Method, apparatus, and system for low voltage temperature sensing

A method of sensing a temperature, comprising:

• generating a reference voltage inversely correlated to the temperature;
• generating a plurality of analysis voltages correlated to the temperature using a reference current correlated to the reference voltage to generate voltage drops across a plurality of resistors operably coupled in series;
• selecting at least two of the plurality of analysis voltages;
• comparing the reference voltage to each of the at least two of the plurality of analysis voltages;
• and
• generating a temperature estimate based on the comparisons from the at least two of the plurality of analysis signals.

A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

• a reference module configured for generating a reference voltage inversely correlated to a temperature and a reference current correlated to the reference voltage;
• a plurality of resistors operably coupled in series between the reference current and a base signal operably coupled to a ground voltage;
• a plurality of analysis signals, each analysis signal of the plurality of analysis signals comprising a voltage drop across at least one of the plurality of resistors;
• an analog multiplexer configured for selectively operably coupling at least two of the plurality of analysis signals to a multiplexer output responsive to a multiplexer control signal;
• a comparator configured for comparing the multiplexer output to the reference voltage to generate a comparison result;
• and
• a controller configured for generating the multiplexer control signal and analyzing the comparison result from at least two of the plurality of analysis signals to generate a temperature estimate.

An electronic system, comprising:

• at least one input device;
• at least one output device;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory device, comprising at least one semiconductor memory including at least one temperature sensor, the at least one temperature sensor comprising:
• a reference module configured for generating a reference voltage inversely correlated to a temperature and a reference current correlated to the reference voltage;
• a plurality of resistors operably coupled in series between the reference current and a base signal operably coupled to a ground voltage;
• a plurality of analysis signals, each analysis signal of the plurality of analysis signals comprising a voltage drop across at least one of the plurality of resistors;
• an analog multiplexer configured for selectively operably coupling at least two of the plurality of analysis signals to a multiplexer output responsive to a multiplexer control signal;
• a comparator configured for comparing the multiplexer output to the reference voltage to generate a comparison result;
• and
• a controller configured for generating the multiplexer control signal and analyzing the comparison result from at least two of the plurality of analysis signals to generate a temperature estimate.