Temperature sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689750-B2
Application number	US-201414299660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jan 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

The temperature sensor includes a voltage generator and a temperature code generator. The voltage generator includes a first temperature element having a first resistance value and a second temperature element having a second resistance value and utilizes the first and second temperature elements to generate a temperature voltage signal having a voltage level that varies according to a variation in temperature. The voltage generator generates a reference voltage signal having a substantially constant voltage level regardless of the variation in temperature. The temperature code generator compares a voltage level of the temperature voltage signal with a voltage level of the reference voltage signal to generate a plurality of temperature code signals including information on the variation in temperature based on the comparison.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature sensor comprising:
a voltage generator suitable for comprising a first temperature element having a first resistance value and a second temperature element having a second resistance value, wherein the voltage generator is suitable for utilizing the first and second temperature elements to generate a temperature voltage signal having a voltage level that varies according to a variation in temperature, and is suitable for generating a reference voltage signal having a substantially constant voltage level regardless of the variation in temperature; and
a temperature code generator suitable for comparing a voltage level of the temperature voltage signal with a voltage level of the reference voltage signal to generate a plurality of temperature code signals including information on the variation in temperature based on the comparison,
wherein the temperature code generator comprises:
a comparison voltage generator suitable for receiving the reference voltage signal and for generating a plurality of comparison voltage signals having voltage levels that sequentially increase;
a comparator suitable for comparing the plurality of comparison voltage signals with the temperature voltage signal and for generating a plurality of comparison signals; and
a buffer suitable for buffering the plurality of comparison signals to output the buffered comparison signals as the plurality of temperature code signals.

2. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first resistance value is set by one of a threshold voltage of the first temperature element and a ratio of a channel width and a channel length of the first temperature element.

3. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , wherein the second resistance value is set by one of a threshold voltage of the second temperature element and a ratio of a channel width and a channel length of the second temperature element.

4. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , wherein the voltage generator comprises:
a drive voltage generator suitable for generating a drive voltage signal having a substantially constant voltage level regardless of the variation in temperature;
a reference voltage generator suitable for generating the reference voltage signal in response to the drive voltage signal; and
a driver suitable comprising the first and second temperature elements and suitable for generating the temperature voltage signal in response to the drive voltage signal.

5. The temperature sensor of claim 4 , wherein the reference voltage generator comprises:
a first drive element electrically coupled between a power supply voltage terminal and a first node and suitable for supplying electric charge from the power supply voltage terminal to the first node in response to the drive voltage signal; and
a second drive element electrically coupled between the first node and a ground voltage terminal and suitable for being turned on in response to a voltage level at the first node.

6. The temperature sensor of claim 5 , wherein the second drive element is suitable for generating a substantially constant current regardless of the variation in temperature.

7. The temperature sensor of claim 4 , wherein the driver comprises:
a third drive element electrically coupled between a power supply voltage terminal and a second node and suitable for supplying electric charge from the power supply voltage terminal to the second node in response to the drive voltage signal;
the first temperature element electrically coupled between the second node and a third node, wherein the temperature voltage signal is output from the third node and turned on in response to a voltage level at the second node; and
the second temperature element electrically coupled between the third node and a ground voltage terminal and suitable for being turned on in response to the voltage level at the second node.

8. The temperature sensor of claim 7 ,
wherein a current flowing through the first temperature element varies according to the variation in temperature; and
wherein a current flowing through the second temperature element varies according to the variation in temperature.

9. The temperature sensor of claim 7 , wherein a voltage level of the temperature voltage signal is adjusted based on the first and second resistance values of the first and second temperature elements.

Assignees

• Sk Hynix Inc

Inventors

• Hyun Sang Ah
• Lim Hee Joon

Classifications

• G01K7/21

  for modifying the output characteristic, e.g. linearising · CPC title

• G01K7/015

  using microstructures, e.g. made of silicon · CPC title

• G01K7/16 Primary

  using resistive elements · CPC title