US 8,573,840 B2Granted

Wireless temperature sensor

AssigneeIncide, S.A.

InventorsAritz Ubarretxena Belandia, Roc Berenguer—Pérez, César Matinez Antón, Daniel Egurrola López, Javier Hernández de Miguel

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Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated temperature sensor (1) comprising: means (2000) for generating a pulse train (DATA_IN) at an oscillation frequency, means (3000) for counting the number of pulses during a fixed period of time independent of a temperature to be measured (T) and for generating a plurality of bits (b11, b10, . . . , b0) indicating the number of pulses in the pulse train (DATA_IN), and means (4000) for generating a serial digital signal (DATA_OUT) from said bits (b11, b10, . . . , b0), in which the means (2000) for generating a pulse train (DATA_IN) include a plurality of logic gates (2410, 2420, 2430, 2440, 2450) which can introduce a delay dependent on the temperature to be measured (T), said means (2000) generating a pulse train (DATA_IN) the oscillation frequency of which is dependent on said temperature to be measured (T). The invention also relates to a temperature measurement method and to a transponder for a wireless system.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Integrated temperature sensor comprising:

means for generating a pulse train DATA_IN at a certain oscillation frequency;
means for counting the number of pulses of said pulse train DATA_IN during a fixed time independent of a temperature to be measured T and for generating a plurality of bits b11, b10. . . , b0;
indicating the number of pulses comprised in the pulse train DATA_IN;
means for generating a serial digital signal DATA_OUT DATA_OUT@T from said plurality of bits b11, b10, . . . , b0;
wherein the means for generating a pulse train DATA_IN comprise a plurality of logic gates configured for introducing a delay dependent on the temperature to be measured T wherein the means for generating a pulse train DATA_IN generates a pulse train DATA_IN the oscillation frequency of which is dependent on the temperature to be measured T, wherein the sensor further comprises control means for coordinating the means for generating a pulse train, the means for counting the number of pulses of the pulse train and for generating a plurality of bits and the means for generating a serial digital signal from at least one reference signal CLK independent of temperature to be measured T, said reference signal CLK being an input for said means for generating a serial digital signal, and said control means having as output a signal ENABLE, said signal ENABLE being an input for said means for generating a pulse train and for said means for counting the number of pulses of the pulse train and for generating a plurality of bits.

2 more elements

Temperature measurement method comprising the following steps:

generate a pulse train DATA_IN at a certain oscillation frequency;
counting the number of pulses of the pulse train DATA_IN during a fixed time independent of the temperature to be measured T and generating a plurality of bits b11, b10, . . . , b0 indicating the number of pulses comprised in the pulse train DATA_IN;
generating a serial digital signal DATA_OUT DATA_OUT@T from the plurality of bits b11, b10, . . . , b0;
wherein the pulse train DATA_IN is generated by means of an oscillator comprising a plurality of logic gates configured for introducing a delay dependent on the temperature to be measured T the oscillation frequency of the pulse train DATA_IN being dependent on the temperature to be measured T controlling the step of generating a pulse train DATA_IN, the step of counting the number of pulses of the pulse train and generating a plurality of bits, and the step of generating a serial digital signal from at least one reference signal CLK independent of the temperature to be measured T, said reference signal CLK being an input for said step of generating a serial digital signal, and said step of controlling the step of counting the number of pulses of the pulse train and generating a plurality of bits, and the steps of generating a serial digital signal being performed by means of a signal ENABLE, said signal ENABLE being an input for said step of generating a pulse train and for said step of counting the number of pulses of the pulse train and for generating a plurality of bits.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/444,626Filed 9 Oct 2006
Published: US 2010/0040191 A118 Feb 2010
Granted: 5 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G01K 1/024
Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers: for remote indication
G01K 7/32
Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat ; Power supply therefor, e.g. using…: using…
G01K 7/346
Using capacitative elements: for measuring temperature based on the time delay of a signal through a series of logical ports
G01K
Measuring temperature