Temperature Compensation Via Power Supply Modification to Produce a Temperature-Independent Delay in an Integrated Circuit
First Claim
1. A temperature sensor for an integrated circuit, comprising:
- at least one temperature sensitive element for producing a first analog voltage indicative of a sensed temperature;
a temperature quantizer for receiving at least the first analog voltage and for producing a plurality of digital signals indicative of one of a plurality of temperature ranges corresponding to the sensed temperature; and
a regulator for receiving the plurality of digital signals and for producing a second quantized analog voltage indicative of one of the temperature ranges in accordance with the digital signals.
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Abstract
A method and circuitry for adjusting the delay of a variable delay line (VDL) in a delay locked loop (DLL) or other delay element or subcircuit on an integrated circuit is disclosed. Such delay circuitry will inherently have a delay which is a function of temperature. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, such temperature-dependent delays are compensated for by adjusting the power supply voltage of the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit. Specifically, a temperature sensing stage is used to sense the temperature of the integrated circuit, and hence the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit. Information concerning the sensed temperature is sent to a regulator which derives the local power supply voltage from the master power supply voltage, Vcc, of the integrated circuit. If the temperature sensed is relatively high, which otherwise would increase the delay though the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit, the regulator increases the local power supply voltage, thus decreasing the delay and offsetting the increase in delay due to temperature. Through this scheme, and assuming the temperature sensing stage is properly tuned, temperature-dependent delays can be reduced to approximately zero.
46 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A temperature sensor for an integrated circuit, comprising:
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at least one temperature sensitive element for producing a first analog voltage indicative of a sensed temperature; a temperature quantizer for receiving at least the first analog voltage and for producing a plurality of digital signals indicative of one of a plurality of temperature ranges corresponding to the sensed temperature; and a regulator for receiving the plurality of digital signals and for producing a second quantized analog voltage indicative of one of the temperature ranges in accordance with the digital signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A temperature sensor for an integrated circuit, comprising:
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a temperature sensor for producing a plurality of signals indicative of sensed temperature range; and a regulator for receiving the plurality of signals and for producing a quantized analog voltage indicative of the sensed temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a temperature sensor for producing a plurality of signals indicative of sensed temperature range; a regulator for receiving the plurality of signals and for producing a quantized analog voltage indicative of the sensed temperature range; and a circuit block, wherein the quantized analog voltage comprises a power supply voltage for the circuit block. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification