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Digital output temperature sensor

  • US 8,262,286 B2
  • Filed: 11/18/2008
  • Issued: 09/11/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A digital output temperature sensor comprising:

  • a first circuit configured to generate a first signal, the first signal varying complementary to a temperature of the sensor;

    a second circuit configured to generate a second signal, the second signal varying proportionally to the temperature of the sensor, the second circuit comprising;

    i) a PTAT current control reference voltage generating circuit configured to generate a PTAT current control reference voltage signal;

    ii) a digital to analog converter circuit including a plurality of current sources receiving the PTAT current control reference voltage signal and being selectively switchable between a conductive state and a non-conductive state, wherein each of the plurality of current sources in the conductive state sources a partial current;

    iii) a current summing junction summing each of the plurality of partial currents as a PTAT current signal; and

    iv) a circuit component configured to convert the PTAT current signal to a PTAT voltage signal as the second signal;

    a comparator operatively associated with the first and second circuits and configured to receive the first and second signals and generate a comparison signal based on a comparison between the first and second signals; and

    ,a converter circuit operatively associated with the comparator and configured to receive the comparison signal and generate a digital output signal based on the comparison signal, the digital output signal being representative of the temperature of the sensor.

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