IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,909,934
Granted Patent B2
US 9,909,934 · App. 14/194,105 · Granted Mar 6, 2018

Systems and methods for calibrating a temperature detection module

Inventors: Jose A. Camarena (Austin, TX); Khoi B. Mai (Austin, TX); Dale J. McQuirk (Austin, TX)
Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
G01K15/005G01K3/005G01K7/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,909,934
App. No.
14/194,105
Granted
Mar 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A determination is made if a temperature of a system has exceeded a hot threshold or a cold threshold. At room temperature, a first adjustment is determined for first nominal settings. The first nominal settings are for a first input to a first comparator. At room temperature, a second adjustment is determined for second nominal settings. The second nominal settings are for a first input to a second comparator. The temperature is monitored, during normal operation of the system, using a temperature dependent voltage with the first comparator adjusted with the first adjustment and second comparator adjusted with the second adjustment.

Claims (17)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first comparator having a first input that receives a temperature dependent voltage, an output to indicate if the device has a temperature that is below a low threshold temperature, and a second input having associated therewith a first nominal voltage;

a second comparator having a first input that receives the temperature dependent voltage, an output to indicate if the device has a temperature that exceeds a high threshold temperature, and a second input having associated therewith a second nominal voltage;

a source of a plurality of voltages coupled to the voltage supply device having a plurality of outputs for providing a plurality of voltages based on a reference voltage; and

a test module that runs a test at room temperature with the first and second comparators using a first set of room temperature voltages from the source of the plurality of voltages to determine a first adjustment to the first nominal voltage that is to be applied to the second input of the first comparator during normal operation of the device at temperatures outside a range of room temperatures associated with the first set of room temperature voltages, and a second set of room temperature voltages from the source of the plurality of voltages to determine a second adjustment to the second nominal voltage that is to be applied to the second input of the second comparator during normal operation of the device at temperatures outside a range of room temperatures associated with the second set of room temperature voltages, wherein the first adjustment is determined using one of the first set of room temperature reference voltages that causes output of the first comparator to change from a high voltage to a low voltage or from a low voltage to a high voltage during the test, and wherein the second adjustment is determined using one of the second set of room temperature reference voltages that causes output of the second comparator to change from a high voltage to a low voltage or from a low voltage to a high voltage during the test.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first coupling circuit that couples an output of the source of the plurality of voltages that corresponds to a resulting voltage from the adjustment to the first nominal voltage.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a second coupling circuit that couples an output of the source of the plurality of voltages that corresponds to a resulting voltage from the adjustment to the second nominal voltage.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first coupling circuit comprises a first multiplexer coupled to the source of the plurality of voltages.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature dependent voltage comprises a Vbe voltage.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the source of the plurality of voltages comprises a voltage divider having an upper voltage portion from which is selected an output of the source of the plurality of voltages that corresponds to a resulting voltage from the adjustment to the first nominal voltage, a lower voltage portion from which is selected an output of the source of the plurality of voltages that corresponds to a resulting voltage from the adjustment to the second nominal voltage; and a middle portion for use in determining the adjustments to the first and second nominal voltages.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the test module comprises a test multiplexer coupled to the middle portion of the source of the plurality of voltages and operated under control of a processor that has access to a memory.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the nominal voltage for the second input of the first comparator is an estimate of the reference voltage at the low threshold temperature.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the nominal voltage for the second input of the second comparator is an estimate of the reference voltage at the high threshold temperature.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first adjustment is determined using the one of the first set of room temperature reference voltages that causes output of the first comparator to change from the high voltage to the low voltage.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first adjustment is determined using the one of the first set of room temperature reference voltages that causes output of the first comparator to change from the low voltage to the low high.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second adjustment is determined using the one of the second set of room temperature reference voltages that causes output of the second comparator to change from the high voltage to the low voltage.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second adjustment is determined using the one of the second set of room temperature reference voltages that causes output of the second comparator to change from the low voltage to the low high.

Assignments (17)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040925 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V. F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 052917/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040928 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 052915/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050744/0097 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040626 FRAME: 0683. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 7, 2016. Recorded Jan 12, 2017
From: NXP SEMICONDUCTORS USA, INC. (MERGED INTO); FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. (UNDER)
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 041414/0883 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 16, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 040626/0683 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 040928/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V., F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040925/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT TO THE SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039138/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPLICATION NUMBERS 12222918, 14185362, 14147598, 14185868 & 14196276 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037458 FRAME: 0479. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded May 12, 2016
From: CITIBANK, NA
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 038665/0498 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037458 FRAME: 0438. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded May 12, 2016
From: CITIBANK, NA
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 038665/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 7, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037458/0479 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 7, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037458/0438 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0763 →
SUPPLEMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 7, 2014
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032845/0497 →
SUPPLEMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 7, 2014
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032845/0442 →
SUPPLEMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 7, 2014
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032845/0522 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2014
From: CAMARENA, JOSE A.; MAI, KHOI B.; MCQUIRK, DALE J.
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 032334/0643 →
Continuity (1)
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