Temperature Patents (Class 377/25)
  • Patent number: 11521661
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided, which includes a memory chip and a temperature detection module. The temperature detection module is configured to detect a temperature of the memory chip. The temperature detection module includes a temperature detection unit. The temperature detection unit includes a temperature sensitive unit and an adjustable resistor unit. An electrical conductivity of the temperature sensitive unit changes with the change of temperature, and the adjustable resistor unit being connected in parallel with the temperature sensitive unit. The temperature detection unit is configured to be calibrated by adjusting a resistance value of the adjustable resistor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Shuliang Ning
  • Patent number: 11353916
    Abstract: An embodiment method is disclosed for deriving an estimation value of a clock-error for a slave clock, wherein the slave clock is set at a nominal slave period and outputs a sequence of slave clock signals at an actual slave period, and wherein a difference between the actual slave period and the nominal slave period is approximated by the estimation value of the clock-error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BE SPOON SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Fabre
  • Patent number: 9939246
    Abstract: The disclosed micro-sensor includes: a substrate including a first portion and a second portion; a third portion and fourth portion provided between the portions and connected to the first portion and the second portion respectively by an elastic member; detection and a counter including: a counting gear, a third beam capable of meshing with the gear, an amplifier for the value of a relative movement between the portions and including: a first beam attached at one end thereof to the third portion and at the other end thereof to a plate, a second beam attached at one end thereof to the fourth portion and at the other end thereof to the plate, the third beam being attached on one side to the plate and including a tooth capable of meshing with the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: ETAT FRANCAIS REPRESENTE PAR LE DELEGUE GENERAL POUR L'ARMEMENT, SILMACH
    Inventors: Pierre-Francois Louvigne, Patrice Minotti, Paul Vescovo, Vianney Sadoulet
  • Patent number: 9784608
    Abstract: A method for detecting a fill level in a collecting vessel using a sensor device, wherein the collecting vessel has m detection regions which are measured using ultrasound, includes the following steps: 1. a measurement cycle is performed for each of the m detection regions, where m= 1, 2, 3, . . . ; 2. n individual measurements are performed in each measurement cycle, where n= 1, 2, 3, . . . , wherein a transmission power and/or a reception gain and/or a transmission burst is varied in each of the n individual measurements, as a result of which the individual measurements are distinguished from one another in terms of the transmission power and/or in terms of the reception gain and/or in terms of the transmission burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Pepperl & Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Luber, Claudia Sertl
  • Patent number: 9638586
    Abstract: Techniques are described for generating earth sub-surface thermal characteristics over an area include collecting real-time weather data and earth data for a plurality of locations associated with an underground electrical cable and calculating earth thermal properties at the plurality of locations based on the real-time weather data and the measured earth data by an iterative process. The calculated earth thermal properties at two or more of the plurality of locations are interpolated to determine interpolated earth thermal properties at another location associated with the underground electrical cable and a wide-area thermal property map created from at least some of the calculated earth thermal properties and the interpolated earth thermal properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Underground Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Purnhagen, Chunchuan Xu, Paul A. Alex
  • Patent number: 9310260
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a temperature estimation circuit includes a first oscillator, a second oscillator, an enable period setting unit, a first counter, a first memory, a second memory, and an operation unit. The operation unit executes a computation to calculate an operation temperature based on an operation-time count value that is outputted from the first counter during a normal operation, the first count value, and the second count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9110104
    Abstract: A voltage-temperature sensor includes a first converter, a second converter and a data processing block. The first converter generates first digital data based on an operational voltage and an operational temperature. The first converter has a first sensitivity to the operational voltage and the operational temperature. The second converter generates second digital data based on the operational voltage and the operational temperature. The second converter has a second sensitivity to the operational voltage and the operational temperature. The second sensitivity is different from the first sensitivity. The data processing block determines a combination of an unknown value of the operational voltage and an unknown value of the operational temperature based on a combination of the first digital data and the second digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun-Young Chung, Dong Jiao, Ming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140286472
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a measurement method that enables high precision measurement of temperature or humidity or the like over a wide range. A semiconductor device of the present invention determines which is faster out of a reference oscillation and a thermistor oscillation, and using the faster oscillation as a reference, measures a count value based on the other oscillation. Moreover, the count based on the faster oscillation is employed as a reference value, and a count value based on the other oscillation when the reference value is taken as a measurement value. A frequency ratio is computed based on the reference value and the measurement value, and based on the computed frequency ratio, a table expressing correspondence relationships between frequency ratio and temperature is referred to and a temperature acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yosuke IWASA
  • Publication number: 20140211905
    Abstract: A ratio meter includes a converter circuit, a first counter, a delay circuit, and a second counter. The converter circuit is configured to receive a temperature-independent signal, to convert the received temperature-independent signal into a first frequency signal during a first phase, to receive a temperature-dependent signal, and to convert the temperature-dependent signal into a second frequency signal during a second phase. The first counter is configured to receive the first frequency signal and to generate a control signal by counting a predetermined number of pulses of the first frequency signal count. The delay circuit is configured to delay the control signal for a predetermined time delay. The second counter is configured to receive the second frequency signal and to generate a count value by counting the second frequency signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mei-Chen CHUANG, Jui-Cheng HUANG, Alan ROTH
  • Patent number: 8638902
    Abstract: A method executed by a circuit for counting electrons in storage cells in an array of at least two storage cells is provided. The method includes providing a storage array of at least two storage cells, and each of said at least two storage cells containing an unknown amount of electrons. A receiving array of at least two receiving cells is provided, where said at least two receiving cells initially contain no electrons. Then, extracting a layer of said electrons from said storage array of cells and inserting said layer into corresponding locations in said receiving array. The method then repeats said steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of said at least two storage cells is not empty. The method counts, for each said storage cell in said storage array, a productive-extraction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.
    Inventors: Dov Moran, Avi Klein, Itzhak Pomerantz, Menahem Lasser, Eyal Bychkov, Eran Leibinger, Avraham Meir
  • Patent number: 8573840
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Incide, S.A.
    Inventors: Aritz Ubarretxena Belandia, Roc Berenguer—Pérez, César Matinez Antón, Daniel Egurrola López, Javier Hernández de Miguel
  • Publication number: 20130129035
    Abstract: A method of programming a ring oscillator for use as a temperature sensor comprises selecting an initial number of delay elements for use in a ring oscillator. The method further comprise starting a system clock counter and counting pulses of the ring oscillator until the system clock counter reaches a programmed value. The method also comprises determining whether a number of counted ring oscillator pulses is between lower and upper count thresholds and changing the number of delay elements for the ring oscillator as a result of the number of counted ring oscillator pulses being less than the lower count threshold or greater than the upper count threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Texas Instruments Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8229056
    Abstract: A counter/timer circuit and method of generating timed output signals using the counter/timer circuit, uses multiple counters that are configurable to operate as one or more counters. The counters are controlled by control signals from a control logic circuitry of the counter/timer circuit, where at least some of the control signals are dependent on event signals generated by an event generation module of the counter/timer circuit. The generated event signals are based on at least one of: an input signal, an output signal, and a counter match, qualified by a state value associated with the counters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Craig A. MacKenna, Neil E. Birns
  • Patent number: 8204169
    Abstract: Methods and systems for counting items in storage containers in an array of at least two storage containers, the method including the steps of: providing a storage array of at least two storage containers, each of the storage containers containing an unknown amount of items; providing a receiving array of at least two receiving containers, wherein the receiving containers initially contain no items; extracting a layer of the items from the storage array; inserting the layer into corresponding locations in the receiving array; repeating the steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of the storage containers is not empty; counting, for each storage container in the storage array, a productive-extraction amount; and reporting, for at least some of the storage containers, the productive-extraction amount from each storage container. Preferably, the method further includes recovering a storage identity upon recovery from a system failure that erases the productive-extraction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.
    Inventors: Dov Moran, Avi Klein, Itzhak Pomerantz, Menahem Lasser, Eyal Bychkov, Eran Leibinger, Avraham Meir
  • Publication number: 20100040191
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Aritz Ubarretxena Belandia, Roc Berenguer-Pérez, César Matinez Antón, Daniel Egurrola López, Javier Hernández De Miguel
  • Patent number: 7653508
    Abstract: A method for monitoring human activity using an inertial sensor includes continuously determining an orientation of the inertial sensor, assigning a dominant axis, updating the dominant axis as the orientation of the inertial sensor changes, and counting periodic human motions by monitoring accelerations relative to the dominant axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Kahn, Arthur Kinsolving, Mark Andrew Christensen, Brian Y. Lee, David Vogel
  • Patent number: 7573340
    Abstract: There is provided a temperature detecting apparatus for improving operational characteristics, which vary according to the temperature, of elements in a semiconductor memory device. The temperature detecting apparatus of the present invention includes: a first oscillator that outputs a first oscillating signal in response to a first oscillator reset signal, the first oscillating signal being independent of the temperature; a second oscillator that outputs a second oscillating signal in response to a second oscillator enable signal, the second oscillating signal being dependent on the temperature; a comparator that compares an output pulse of the first oscillator with an output pulse of the second oscillator and then outputs a temperature detection comparison signal; and an output unit that outputs a temperature detection signal in response to an input of the temperature detection comparison signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Kyong-Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 7508250
    Abstract: A method for determining that a circuit is operating in the reverse temperature dependence domain includes creating baseline delay information, detecting a temperature change with one or more temperature sensors, after detecting the temperature change, creating current delay information, comparing the baseline delay information with the current delay information, determining that the temperature change was a positive change; determining that the current delay information indicates that the circuit is operating faster when the baseline delay information was taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, David Wolpert
  • Patent number: 7315792
    Abstract: A temperature detector and method of detecting a shifted temperature provides multiple detected temperature points using a single branch. The temperature detector generates multiple detected temperature points in response to temperature control signals sequentially generated in a single branch. Since a shifted temperature for the single branch is found and a trimming operation in response to the shifted temperature is carried out, the test time is reduced. Various refresh periods can be set in response to various trip point temperatures and thus power consumption of a DRAM can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-sun Min, Nam-jong Kim
  • Patent number: 7197421
    Abstract: In an RF communication system, aspects of a method for a temperature sensor for transmitter output power compensation may comprise generating an output voltage, which may vary with temperature, from at least one reference voltage, wherein at least one reference voltage may vary proportionally with temperature. The output voltage may be converted to a digital value. The reference voltage may be generated by utilizing a current source to generate a voltage across a resistive load. A control voltage generated from an operational amplifier may control at least one current source. PN junction characteristics of at least one bipolar junction transistor may be utilized to generate an input reference voltage for the operational amplifier. Resistance of at least one resistor, which may be coupled to the bipolar junction transistor and to the operational amplifier, may be adjusted to determine a current level from the current source at a plurality of different temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Michael (Meng-An) Pan
  • Patent number: 7180380
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first temperature sensing device providing an indication of a sensed temperature, a correlation oscillator circuit positioned adjacent to the first temperature sensing device, a plurality of other oscillator circuits, and storage locations storing calibration factors associated with at least the first temperature sensing device and the plurality of other oscillator circuits. A temperature calculation circuit determines temperatures of various locations in the integrated circuit. Each of the temperatures is determined according to an oscillation frequency of a respective one of the other oscillators, the oscillation frequency of the correlation ring oscillator, the temperature of the first temperature sensing device, and one or more stored calibration factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Bienek, Larry Hewitt, Huining Liu
  • Patent number: 7107178
    Abstract: A temperature sensing circuit has numerous trip points in conformity with a temperature change without adding decrease resistance branches, so as to obtain a fine control based on the temperature change. Accordingly, when employed in a semiconductor memory device, the temperature sensing circuit substantially reduces the consumption of refresh electrical power in a stand-by state without decreasing the reliability of the semiconductor memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-Gyoo Won, Jae-Hoon Kim, Jong-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 7052178
    Abstract: A method for determining temperature from a transponder utilizing a thermistor and a running counter comprises providing a running count which varies as a function of temperature; latching the count at predetermined time intervals; determining the difference between the values of successive latched counts; aggregating the differences; determining the total elapsed time between a first latched count and a last latched count; dividing the aggregate by the total time to obtain a frequency; and converting the frequency to a temperature based upon the temperature frequency characteristics of the thermistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Bio Medic Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Urbas, David Ellwood, Eric B. Weddington
  • Patent number: 6934652
    Abstract: A temperature monitoring technique that eliminates the need for bipolar devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, a long-channel MOS transistor is configured in a diode connection to sense change in temperature. The diode drives a linear regulator and an oscillator. The oscillator in turn drives a counter, which counts pulses for a fixed period of time. The system clock on the chip is used as a temperature-independent frequency to generate a count. The temperature-dependent frequency is counted for a fixed number of system clock cycles. The present invention eliminates band gap circuitry currently used in most thermal sensing devices to provide a temperature-independent reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Gin S. Yee
  • Patent number: 6893154
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for sensing a physical stimulus of an integrated circuit. The apparatus and method allow for accurate die temperature measurements of the integrated circuit and are able to provide a highly accurate die temperature measurement without the need for an independent voltage source or current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer M. Gold, Claude R. Gauthier, Brian W. Amick, Kamran Zarrineh, Steven R. Boyle
  • Patent number: 6874933
    Abstract: A circuit for measuring temperature with all digital components in an integrated circuit. During manufacture, the number of clock period cycles during a known period of time at a predetermined temperature is stored in non-volatile memory. Later, during use of the integrated circuit, a clock circuit is activated and each cycle of its period is counted during a known length of time. Using the previously saved number of clock circuit cycles at a predetermined temperature and a current count of clock cycles for another known length of time, the current period of the clock circuit can be calculated and used to determine the current temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Wai Cheong Chan
  • Patent number: 6806698
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that uses the difference between two nodal voltages, such as a temperature-independent voltage and a temperature-dependent voltage, to determine the actual temperature at a point on an integrated circuit is provided. Further, a method and apparatus that converts a difference between nodal voltages in an integrated circuit from an analog to a digital quantity on the integrated circuit such that the difference in voltage may be used by an on-chip digital system is provided. Further, a method and apparatus for quantifying a difference in voltage between a first node and a second node of a temperature sensor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Spencer Gold, Dean Liu, Kamran Zarrineh, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Patent number: 6797297
    Abstract: An electrical cooking appliance has at least one cooktop with cooking zones becoming hot in a switched-on state, an optical residual heat indicator indicating hot cooking zones when line voltage is applied to the cooking appliance, a counter system switching off the residual heat indicator with a time delay after the switching-off of the cooking appliance connected to line voltage occurs, and a line voltage detector for detecting a presence of the line voltage at the cooking appliance. Information is stored in a memory of the counter system as long as a counter reading is greater than zero, and, after a line voltage interruption, the residual heat indicator remains activated for a certain period of time, in dependence on the inquired memory content, if the information in the memory indicates a counter value greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schneider
  • Patent number: 6751282
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are arranged to provide a multi-bit digital signal that represents a normalized percentage of time that a signal is active. The apparatus includes an N-bit counter that is periodically reset to an initialization condition, and a logic block that processes the output of the N-bit counter. The N-bit counter is arranged to evaluate a monitored signal for each cycle of a clock signal, and modify the count accordingly. The logic block is configured to periodically scan the output of the N-bit counter after the expiration of a sampling time interval. The sampling time interval is determined by a timing circuit such as a window counter that is operated from the clock signal. The logic block periodically evaluates the output of the N-bit counter and provides the normalized multi-bit digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Kramer, Jered Michael Sandner, Ohad Falik
  • Patent number: 6746829
    Abstract: In a thermal developing method for continuously and thermally developing thermal developing sheets which have a latent image formed thereon by exposure and various sizes, a minimum temperature recovery time required for thermally developing a next thermal developing sheet is determined from physical information about a thermally developed sheet, and the next thermal developing sheet is started to be developed after the minimum temperature recovery time passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 6695475
    Abstract: A method and circuit are disclosed for measuring temperature. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first oscillator circuit that generates a first signal having a frequency that is dependent upon a sensed temperature. Difference circuitry determines a difference in frequency between the first signal and the second signal having a frequency that is substantially independent of temperature, and generates a difference signal having a number of pulses thereon based upon the difference. A counter circuit is responsive to the difference circuitry for offsetting a predetermined temperature level based upon the pulses appearing on the difference signal, to obtain an output signal indicative of the sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rong Yin
  • Patent number: 6685458
    Abstract: A die assembly for forming wax patterns is provided, including at least two cooperating mold portions together defining a main cavity, a runner in communication with the main cavity, a temperature sensor disposed proximate the runner, and a counter coupled to a mold portion and connected to the temperature sensor. When wax is injected through the runner into the main cavity, the temperature sensor measures an increase in temperature and the counter registers an injection cycle. An injection molding method also is provided with injection cycle counting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Raymond Poynor
  • Patent number: 6115441
    Abstract: A temperature detector comprising temperature sensing circuitry, calibration circuitry, and power regular circuitry. The temperature sensing circuitry has an output that varies with temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry is coupled to receive the output that varies with temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry interprets the temperature variation and outputs a valve that represents the temperature. The power supply regulator circuitry coordinates power to the temperature sensing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James Michael Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Donald R. Dias, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 6091255
    Abstract: An on-chip thermometer and methods for using the on-chip thermometer to measure a local temperature and to operate an integrated circuit. The on-chip thermometer comprises a clock circuit, a temperature responsive circuit, and a counter. The clock circuit operates at a fixed frequency and generates a fixed frequency clock signal. The temperature responsive circuit, when enabled, generates a signal dependent on local temperature. In response to receiving the clock signal, the temperature responsive circuit generates an output signal. The counter is coupled to receive the output signal from the temperature responsive circuit and the clock signal. The counter then generates a value indicative of a local temperature of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary M. Godfrey
  • Patent number: 6011827
    Abstract: A system for electronically measuring the distance that a wheel has traveled can be used on a tractor-trailer combination vehicle to independently monitor mileages for the tractor and the trailer. An axle on the tractor and an axle on the trailer each has a hub odometer system which can electronically measure and store mileages for its respective axle. The system is mounted on a wheel and includes a signal generating device and a semiconductor unit. The signal generating device generates an electrical signal proportional to the number of wheel revolutions and the semiconductor unit receives, counts, and stores the electrical signals. The electrical signals are relayed to an output device. The system can also be used on other types of vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicles, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christos T. Kyrtsos
  • Patent number: 5899570
    Abstract: A time-based digital temperature sensing system has a first oscillator which is temperature sensitive. The first oscillator has a temperature coefficient which allows the first oscillator to generate an output signal which varies linearly as a function of temperature. A second oscillator is provided and is used to generates a reference clock signal. The outputs from the first and the second oscillator are coupled to a timer. The timer has a clock input coupled to an output of the second oscillator and an enable input coupled to an output of the first oscillator. From these input signals, the timer generates a number indicative of a length of time the timer is enabled by the first oscillator. The number is proportional to a current temperature of a material that is being monitored by the temperature sensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Hartono Darmawaskita, James B. Nolan
  • Patent number: 5835553
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a temperature sensor circuit includes a pulse source for generating a count pulse and a resistor having a resistance changing dependently upon a temperature change. The temperature detecting circuit is configured to convert the change of the resistance of the resistor responding to the temperature change, into the pulse number of the count pulses, in response to each application of a temperature measuring signal having a first frequency, in order to generate a count signal. A counter counts the count signal and accumulates a count value for each temperature measuring signal so as to hold the accumulated count value. The counter outputs the accumulated count value in response to a reset signal having a second frequency lower than the first frequency. The counter is then reset by the reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Naoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5828248
    Abstract: A deviation of a clock rate of the timepiece clock signal is determined relative to a reference clock rate of a reference clock signal (CR) which is either issued while the mobile unit is switched on or is contained in a received signal. The reference clock rate is higher than the clock rate of the timepiece clock signal. A count number (N) is calculated based on the deviation of the clock rate of the timepiece clock signal. The clock signal is generated such that the clock pulses the clock signal are successively issued each time the clock pulses of the timepiece clock signal counted up to the count number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 5638418
    Abstract: A temperature detector comprises temperature sensing circuitry calibration circuitry, and power regular circuitry. The temperature sensing circuitry has an output that varies with a temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry is coupled to receive the output that varies with temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry interprets the temperature variation and outputs a value that represents the temperature. The power supply regulator circuitry coordinates power to the temperature sensing circuitry. Alternate embodiments of the temperature detector comprise temperature sensing circuitry, calibration circuitry, and resolution enhancement circuitry. The temperature sensing circuitry has an output that varies with a temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry is coupled to receive the output that varies with temperature to create a temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Donald R. Dias, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 5563928
    Abstract: A free running relaxation oscillator is disposed on a semiconductor integrated circuit die for generating a frequency representative of the natural frequency of the die. The natural frequency of the die changes for different operating temperatures and voltages. An optimal speed may be determined at which the die will reliably operate by measuring the natural frequency. The die may be effectively graded and matched with a similar die by correlating the natural frequency of the die with the temperature and voltage values at which the natural frequency was measured for each die. A plurality of integrated circuit dice may be connected into a digital system, and the natural frequencies of each die may be monitored so as to optimize the system operating speed, reduce system power consumption without degrading performance, and/or increase the operating speed of a slower die by changing the temperature and/or operating voltage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Rostoker, Daniel J. Lincoln
  • Patent number: 5513235
    Abstract: An integrated circuit temperature detector (thermometer) uses a temperature dependent oscillator to count up to a fixed number and thereby generate a time interval indicative of the temperature (a temperature-to-time converter). The time-to-number converter provides a numeric temperature output. Counting oscillations of a relatively temperature independent oscillator for the time interval may digitize the temperature measurement. Calibration and successive approximation iterations permit simple hardware to achieve good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 5485347
    Abstract: A riding situation guiding management system includes, in each of plural cars constituting a train, an up/down counter for counting passengers getting on and off each car with passenger sensor/counter units provided at doorways and passways of the cars, and a transmission unit arranged in the train for transmitting the passenger information to forward stations, and a broadcasting unit provided in each station for receiving and analyzing the information as well as for broadcasting speech indicative of a current riding situation for each car of the train to passengers who are waiting for the train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Okimi Miura
  • Patent number: 5452335
    Abstract: An apparatus for counting the number of times a temperature cycle occurs includes an indicator having sequential indicia and a temperature responsive member for indicating a next one of the indicia. Mechanical, fluid mechanical and electronic versions of the invention are disclosed. In the mechanical version, the indicator can be a ratchet member having teeth, a pawl and a display surface containing indicia. A temperature responsive element such as a bimetallic member engages the teeth of the ratchet and advances the ratchet each time the apparatus is subjected to a preset temperature cycle. A housing with a window masks the display to indicate one of the indicia as advanced by the temperature responsive element. Preferred embodiments of the mechanical version include a ring-like ratchet member with interior teeth and an exterior display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Symbiosis Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Slater, Thomas O. Bales, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, George Nunez, David Turkel, David P. Gordon
  • Patent number: 5442669
    Abstract: A perishable good integrity indicator includes a first oscillator for outputting a first clock signal which does not substantially vary in response to temperature. A second oscillator outputs a second clock temperature which varies as a function of temperature. A counter counts the pulses of the second clock signal during a time period determined by the first clock and outputs a count value. A data table receives the count value, translates the count value into a time temperature value representing the relationship of time and temperature during the time period and outputs the time temperature value to an adder. The adder adds the time temperature values output by the data table over time and outputs a cumulative time temperature value corresponding to shelf life for a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: David L. Medin
  • Patent number: 5388134
    Abstract: An integrated circuit temperature detector (thermometer) uses a temperature dependent oscillator to count up to a fixed number and thereby generate a time interval indicative of the temperature (a temperature-to-time converter). The time-to-number converter provides a numeric temperature output. Counting oscillations of a relatively temperature independent oscillator for the time interval may digitize the temperature measurement. Calibration and successive approximation iterations permit simple hardware to achieve good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 5359234
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator runs at full speed to generate an output frequency dependent on temperature and process variation. First and second clock signals are generated from the oscillator signal, while third and fourth clock signals are developed in response to an input clock signal. The number of clock signals occurring during a first state of the third clock signal are counted for providing a plurality of output signals also indicative of the temperature and process variation. The plurality of output signals compensate an input signal for the temperature and process variation for providing an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Codex, Corp.
    Inventors: Ahmad H. Atriss, Benjamin C. Peterson, Lanny L. Parker
  • Patent number: 5038611
    Abstract: A system for providing a temperature compensated measurement indicative of the height of a fluid in a vessel includes an acoustic waveguide in fluid communication with the vessel. A reference target is positioned within the waveguide. Ultrasonic signals are produced in the fluid and a timer measures a first transit time representative of the time for the ultrasonic signals to travel to and from the target and a second transit time representative of the time for the ultrasonic signals to travel to and from the surface of a fluid in the waveguide. A circuit calculates the height of the fluid in the waveguide from the first and second transit times. Another circuit determines the density of the fluid in the waveguide from the first transit time and normalizes the calculated height of the fluid based on the density of the fluid such that the normalized height is indicative of the height of the fluid in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Weldon, James L. McShane
  • Patent number: 4987579
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic clinical thermometer at least the temperature sensing portion of which, or the entire thermometer, has a flexible structure which adapts itself to any part of a body surface for automatically measuring body temperature or body surface temperature over an extended period of time. Preferably, the thermometer includes a power supply battery and a temperature measuring and storing circuit for storing in memory temperature data obtained by sensing temperature at a predetermined period by means of a temperature-responsive portion, reading out the temperature data stored in the memory in response to an externally applied data-read request, and outputting the temperature data to an external unit from a prescribed signal extracting portion. These elements are mounted on a flexible circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yoshinaka, Yutaka Muramoto
  • Patent number: 4872124
    Abstract: At the start of measurement by a length measuring device, a calibration coil in which the temperature characteristics are known, is connected to an oscillator. The oscillation frequency of the oscillator at this time is counted by a counter and is given to microcomputer. Microcomputer obtains temperature information corresponding to counted numbers with reference to a table of counted numbers versus temperature information which has already stored temperature information corresponding to a plurality of counted numbers and stores the obtained temperature information in a data storage area. In measurement mode, measured values subjected to temperature compensation are obtained according to the temperature information stored in the data storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Man Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Giichiro Shimizu, Toshiharu Okuyama, Yoshio Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 4838707
    Abstract: An electronic thermometer is provided in which the number of pulses counted in a first count and the number of pulses counted in a second count are respectively proportional to the resistance of a reference resistance and that of a thermosensing element. When the first counted value is to be adjusted so as to realize the absolute value adjustment of the thermometer, the difference between the resistance of the thermosensing element and the resistance of the reference resistor is adjusted by varying the number of counts in a counter upon whose content the timing of the second count depends. Accordingly, the absolute value precision adjustment of the electronic thermometer is realized by providing an initial logic adjustment circuit in which the number of the first clock counts is appropriately varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignees: Shiojiri Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
    Inventors: Masaki Ozawa, Toshiyuki Hosaka, Masayuki Yoshizawa