristic while the temperature of the sensor is not outside of the operating temperature range, the temperature dependence being a rate of change in the characteristic per change in temperature of the sensor; and provide the signal having the characteristic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1, where the signal is to be provided to a controller for monitoring of the characteristic, the controller being connected to the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1, where the characteristic of the signal includes a clock frequency, a current level, a voltage level, or an output switch resistance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1, where the one or more components are further to: receive an output from a temperature dependent bias component; and modify, based on the output, a clock to cause the characteristic to depend on the temperature of the sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1, where the signal is biased using an unclocked circuit or without using a non-volatile memory, random access memory, read-only memory, or a register. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1, where the temperature threshold is a first temperature threshold, and where the one or more components are further to: determine the temperature of the sensor; determine that the temperature of the sensor satisfies a second temperature threshold; and enable a safety mechanism, associated with the sensor, based on determining that the temperature of the sensor satisfies the second temperature threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6, where a fabrication tolerance associated with the second temperature threshold is narrower than a fabrication tolerance associated with the first temperature threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6, where a fabrication tolerance associated with the second temperature threshold is reduced by a calibration setting stored in a memory. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6, where the first temperature threshold is closer to a maximum operating temperature of the sensor than the second temperature threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6, where the one or more components are further to: enable the safety mechanism when the temperature of the sensor is in a temperature range that includes the first temperature threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6, where the one or more components, when enabling the safety mechanism, are to: deactivate a communication interface of the sensor; transmit a warning message; raise an error flag; or trigger monitoring of the characteristic of the signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6, where the one or more components, when enabling the safety mechanism, are to: cause the characteristic of the signal to be outside of the permitted range based on determining that the temperature of the sensor satisfies the second temperature threshold. ### Claim 13 A sensing device, comprising: one or more components to: bias a signal such that a characteristic of the signal depends on a temperature of the sensing device, the characteristic of the signal being biased such that the characteristic is outside of a permitted range, associated with the characteristic, when the temperature of the sensing device satisfies a temperature threshold, and a temperature dependence of the characteristic, while the temperature of the sensing device satisfies the temperature threshold, being greater than a temperature dependence of the characteristic while the temperature of the sensing device does not satisfy the temperature threshold, the temperature dependence being a rate of change in the characteristic per change in temperature of the sensing device; and provide the signal to a controller for monitoring of the characteristic of the signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sensing device of claim 13, where the characteristic of the signal includes a clock frequency, a current level, a voltage level, or an output switch resistance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The sensing device of claim 13, where the temperature threshold is a first temperature threshold, and where the one or more components are further to: determine the temperature of the sensing device; determine that the temperature of the sensing device satisfies a second temperature threshold, the second temperature threshold being less than the first temperature threshold; and enable a safety mechanism, associated with the sensing device, based on determining that the temperature of the sensing device satisfies the second temperature threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sensing device of claim 15, where the one or more components, when enabling the safety mechanism, are to: cause the characteristic of the signal to be outside of the permitted range based on determining that the temperature of the sensing device satisfies the second temperature threshold. ### Claim 17 A device, comprising: a temperature dependent bias component to: cause a signal to be biased such that a characteristic of the signal depends on a temperature of the device, the characteristic of the signal being biased such that the characteristic is outside of a permitted range, associated with the characteristic, when the temperature of the device satisfies a temperature threshold, the permitted range being associated with a communication protocol implemented by a communication interface of the device, and a temperature dependence of the characteristic, while the temperature of the device satisfies the temperature threshold, being greater than a temperature dependence of the characteristic while the temperature of the device does not satisfy the temperature threshold, the temperature dependence being a rate of change in the characteristic per change in temperature of the device; and the communication interface to: provide the signal to permit monitoring of the characteristic of the signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, where the temperature dependent bias component is further to: provide a reference signal that causes an interface clock, associated with the communication interface, to depend on the temperature of the device; and where the temperature dependent bias component, when causing the signal to be biased, is to: cause the signal to be biased based on providing the reference signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, where the temperature threshold is a first temperature threshold, and where the device further includes an overtemperature safety component to: determine the temperature of the device; determine that the temperature of the device satisfies a second temperature threshold, the second temperature threshold being different from the first temperature threshold; and enable a safety mechanism, associated with the device, based on determining that the temperature of the device satisfies the second temperature threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, where the overtemperature safety component, when enabling the safety mechanism, is to at least one of: deactivate the communication interface of the device; transmit a warning message to a controller; raise an error flag in a message to the controller; trigger monitoring of the characteristic of the signal by the controller; or cause the characteristic of the signal to be outside of the permitted range.