Temperature sensing device in an integrated circuit

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprising:

• a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells;
• a memory controller circuit coupled to the memory array for generating refresh signals at a refresh rate determined by a temperature signal;
• and
• temperature sensing device, coupled to the memory controller, for generating the temperature signal, the device comprising:
• a temperature variant oscillator that generates a variable rate signal having a frequency that varies in response to a temperature of the device;
• a temperature invariant oscillator that generates a fixed rate signal indicating a sense cycle;
• a counter that generates the temperature signals as an n-bit count value in response to the variable rate signal and the fixed rate signal;
• and
• an oscillator read logic, coupled to the temperature invariant oscillator and the counter, for resetting the counter to a default status and triggering the temperature invariant oscillator to generate the fixed rate signal.

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprising:

• a memory array for storing data;
• a memory controller coupled to the memory array that generates refresh signals at a refresh rate responsive to a temperature signal;
• and
• a temperature sensing device, coupled to the memory controller, for generating the temperature signal in response to a temperature of the memory, the temperature sensing device comprising:
• a temperature variant oscillator that generates a variable rate signal having a frequency that varies in response to a temperature of the memory device;
• a temperature invariant oscillator that generates a fixed rate signal indicating a sense cycle;
• and
• a counter that generates the temperature signal as an n-bit count value in response to the variable rate signal and the fixed rate signal.

A method for measuring a temperature of an electronic device comprising a chargeable battery and a DRAM having an embedded temperature sensing device, the method comprising:

• measuring an ambient temperature with the temperature sensing device;
• measuring the temperature of the battery with the temperature sensing device;
• correcting the measured battery temperature in response to the ambient temperature to produce a corrected battery temperature;
• and
• when the corrected battery temperature indicates a temperature acceleration that is greater than a predetermined threshold, reducing a charging current to the battery.