Digital Output Patents (Class 374/170)
  • Patent number: 11927493
    Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a sensing element and a load. Multiple different currents pass through the sensing element in a sequential manner. Based on each current that passes through the sensing element, the sensing element outputs a complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) voltage and another current. Further, the currents that pass through the sensing element and the currents that the sensing element output separately pass through the load and result in the generation of multiple load voltages across the load. A current density ratio of the temperature sensor is determined based on the load voltages generated across the load. Further, a temperature value indicative of a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is generated based on the current density ratio and the CTAT voltages outputted by the sensing element based on the different currents that pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Saurabh Goyal, Sanjay Kumar Wadhwa, Firas N. Abughazaleh, Atul Kumar
  • Patent number: 11887651
    Abstract: Devices and techniques for temperature informed memory refresh are described herein. A temperature counter can be updated in response to a memory device write performed under an extreme temperature. Here, the write is performed on a memory device element in the memory device. The memory device element can be sorted above other memory device elements in the memory device based on the temperature counter. Once sorted to the top of these memory device elements, a refresh can be performed the memory device element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gianni Stephen Alsasua, Harish Reddy Singidi, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Sampath Ratnam, Ashutosh Malshe, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Renato Padilla, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11867566
    Abstract: A method of determining a temperature of a patient includes measuring a first temperature of the patient with a temperature device, and measuring a second temperature of an environment with the temperature device. The method includes determining if a change in the ambient temperature exceeds a threshold. If the change does exceed the threshold, the method also includes applying a correction factor to the first temperature of the patient to account for the change in ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Lane, Matthew J. Kinsley, Ryan Kent
  • Patent number: 11835398
    Abstract: In an embodiment a method includes providing an analog signal having a first value of a temperature of an object, performing an analog-to-digital conversion of the analog signal using a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) thereby providing a first digital signal representing an initial digital temperature value, performing an analog-to-digital conversion of the analog signal using a second ADC thereby providing a second digital signal representing a digital reference temperature value, regularly providing the analog signal having a successive value of the temperature of the object, performing the analog-to-digital conversion of the analog signal using the second ADC thereby providing the second digital signal representing a successive digital temperature value, calculating a digital delta temperature value according to a difference between the successive digital temperature value and the digital reference temperature value and repeating portions of the method as long as the digital delta temperature value
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sciosense B.V.
    Inventor: Sébastien Poirier
  • Patent number: 11829290
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory system determines a rate at which an amount of valid data is decreasing on a first block of the memory device and determines whether the rate at which the amount of valid data is decreasing on the first block satisfies a threshold criterion. Responsive to the rate at which the amount of valid data is decreasing on the first block satisfying the threshold criterion, the processing device performs a media management operation on the first block of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Sampath K. Ratnam, Ashutosh Malshe, Peter Sean Feeley
  • Patent number: 11774297
    Abstract: A temperature detection circuit includes a first current path and a second current path. The first current path includes a first transistor with a control terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage and includes a temperature sensing device. The second current path includes a second transistor with a control terminal coupled to a node of the first current path. The second current path includes a node that provides an indication of a detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ricardo Pureza Coimbra, Mateus Ribeiro Vanzella, Matheus Silveira Remigio
  • Patent number: 11735902
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) heater circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to increase the temperature of the IC when consuming power; a temperature sensor coupled to a control node of the drive circuit to activate and deactivate the drive circuit to provide an ambient temperature for the IC, wherein current of the temperature sensor varies with temperature; and a control circuit coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to adjust variation in the temperature sensitivity of the current of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Aref Kahaei, James Vincent Sousae, Carl T. Nelson, Robert Dobkin
  • Patent number: 11698306
    Abstract: The digital-output temperature sensor includes a temperature sensor circuit, a current mirror circuit which makes a mirror current of a temperature detection current flow and pulls in a mirror current of a reference current to thereby output a first difference current from a first output node and output a second difference current from a second output node, a chopping circuit, and an A/D conversion circuit. The chopping circuit performs a chopping operation of making the mirror current of the reference current flow in a second state through a transistor of the current mirror circuit through which the mirror current of the temperature detection current flows in a first state, and making the mirror current of the temperature detection current flow in the second state through the transistor of the current mirror circuit through which the mirror current of the reference current flows in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventors: Akio Tsutsumi, Hideo Haneda
  • Patent number: 11698307
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to trim temperature sensors are disclosed. An example method includes: sampling a first value indicative of a temperature of a first die of a multi-chip module (MCM) with a first temperature sensor, the first die including a first transistor having a channel including a first material; and calibrating a second temperature sensor configured to sample a second value indicative of a temperature of a second die including a second transistor have a second channel including a second material, the calibrating based on the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Nathan Richard Schemm
  • Patent number: 11686630
    Abstract: To obtain an imaging device that can improve temperature detection accuracy. An imaging device of the present disclosure includes a processing unit formed on a first semiconductor substrate and capable of performing predetermined image processing on the basis of image data obtained by an imaging unit, a temperature sensor formed on the first semiconductor substrate and capable of generating a detection signal according to a temperature, and a first pad electrode formed on the first semiconductor substrate and electrically insulated from a circuit formed on the first semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kawazu, Keita Sasaki, Takumi Oka, Mohammad Munirul Haque, Nobuhiko Fujimori, Makoto Satou, Masahiro Baba, Satoshi Yamamoto, Yuichi Motohashi, Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11662254
    Abstract: A thermometer includes an input unit, a control unit, a temperature sensor and an output unit. In response to an input operation is applied on the input unit, the control unit starts to perform a temperature detecting procedure, wherein the control unit instructs the temperature sensor to periodically perform a plurality of temperature detecting operations to obtain a plurality of detected temperature values corresponding to the temperature detecting operations, and only records X largest valid temperature values among the obtained temperature values. In response to determining that the performed temperature to detecting procedure is completed, the control unit removes the largest one among the recorded valid temperature values and calculates an average value of the remaining one or more target temperature values as a temperature of a target object, so as to instruct the output unit display the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: AViTA Corporation
    Inventors: Hsing Ou Yang, Hsuan-Hao Shih, Ta-Chieh Yang
  • Patent number: 11639911
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry for determining a temperature coefficient value of a resistor. The circuitry comprises circuitry for supplying an AC current signal to the resistor, circuitry for measuring a first voltage across the resistor when the AC current signal is supplied; and processing circuitry configured to determine the temperature coefficient value based on the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi K. Kummaraguntla, Kathryn R. Holland
  • Patent number: 11604102
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device 1 includes a temperature sensor module 10 that outputs a non-linear digital value with respect to temperature and a substantially linear sensor voltage value with respect to the temperature, a storage unit 30 that stores the temperature, the digital value, and the sensor voltage value, and a controller 40 that calculates a characteristic formula using the temperature, the digital value, and the sensor voltage value stored in the storage unit 30, in which the temperature, the digital value, and the sensor voltage value stored in the storage unit 30 include absolute temperature under measurement of absolute temperature, the digital value at the absolute temperature, and the sensor voltage value at the absolute temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Ikeda, Tadashi Kameyama
  • Patent number: 11543300
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques for a thermostat to determine the air temperature of a room based on measurements of temperatures sensors located inside a housing of the thermostat. Because the thermostat for an evaporative cooler operates at line voltage and controls current flowing to the evaporative cooler, the magnitude of current flowing through the thermostat may vary from nearly zero, when the thermostat is in the powered-off state, to a current on the order of several amps. The variation in current causes a variation in temperature inside the housing of the thermostat. The techniques of this disclosure compensate for changes the internal housing temperature caused by changes in operating mode. The compensation allows the temperature sensors inside the thermostat housing to determine the air temperature of the room in which the thermostat is located, without regard for the operating mode of the evaporative cooler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael Aguilar, Ricardo Cano, Ever Hernandez, Ricardo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11516559
    Abstract: A system for serial communication may include a first device and a plurality of devices on a series connection. The first device may have a master circuit and the plurality devices may have a slave circuit. The master circuit may enable the first device to communicate with the plurality devices having the slave circuit on the series connection. The master circuit may enable the first device to send a command frame on the series connection. The command frame may include an execution mode command and a plurality of commands. The second devices may execute the commands within the command frame at or after the end of the command frame based on the execution mode command indicating a synchronous mode of command execution; and may execute the commands within the command frame at the ends of individual ones of the commands based on the execution mode command indicating a non-synchronous mode of command execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Kinetic Technologies International Holdings LP
    Inventors: William Robert Pelletier, Brian B. North, Jan Nilsson
  • Patent number: 11499856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting, detecting, and/or mitigating a pipe freeze are provided. A system for analyzing water in a plumbing system includes a sensor that is configured to measure pressure within a pipe in the plumbing system as a function of time, and a processor that is configured to determine a state of water within the pipe by analyzing the pressure within the pipe as a function of time. The state of the water includes a prediction that the water within the pipe will freeze and/or a determination that the water within the pipe has frozen. The sensor is arranged at a first location within the plumbing system that is remote from a second location within the plumbing system that corresponds to the state of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Phyn LLC
    Inventors: Salil P. Banerjee, Ryan Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11501510
    Abstract: A thermal image positioning method for determining a heat source location of the thermal image is disclosed. The thermal image positioning method includes obtaining a temperature array corresponding to the thermal image and determining a region of interest (ROI) of the temperature array. The thermal image positioning method further includes determining an ROI center reference point of the ROI, determining a plurality of corner points corresponding to the ROI, and determining the heat source location according to at least one of the plurality of corner points. A thermal image positioning system is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Chiu, Hsiu-Mei Lin, Kuo-Hsien Lu
  • Patent number: 11435702
    Abstract: In a time-to-digital converter, a digital signal outputted by a phase information generator is inputted to each of the D terminals of first through Nth (N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) D-type flip-flop circuits in a first flip-flop group, each of the D terminals is connected to one end of a first delay element, the C terminal of the first D-type flip-flop circuit is connected to another end of the first delay element, the other end of the first delay element is connected to an input terminal, and, when N, the number of flip-flop circuits in the first flip-flop group, is equal to or greater than 3, for each J a natural number from 2 to N?1, C terminal of the (J+1)th D-type flip-flop circuit is connected to one end of the Jth delay element and one end of the (J?1)th delay element is connected to the other end of the Jth delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Morino, Masaomi Tsuru
  • Patent number: 11391470
    Abstract: A temperature-sensing bulb support for an air-conditioner indoor unit, and an air-conditioner indoor unit are disclosed. The temperature-sensing bulb support includes: a support body. The support body is adapted to be fixed to a housing of the air-conditioner indoor unit. The support body defines a filter mesh positioning groove configured to accommodate an end frame bar of a filter mesh, and the support body further defines a temperature-sensing bulb accommodating groove configured to accommodate a temperature-sensing bulb. The temperature-sensing bulb accommodating groove is isolated from the filter mesh positioning groove by a partition wall, and the temperature-sensing bulb accommodating groove is located outside the filter mesh positioning groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Bo Li, Yongfeng Xu, Meibing Xiong, Yongqiang Wan, Wentao Shu, Xiaolong Qian, Rufeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11349435
    Abstract: A square wave oscillator includes a Schmitt Trigger with a first output that outputs a first output current, a capacitor connected to the first output of the Schmitt Trigger, and a resistor that connects the capacitor to an input of the Schmitt Trigger to form a closed-loop negative feedback. The closed-loop negative feedback sustains an oscillation of the square wave oscillator and causes a frequency and an amplitude of the oscillation to be independent of a supply voltage of the Schmitt Trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Abdulrahman Alshuhail, Hussain Alzaher
  • Patent number: 11313728
    Abstract: A temperature sensing device comprising a housing including a display, an extension at least 1.5 inches long extending from the housing, a temperature sensor, and a connector from the sensor to the housing for transmitting the output to the housing. The extension has a proximal section at the housing and an opposed distal section, the distal section being movable relative to the housing. The temperature sensor is at the distal section of the extension for sensing the temperature of a target material and providing an output related to the temperature of the target material. Optionally, the device includes a thermal insulator at the distal section of the extension protecting the temperature sensor from heat from the target material. Optionally, the device includes a light source at the distal section of the extension for aiming the sensor at the target material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: SoCal Dab Tools LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Wynick, Bryan Berc, Cody Johnson, John Lichtbach, Andrew Habedank, Samuel L. Morris, III
  • Patent number: 11280682
    Abstract: A temperature sensor circuit that includes two banks of bipolar transistors where the bipolar transistors of each bank are coupled in parallel in a current leg of the sensor circuit. The current legs are configured to produce voltages and currents that are dependent upon the temperature sensitivity of the bipolar transistors in the current legs. The sensor circuit includes a controller that, in some embodiments, periodically enables subsets of the bipolar transistors of each of bank during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Jones, III, Tao Chen
  • Patent number: 11264897
    Abstract: A switching power supply controller includes a pulse width modulator circuit. The pulse width modulator circuit includes a delay circuit and a delay control circuit coupled to the delay circuit. The delay control circuit includes an amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to a first voltage reference terminal. The second input terminal is coupled to the second voltage reference terminal. The output terminal is coupled to a control terminal of the delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stefan Wlodzimierz Wiktor, Brian Thomas Lynch
  • Patent number: 11221172
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a heat insulation box, wherein said method involves disposing an outer box over the outside of an inner box such that there is space therebetween, covering an opening with an elastic sheet from the outside of the outer box, inserting a jig into the opening from the outside of the outer box to force the elastic sheet into the space between the inner box and the outer box, and injecting the urethane foam heat insulating material into the space between the inner box and the outer box so as to foam therein to form a recess with the elastic sheet tightly adhering to the surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanari Kabumoto, Kenichi Mizumoto
  • Patent number: 11090104
    Abstract: A control circuit configured to receive a control signal that defines a first phase and a second phase from a surgical generator. The control circuit may include a first resistor, a second resistor in parallel with the first resistor, and a switch in series with the second resistor. The switch may be configured to transition between an open state and a closed state corresponding to an operational mode of a surgical instrument. In the first phase of the control signal, the control circuit is configured to communicate surgical instrument information to the surgical generator. In the second phase of the control signal and in the open state of the switch, the control circuit is configured to provide a first output. In the second phase of the control signal and in the closed state of the switch, the control circuit is configured to provide a second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Eitan T. Wiener, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Brian T. Noyes, Jeffrey D. Messerly, James R. Giordano, Robert J. Beetel, III, Nathan J. Price, Matthew C. Miller, Jeffrey P. Wiley, Daniel W. Price, Robert L. Koch, Jr., Joseph A. Brotz, John E. Hein
  • Patent number: 11077308
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology relate to temperature sensors for using in an implantable medical device, and methods for use therewith. Such a method can include alternating between producing a first base-to-emitter voltage drop (VBE1) and a second base-to-emitter voltage drop (VBE2), and alternating between using a capacitor to store the VBE1, which is complimentary to absolute temperature (CTAT), and using the same capacitor to store a ?VBE=VBE2?VBE1, which is proportion to absolute temperature (PTAT). The method also includes using a sigma-delta modulator that includes the capacitor to produce a signal having a duty cycle (dc) indicative of the ?VBE stored using the capacitor, and producing a temperature measurement based on the signal having the duty cycle (dc) indicative of the ?VBE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Opris, Dean Andersen
  • Patent number: 10908028
    Abstract: Provided herein may be a temperature sensing circuit and a semiconductor device having the same. The temperature sensing circuit may include an analog voltage generation circuit configured to convert a temperature into a voltage and output a temperature voltage, an analog-digital converter configured to convert the temperature voltage into a digital code, and a compensation circuit configured to adjust the digital code and then output an operation code to remove noise from the temperature voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Keun Kwon
  • Patent number: 10852197
    Abstract: Performing a temperature measurement operation includes a first phase and a second phase. The first phase includes providing a voltage indicative of a measured temperature to a first input of a comparator, providing a ramp signal to a second input of the comparator, and generating at an output of the comparator, pulses based on a comparison of the first input to the second input of the comparator. The second phase includes providing the voltage indicative of a measured temperature to the second input of the comparator, providing the ramp signal to the first input of the comparator, and generating at an output of the comparator, pulses based on a comparison of the first input to the second input of the comparator. Performing the temperature measurement operation also includes utilizing the pulses generated during the first and second phases to provide a digital indication of the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravichandar Reddy Geetla
  • Patent number: 10804248
    Abstract: A multi-chip package includes a first die having temperature sensors and a second die. The first die generates temperature deviation information of m (m<n) bits based on temperature information of n bits produced by the temperature sensors. The first die provides the temperature deviation information of m bits rather than the temperature information of n bits to the second die. An internal operation of the second die is controlled using the temperature deviation information output by the first die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Sang Park
  • Patent number: 10605672
    Abstract: A device can include a temperature circuit that can selectively set one of a plurality of temperature ranges. Each temperature range can have a temperature range upper limit value and a temperature range lower limit value. The temperature circuit can be disabled in response to a detection of a transition in a power supply voltage. In some embodiments, the temperature circuit can also be enabled a predetermined time period after the detection of the transition in the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Darryl G. Walker
  • Patent number: 10527503
    Abstract: Reference center circuitry for a metrology system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes a reference sensor having a topology and characteristics identical to a number of sensors throughout an IC. The both the reference sensor and the sensors on the IC may be used to perform voltage and temperature measurements. The reference sensor may receive a voltage from a precision voltage supply, and may be used as a sensor to provide a basis for calibrating the other sensors, as well. Thereafter, temperature readings obtained from the other sensors may be correlated to the readings obtained by the reference sensor for enhanced accuracy. The reference center circuitry also includes analog process monitoring circuitry, which may be coupled to some, if not all of the transistors implemented on an IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fritchman, Jafar Savoj
  • Patent number: 10379986
    Abstract: A hardware monitoring system and a method therefor are disclosed. The hardware monitoring method includes: sensing a first temperature value of a first temperature area by a first temperature sensor and sensing a second temperature value of a second temperature area by a second temperature sensor; reading and compensating for the second temperature value by a complex programmable logic device (CPLD); and reading the first temperature value and the compensated second temperature value and controlling heat dissipation of the computer system based on the first temperature value and the compensated second temperature value, by a hardware monitor. In this method, temperature values of different areas are sensed with multiple temperature sensors and are read and modified by the CPLD, thereby allowing temperature compensation for the temperature sensors and addressing the problem of inability to individually compensate for temperature values of different areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaobing Zou, Yingxian Han, Longlong Xie, Chia-Hsing Chen, Jianbin Ni
  • Patent number: 10309405
    Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Paul Layton, Jacob Nielson
  • Patent number: 10006818
    Abstract: A temperature sensor for generating bit stream having duty ratio depending on temperature, includes: voltage generator to receive control bit and output first voltage having CTAT characteristic when the control bit is in first state and to output second voltage having PTAT characteristic when the control bit is in second state; integrating circuit to integrate value obtained by multiplying input voltage with a first coefficient in the first state and to integrate value obtained by multiplying the input voltage with second coefficient in the second state; quantizer to generate the bit stream by quantizing an output of the integrating circuit; pattern generator which is enabled in calibration mode and generates test signal having predetermined duty ratio; and subtraction circuit which is enabled in the calibration mode and subtracts reference voltage for calibration from an output voltage of the voltage generator in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Sakano
  • Patent number: 10001413
    Abstract: Temperature sensing circuits are provided. The temperature sensing circuits may include a temperature sensing unit and a buffer unit. The temperature sensing unit may include a transistor that has a first pair of terminals having a first PN junction of the transistor therebetween and a second pair of terminals having a second PN junction of the transistor therebetween. The first pair of terminals are connected together. The temperature sensing unit may output a first temperature sensing voltage comprising a voltage between the second pair of terminals at a first node. The buffer unit may be connected to the first node. The buffer unit may have a cascode follower structure and may output a second temperature sensing voltage that has a magnitude proportional to a magnitude of the first temperature sensing voltage at a second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 9947184
    Abstract: A user device may detect a connect event associated with a sensor device. The user device may be associated with a first sensor, and the sensor device may be associated with a second sensor. The user device may identify the second sensor based on detecting the connect event associated with the sensor device. The user device may replace the first sensor with the second sensor based on identifying the second sensor associated with the sensor device. The user device may provide data associated with the second sensor for use by an application of the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Quentin N. Robinson, Shamik Basu, Layton R. Diament, Desirae Dolphin
  • Patent number: 9829388
    Abstract: A temperature detection element of a temperature sensor is connected to a print wire and three print wires for an input and output of a print substrate, one end of a lead wire for a connection is connected and fixed with solder to an external circuit for connection electrodes of the print wire, and the other end is externally drawn out of a sealing member of a hardened resin. Within the housing, the entire bottom surface of the print substrate is supported by a lower fixed member, and an end, closer to an opening part of the housing, of the print substrate, is sandwiched and fixed by an upper fixed member and the lower fixed member. The housing is configured with the same material and size as the housing of the temperature control element, and the temperature detection element inside is placed at a position approximated to a placement of a thermal response element of the temperature control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 9810585
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that may include at least one temperature sensing circuit is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various operating parameters to improve the operation of the semiconductor device over a wide temperature range. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worst case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at other operating temperatures. The temperature sensing circuit may provide a plurality of temperature ranges for setting the operational parameters. Each temperature range can include a temperature range upper limit value and a temperature range lower limit value and adjacent temperature ranges may overlap. The temperature ranges may be set in accordance with a count value that can incrementally change in response to the at least one temperature sensing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Darryl G. Walker
  • Patent number: 9735779
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes a temperature sensor array. The FPGA also includes a supply voltage modulation circuit. The supply voltage modulation circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Srinivas Perisetty
  • Patent number: 9711193
    Abstract: A driving signal control circuit includes a discharge circuit, a counter circuit, and a control circuit. The discharge circuit is configured to compare a monitored voltage and a reference voltage, and generate a discharge signal. The monitored voltage is proportional to a core voltage. The counter circuit is configured to perform an up/down count operation according to the discharge signal, and generate a count signal. The control circuit is configured to generate a driving signal which has an enable period proportional to the count signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Man Keun Kang, Saeng Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9667259
    Abstract: A current-to-voltage converter receives a current which varies with temperature according to a selected one of two or more temperature coefficient factors and converts it to a temperature-dependent voltage to be used as a control signal to a varactor in a voltage controlled oscillator, VCO, to compensate for temperature-induced frequency drift in the VCO. A feedback arrangement with hysteresis is provided for controlling the selection of the temperature coefficient factor and operates by comparing the temperature-dependent voltage with a reference voltage. The reference voltage may be pre-set and equivalent to a known operating temperature. A switching signal is generated when Vout approaches the reference voltage and in response, a control module generates a selection signal for selecting a different temperature coefficient factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Birama Goumballa, Cristian Pavao-Moreira, Yi Yin
  • Patent number: 9631585
    Abstract: An automated method for diagnosing an EGHR having a coolant path, an exhaust path, a heat exchanger, and a valve. The coolant path passes through the heat exchanger and the valve selectively directs the exhaust path through the heat exchanger. The method includes monitoring an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of the coolant path, determining an instantaneous coolant power from the monitored inlet temperature and outlet temperature, and integrating the instantaneous coolant power to determine a total energy recovered by the coolant path. The method monitors an instantaneous exhaust power, determines an instantaneous available EGHR power from the instantaneous exhaust power, and integrates the instantaneous available EGHR power to determine a nominal EGHR energy. A differential is calculated between the nominal EGHR energy and the total energy recovered by the coolant path. If the calculated differential is greater than an allowable tolerance, an EGHR error signal is sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Brian L. Spohn
  • Patent number: 9459882
    Abstract: The monitoring circuit of a semiconductor device includes: a boot-up controller configured to generate a boot-up enable signal in response to a power-up signal and a boot-up command signal; a read-period generator configured to output a read-period signal in response to a boot-up read signal; and a monitoring unit configured to output the read-period signal to an external output terminal during activation of the boot-up enable signal to allow the read-period signal to be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Joo Hyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 9389127
    Abstract: A temperature sensor in a semiconductor device includes a temperature detection circuit for outputting a voltage according to the chip temperature, a reference voltage generating circuit for generating a plurality of reference voltages, and a plurality of voltage comparators for comparing each reference voltage with an output voltage of the temperature detection circuit and thereby generating a chip temperature detection signal configured with multiple bits. Further, the temperature sensor includes a control circuit for controlling the reference voltages generated by the reference voltage generating circuit based on the chip temperature detection signal and thereby changing correspondence between the chip temperature detection signal and the chip temperature to shift a chip temperature detection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Kameyama, Takanobu Naruse, Takayasu Ito
  • Patent number: 9383264
    Abstract: A thermal sensing system includes a circuit having a layout including standard cells arranged in rows and columns. First and second current sources provide first and second currents, respectively. The thermal sensing system includes thermal sensing units, first and second switching modules, and an analog to digital converter (ADC). Each thermal sensing unit is configured to provide a voltage drop dependent on a temperature at that thermal sensing unit. The first switching module is configured to select one of the thermal sensing units. The second switching module includes at least one switch controllable by a control signal. The at least one switch is configured to selectively couple the thermal sensing units, based on the control signal, to one of the first and second current sources, via the first switching module. The ADC is configured to convert an analog voltage, provided by the selected thermal sensing unit, to a digital value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Chow Peng, Ching-Ho Chang, Jui-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 9322717
    Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a current generator that detects a temperature and generates a temperature dependent current, the temperature dependent current having a current level corresponding to the detected temperature. A current-to-voltage converter converts the temperature dependent current into a temperature dependent voltage, the temperature dependent voltage having a voltage level corresponding to the detected temperature. A signal generator generates a pulse signal having a period determined from a voltage difference between the temperature dependent voltage and a reference voltage. A counter counts a number of cycles of a reference clock signal that occur during one cycle of the pulse signal to output a temperature code indicative of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Jasdeep Dhaliwal, Shingo Hatanaka, Ovidiu Carnu, Hung Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 9297703
    Abstract: A temperature sensing device includes a first frequency generator for generating a first clock signal having a first frequency that is constant regardless of a temperature; a second frequency generator for generating a second clock signal having a second frequency that is changed according to the temperature; and a data holding unit for outputting a temperature code indicating a number of pulses of the second clock signal counted for a reference time at which a number of pulses of the first clock signal reaches a predetermined threshold. The temperature sensing device does not require a reference clock signal input from the outside and is insensitive to the change in the process, thereby being capable of improving the performance of the temperature sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., LDT INC.
    Inventors: Gil-Jae Lee, Choong-Sun Shin
  • Patent number: 9061278
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed resistive thermal detectors (RTDs). Each of the RTDs is associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The RTDs are connected to a power supply through individual electrodes and pairs of common electrodes. Adjacent RTDs may be driven with alternating polarities, and the current in the common electrodes may be minimized using a virtual ground circuit. The compact microfluidic device is capable of fast heating and highly precise thermal control. The compact microfluidic device is also capable using the RTDs to sense temperature without their heating capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenton C. Hasson, Johnathan S. Coursey, Gregory H. Owen, Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9039279
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring in real time the operating state of an IGBT device, to determine a junction temperature and/or the remaining lifetime of an IGBT device. The system includes a differential unit configured to receive a gate-emitter voltage characteristic of the IGBT device to be measured and to differentiate the gate-emitter voltage characteristic to obtain pulses correlating with edges formed by a Miller plateau phase during a switch-off phase of the IGBT device. The system also includes a timer unit configured to measure the time delay between the obtained pulses indicating the start and end of the Miller plateau phase during the switch-off phase of the IGBT device, and a junction temperature calculation unit configured to determine at least one of the junction temperature of the IGBT device and/or the remaining lifetime of the IGBT device based on the measured time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Vinoth Sundaramoorthy, Alexander Heinemann, Enea Bianda, Franz Zurfluh, Gerold Knapp, Iulian Nistor, Richard Bloch
  • Patent number: 9039276
    Abstract: A control unit sets a time interval for measuring a temperature of a liquid crystal panel as a first time interval (1 second), and thereafter measures the temperature of the liquid crystal panel each time the first time interval elapses. When the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is stabilized, the control unit sets a time interval for measuring the temperature of the liquid crystal panel as a second time interval (5 seconds). The control unit measures the temperature of the liquid crystal panel each time the second time interval elapses. Moreover, if an operation to change the amount of light reaching the liquid crystal panel is performed, the control unit restores the time interval for measuring the temperature of the liquid crystal panel to the first time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinsuke Fujikawa