TEMPERATURE SENSOR

• US 20080192804A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Inventors: RYU, Je Il
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/178
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/00 Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature G01K7/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/015 using microstructures, e.g. made of silicon

Abstract

A temperature sensor includes a compare subject voltage output unit, a temperature range decision unit, and a temperature signal output unit. The compare subject voltage output unit is configured to output a reference voltage having a constant value irrespective of a change of an external temperature and a third temperature voltage that decreases in response to an increase of an external temperature. The temperature range decision unit is configured to compare the reference voltage and the third temperature voltage, and output an enable signal, to indicate whether the external temperature is different from a normal temperature. The temperature signal output unit is configured to output a specific one of a plurality of high temperature signals or a specific one of a plurality of low temperature signals, to indicate a range of the external temperature, in response to the enable signal.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor comprising:

a compare subject voltage output unit for outputting a reference voltage having a constant value irrespective of a change of an external temperature and a third temperature voltage that decreases in response to an increase of an external temperature;

a temperature range decision unit for comparing the reference voltage and the third temperature voltage and outputting an enable signal, wherein the enable signal indicates whether the external temperature is different from normal temperature; and

a temperature signal output unit for outputting, in response to the enable signal, a specific one of a plurality of high temperature signals or a specific one of a plurality of low temperature signals, wherein the output indicates a range of the external temperature.

2. The temperature sensor of claim 1, wherein the compare subject voltage output unit comprises a band gap reference circuit for outputting a constant reference voltage irrespective of a change of the external temperature.

3. The temperature sensor of claim 2, wherein the compare subject voltage output unit comprises:

a difference voltage generator for generating a difference voltage between a first voltage applied to a base terminal of a BJT transistor included in the band gap reference circuit and a second voltage applied to an emitter terminal of the BJT transistor; and

a temperature voltage amplifier for amplifying the difference voltage to a specific level or higher and outputting the third temperature voltage.

4. The temperature sensor of claim 3, wherein the third temperature voltage is approximately two times higher than the difference voltage of the first voltage and the second voltage.

5. The temperature sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the temperature range decision unit increases the third temperature voltage in response to the high temperature signal, compares the reference voltage and the increased third temperature voltage, and outputs a high temperature range signal to control driving of the temperature signal output unit according to the comparison result, or

the temperature range decision unit decreases the third temperature voltage in response to the low temperature signal, compares the reference voltage and the increased third temperature voltage, and outputs a low temperature range signal to control driving of the temperature signal output unit according to the comparison result.

6. The temperature sensor of claim 1, wherein the temperature range decision unit comprises:

a temperature signal output controller for comparing the reference voltage and the third temperature voltage, and outputting the enable signal at a high level when the external temperature is higher than the normal temperature or outputting the enable signal at a low level when the external temperature is lower than the normal temperature;

a high temperature range decision unit for increasing the third temperature voltage in response to the high temperature signal, comparing the reference voltage and the increased third temperature voltage, and controlling operation of the temperature signal output unit according to the comparison result; and

a low temperature range decision unit for decreasing the third temperature voltage in response to the low temperature signal, comparing the reference voltage and the decreased third temperature voltage, and controlling operation of the temperature signal output unit according to the comparison result.

7. The temperature sensor of claim 6, wherein the temperature signal output controller comprises an operational amplifier having a non-inverting terminal to which the reference voltage is input and an inverting terminal to which the third temperature voltage is input, the operational amplifier being configured to compare the reference voltage and the third temperature voltage.

8. The temperature sensor of claim 6, wherein the high temperature range decision unit comprises:

a high temperature amplifier for increasing the third temperature voltage to a specific level or higher in response to the specific high temperature signal; and

a high temperature range signal output unit for comparing the reference voltage and the amplified third temperature voltage, and outputting a signal to control operation of the temperature signal output unit when the reference voltage is greater than the amplified third temperature voltage as a result of the comparison.

9. The temperature sensor of claim 8, wherein the high temperature range signal output unit outputs a high temperature range signal at a high level so that a high temperature signal is output when the reference voltage is greater than the amplified third temperature voltage, wherein the high temperature signal indicates a temperature range higher than the specific high temperature signal.

10. The temperature sensor of claim 8, wherein the high temperature amplifier comprises:

an operational amplifier having a non-inverting terminal to which the third temperature voltage is input;

a feedback resistor for connecting an output terminal and an inverting terminal of the operational amplifier;

a plurality of resistors connected to the inverting terminal of the operational amplifier in response to a specific one of the plurality of high temperature signals; and

a plurality of switching elements for connecting a specific one of the plurality of resistors to the inverting terminal of the operational amplifier in response to a specific one of the plurality of high temperature signals.

11. The temperature sensor of claim 10, wherein the high temperature amplifier connects a resistor having a lower resistance, of the plurality of resistors, to the inverting terminal of the operational amplifier when a high temperature signal indicating a higher temperature, of the plurality of high temperature signals, is input.

12. The temperature sensor of claim 10, wherein the high temperature amplifier further increases the increment of the third temperature voltage when a high temperature signal indicating a higher temperature, of the plurality of high temperature signals, is input.

13. The temperature sensor of claim 8, wherein the high temperature range signal output unit comprises an operational amplifier having a non-inverting terminal to which the reference voltage is input and an inverting terminal to which the amplified third temperature voltage is input, wherein the high temperature range signal output unit is configured to compare the reference voltage and the amplified third temperature voltage.

14. The temperature sensor of claim 6, wherein the low temperature range decision unit comprises:

a low temperature amplifier for decreasing the third temperature voltage to a specific level or more in response to the specific low temperature signal; and

a low temperature range signal output unit for comparing the reference voltage and the decreased third temperature voltage, and outputting a signal to control operation of the temperature signal output unit when the reference voltage is greater than the decreased third temperature voltage as a result of the comparison.

15. The temperature sensor of claim 14, wherein the low temperature range signal output unit outputs a low temperature range signal at a high level so that a low temperature signal is output when the reference voltage is smaller than the decreased third temperature voltage, wherein the low temperature signal indicates a temperature range lower than the specific low temperature signal.

16. The temperature sensor of claim 14, wherein the low temperature amplifier comprises:

an operational amplifier having a non-inverting terminal to which the third temperature voltage is input, and an output terminal and an inverting terminal connected to each other;

a plurality of resistors connected in series to one another and configured to distribute an output voltage of the operational amplifier; and

a plurality of switching elements for selecting a specific connection node between the resistors in response to a specific one of the plurality of high temperature signals and controlling a voltage dividing ratio.

17. The temperature sensor of claim 16, wherein the low temperature amplifier controls the voltage dividing ratio to increase the decrement of the third temperature voltage when a low temperature signal indicating a lower temperature, of the plurality of low temperature signals, is input.

18. The temperature sensor of claim 14, wherein the low temperature range signal output unit comprises an operational amplifier having a non-inverting terminal to which the reference voltage is input and an inverting terminal to which the amplified third temperature voltage is input, the low temperature range signal output unit being configured to compare the reference voltage and the amplified third temperature voltage.

19. The temperature sensor of claim 6, wherein the temperature signal output unit comprises:

a high temperature signal output unit for outputting a specific one of the plurality of high temperature signals for a certain period, wherein the specific one of the plurality of high temperature signals indicates a range of the external temperature;

a low temperature signal output unit for outputting a specific one of the plurality of low temperature signals for a certain period, wherein the specific one of the plurality of low temperature signals indicates a range of the external temperature;

a high temperature signal output driver for driving the high temperature signal output unit in response to the enable signal, a driving signal of an external temperature sensor, and the high temperature range signal; and

a low temperature signal output driver for driving the low temperature signal output unit in response to an inverted signal of the enable signal, a driving signal of the external temperature sensor, and the low temperature range signal.

20. The temperature sensor of claim 19, wherein the high temperature signal output unit maintains the plurality of high temperature signals at a high level for a specific period of time in order of higher temperature while the high temperature signal output driving signal is maintained at a high level.

21. The temperature sensor of claim 20, wherein the high temperature signal output unit maintains a high temperature signal during a period approximately two times longer than the certain period, and outputs the high temperature signal as an output signal indicating the external temperature, the high temperature signal being output at the moment when the high temperature signal output driving signal shifts from a high level to a low level.

22. The temperature sensor of claim 19, wherein the low temperature signal output unit maintains the plurality of low temperature signals at a high level for a specific period of time in order of lower temperature while the low temperature signal output driving signal is maintained at a high level.

23. The temperature sensor of claim 22, wherein the low temperature signal output unit maintains a low temperature signal during a period approximately two times longer than the certain period, and outputs the high temperature signal as an output signal indicating the external temperature, the low temperature signal being output at the moment when the low temperature signal output driving signal shifts from a high level to a low level.

24. A compare subject voltage output unit, comprising:

a band gap reference circuit for outputting a constant reference voltage irrespective of a change of an external temperature;

a difference voltage generator for generating a difference voltage between a first voltage applied to a base terminal of a BJT transistor included in the band gap reference circuit and a second voltage applied to an emitter terminal of the BJT transistor; and

a temperature voltage amplifier for amplifying the difference voltage to a specific level and outputting a third temperature voltage.

25. The compare subject voltage output unit of claim 24, wherein the compare subject voltage output unit outputs a reference voltage having a constant value irrespective of a change of the external temperature, and a third temperature voltage that is decreased in response to an increase of an external temperature.