IP Library Granted Patent US 10,996,115
Granted Patent B2
US 10,996,115 · App. 15/965,893 · Granted May 4, 2021

Semiconductor memory device and method having temperature sensing circuit and count value for adjusting circuit operations

Inventor: Darryl G. Walker (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G01K7/16G01K3/005G01K7/00G01K7/01G01K13/00G11C7/00G11C7/04G11C11/407G11C11/4074G11C11/4093G11C11/4096G11C11/40626H03K3/012H03K17/145H03K17/223H03K17/687H03K21/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,996,115
App. No.
15/965,893
Granted
May 4, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a semiconductor device can include providing a multi-bit count value to a temperature sensing circuit; and generating an output having a detect logic level from the temperature sensing circuit based on an internal temperature of the semiconductor device and the count value. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device can be a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device.

Claims (21)

1. A method of operating a semiconductor device, comprising:

providing a multi-bit count value to a temperature sensing circuit of the semiconductor device; and

generating an output having a detect logic level from the temperature sensing circuit based on an internal temperature of the semiconductor device and the count value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including:

providing at least one bit of the count value to an exclusive OR or an exclusive NOR logic function.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the multi-bit count value includes at least 3 bits.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the semiconductor device is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

5. The method of claim 4 , further including:

adjusting a refresh circuit in response to the count value.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including:

incrementally changing the multi-bit count value after generating an output having a detect logic level.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein incrementally changing the multi-bit count value comprises:

changing the internal temperature of the semiconductor device at which the output from the temperature sensing circuit is generated at a detect logic level.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the multi-bit count value indicates a temperature range.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

a logic level combination of the multi-bit count value indicates a unique temperature range.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the unique temperature range changes based on the logic level combination of the multi-bit count value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2019
From: WALKER, DARRYL G.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 049987/0361 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15713643 · Sep 23, 2017
Continuation 14265642 · Apr 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61971702 · Mar 28, 2014
Related Publication 20180245989A1 · Aug 30, 2018