Abstract: A system and method for measuring integrated circuit (IC) temperature. An integrated circuit (IC) includes a thermal sensor and data processing circuitry. The thermal sensor utilizes switched currents provided to a reference diode and a thermal diode. The ratios of the currents provided to each of these diodes may be chosen to provide a given delta value between the resulting sampled diode voltages. At a later time, a different ratio of currents may be provided to each of these diodes to provide a second given delta value between the resulting sampled diode voltages. A differential amplifier within the data processing circuitry may receive the analog sampled voltages and determine the delta values. Other components within the data processing circuitry may at least digitize and store one or both of the delta values. A difference between the digitized delta values may calculated and used to determine an IC temperature digitized code.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating integrated circuit (IC) temperature measurement circuits. An integrated circuit (IC) includes a thermal sensor and data processing circuitry. The IC may have a temperature measurement mode of operation and a calibration mode of operation. During the calibration mode, one or more stable reference voltages, rather than sensed voltages from a thermal sensor, are selected as input voltages to the data processing circuitry. Electronic components within the data processing circuitry receive the stable reference voltages and generate a temperature digital code. The generated temperature digital code may be compared to an expected temperature digital code based on theoretical ideal gains for each of the components within the data processing circuitry. The comparison leads to an updated value for a scaling factor to be stored and used in subsequent temperature measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring integrated circuit (IC) temperature. An integrated circuit (IC) includes a thermal sensor and data processing circuitry. The thermal sensor utilizes switched currents provided to a reference diode and a thermal diode. The ratios of the currents provided to each of these diodes may be chosen to provide a given delta value between the resulting sampled diode voltages. At a later time, a different ratio of currents may be provided to each of these diodes to provide a second given delta value between the resulting sampled diode voltages. A differential amplifier within the data processing circuitry may receive the analog sampled voltages and determine the delta values. Other components within the data processing circuitry may at least digitize and store one or both of the delta values. A difference between the digitized delta values may calculated and used to determine an IC temperature digitized code.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first, second and third voltage output from a temperature sensing element of an integrated circuit using a respective, corresponding first, second and third, switched current source, for sequentially switching a respective first, second and third excitation current through the temperature sensing element. The third switched current source generates the corresponding third voltage output as a reference voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage. An error corrected difference is calculated between the first voltage and the second voltage using the reference voltage. In the method, the second excitation current is proportional to the first excitation current by a value n, and the third excitation current is proportional to the first excitation current by the square root of n.

Abstract: Various capacitors for use with integrated circuits and other devices and fabrication methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first capacitor plate that has at least two non-linear strips and forming a second capacitor plate that has a non-linear strip positioned between the at least two non-linear strips of the first capacitor plate. A dielectric is provided between the non-linear strip of the second capacitor plate and the at least two non-linear strips of the first capacitor plate.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first, second and third voltage output from a temperature sensing element of an integrated circuit using a respective, corresponding first, second and third, switched current source, for sequentially switching a respective first, second and third excitation current through the temperature sensing element, wherein the third switched current source generates the corresponding third voltage output as a reference voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage; and calculating an error corrected difference between the first voltage and the second voltage using the reference voltage. In the method, the second excitation current is proportional to the first excitation current by a value n, and the third excitation current is proportional to the first excitation current by the square root of n.

Abstract: Various capacitors for use with integrated circuits and other devices and fabrication methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first capacitor plate that has at least two non-linear strips and forming a second capacitor plate that has a non-linear strip positioned between the at least two non-linear strips of the first capacitor plate. A dielectric is provided between the non-linear strip of the second capacitor plate and the at least two non-linear strips of the first capacitor plate.