On-chip digital thermometer to sense and measure device temperatures
AssigneeSigmatel, Inc.
InventorMatthew D. Felder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for sensing the temperature of a device. This includes the establishment of a programmable current from an on-chip source, which in turn is used to produce a temperature dependent voltage from a temperature dependent resistive device. The temperature dependent resistive device is thermally coupled to a device for which the temperature is to be sensed. The temperature dependent voltage produced is converted to a digital value and equated to the temperature of the device.
Claims36
A method for sensing a temperature of a device, that comprises:
- establishing a programmable current for an on-chip current source;
- sensing a temperature-dependant voltage that is based on a temperature dependent resistive device and the programmable current, wherein the temperature dependent resistive device is thermally coupled to the device;
- converting the temperature-dependant voltage to a digital value;
- and
- equating the digital value to the temperature of the device.
A digital thermometer to measure a temperature of an off-chip device that comprises:
- an on-chip programmable current source to provide a current output;
- an analog-to-digital converter operably coupled to sample a temperature-dependent voltage output produced by a temperature dependent resistive device and the current output and convert the temperature-dependent voltage output to a digital value;
- and
- a processing module that receives the digital value and equates the digital value to the temperature of the off-chip device.
An audio processing chip, having a digital thermometer located thereon to measure a temperature of an off-chip device, that comprises:
- an on-chip programmable current source to provide a current output;
- a temperature dependent resistive device thermally coupled to the off-chip device, that receives the current output to produce a temperature-dependent voltage output;
- an analog-to-digital converter to sample the temperature-dependent voltage output and convert the temperature-dependent voltage output to a digital value;
- and
- a processing module that receives the digital value and equates the digital value to the temperature of the off-chip device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.