Differential thermistor circuit
AssigneeFairchild Semiconductor Corporation
InventorsKenneth P. Snowdon, Roy Yarbrough
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus and method for providing temperature information. In an example, an integrated circuit apparatus can include a first resistor configured to be coupled to a first terminal of a temperature-sensitive resistance, a second resistor configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance, and a temperature information circuit configured to receive a first voltage from the first terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance and a second voltage from the second terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance. The temperature information circuit can provide the temperature information using the first and second voltages.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an integrated circuit, including:
- a temperature-sensitive resistance;
- a first resistor configured to be coupled to a first terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance;
- a second resistor configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance;
- and
- a temperature information circuit configured to receive a first voltage from the first terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance and to receive a second voltage from the second terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance, and to provide temperature information using the first and second voltages.
A method comprising:
- biasing a circuit including a temperature-sensitive resistance with a predetermined voltage;
- receiving a first voltage from a first resistor coupled to a first terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance;
- receiving a second voltage from a second resistor coupled to second terminal of the temperature-sensitive resistance;
- providing an output signal indicative of the difference between the first and second voltages;
- and
- comparing the output signal to a reference voltage to provide an indication of temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.