On-chip temperature detection using an oscillator
AssigneePixelworks, Inc.
InventorsRonny C. Chan, Jenkin Wong, Kirk Lau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature detection circuit on an integrated circuit has a temperature sensitive oscillator, at least one temperature insensitive oscillator, a reference clock, process detection circuitry coupled to an output of the temperature insensitive oscillator and the output of the reference clock, the process detection circuitry to compare the outputs and produce a process signal, and temperature reference circuitry coupled to an output of the temperature sensitive oscillator, the output of the reference clock, and the process signal, the temperature detection circuitry to produce a temperature for the integrated circuit.
Claims13
A temperature detection circuit on an integrated circuit, comprising:
- a temperature sensitive oscillator;
- at least one temperature insensitive oscillator;
- a reference clock;
- process detection circuitry coupled to an output of the temperature insensitive oscillator and the output of the reference clock, the process detection circuitry to compare the outputs and produce a process corner signal indicating a process corner to which the integrated circuit belongs;
- and
- temperature reference circuitry coupled to an output of the temperature sensitive oscillator, the output of the reference clock, and the process corner signal, the temperature detection circuitry to produce a temperature for the integrated circuit.
A method of classifying an integrated circuit, comprising:
- operating at least one temperature insensitive oscillator at a steady state;
- counting an output of the temperature insensitive oscillator to produce a temperature insensitive count;
- counting an output of a reference clock to produce a reference count;
- comparing the reference count to the temperature insensitive count;
- and
- using the comparison to determine a process corner by which the integrated circuit is classified.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.