IP Library Granted Patent US 7,459,983
Granted Patent B2
US 7,459,983 · App. 11/452,317 · Granted Dec 2, 2008

Temperature detecting semiconductor device

Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,459,983
App. No.
11/452,317
Granted
Dec 2, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a technique which is capable of detecting a temperature of a semiconductor device with high precision. A temperature detection circuit detecting a temperature of a semiconductor device includes a first short-cycle oscillator generating a first clock signal having positive temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency, a second short-cycle oscillator generating a second clock signal having negative temperature characteristics with respect to the frequency, and a temperature signal generation unit generating a temperature signal which is varied according to the temperature of the semiconductor device based on the first and second clock signals.

Claims (28)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first oscillator generating a first clock signal having positive temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency;

a second oscillator generating a second clock signal having negative temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency; and

a temperature signal generation unit generating a temperature signal which is varied according to a temperature of said semiconductor device based on said first and second clock signals, said temperature signal generation unit including:

a first counter counting the number of pulses of said first clock signal to a predetermined number and outputting a signal activated while the number is counted; and

a second counter counting the number of pulses of said second clock signal while said signal outputted from said first counter is activated and outputting a signal showing the counted number as said temperature signal.

2. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first oscillator generating a first clock signal having positive temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency;

a second oscillator generating a second clock signal having negative temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency; and

a temperature signal generation unit generating a temperature signal which is varied according to a temperature of said semiconductor device based on said first and second clock signals, said temperature signal generation unit including:

a first counter counting the number of pulses of said first clock signal for a predetermined time and outputting the counted number;

a second counter counting the number of pulses of said second clock signal for said predetermined time and outputting the counted number; and

a subtractor finding a difference between the counted number outputted from said first counter and the counted number outputted from said second counter and outputting a signal showing the result as said temperature signal.

3. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first oscillator generating a first clock signal having positive temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency;

a second oscillator generating a second clock signal having negative temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency;

a temperature signal generation unit generating a temperature signal which is varied according to a temperature of said semiconductor device based on said first and second clock signals; and

a control circuit sequentially generating a plurality of pulse signals and outputting them to a temperature detection circuit which includes said first and second oscillator and said temperature signal generation unit, wherein

said control circuit is capable of controlling generation intervals of said pulse signals, and

said temperature detection circuit generates said temperature signal every time said pulse signal is inputted.

4. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first oscillator generating a first clock signal having positive temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency;

a second oscillator generating a second clock signal having negative temperature characteristics with respect to a frequency;

a temperature signal generation unit generating a temperature signal which is varied according to a temperature of said semiconductor device based on said first and second clock signals;

an object circuit whose electrical characteristics are adjusted; and

a tuning circuit adjusting said electrical characteristics of said object circuit based on said temperature signal, said tuning circuit including:

a memory circuit storing a plurality of tuning codes for adjusting said electrical characteristics of said object circuit, in which memory information is capable of being rewritten; and

a tuning code selection circuit selecting one of said tuning codes based on said temperature signal generated in said temperature signal generation unit and outputting it to said object circuit.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 27, 2010
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024892/0877 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024944/0437 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2006
From: GYOTEN, TAKAYUKI; MORISHITA, FUKASHI; DOSAKA, KATSUMI
To: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Reel/Frame 017997/0653 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2005-177415 · Jun 17, 2005 · national
JP 2006-060651 · Mar 7, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060285576A1 · Dec 21, 2006