TEMPERATURE DETECTION AND REPORTING SYSTEM AND METHOD IN POWER DRIVING AND/OR CONSUMING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first circuit for generating a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals;
a plurality of second circuits coupled to receive the plurality of PWM signals, respectively;
wherein each of the plurality of second circuits comprises first and second field effect transistors (FETs), a driver circuit for controlling the first and second FETs, and a temperature sensor circuit for generating a voltage at its output, wherein the voltage represents a temperature;
wherein the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensor circuits are connected together to produce a voltage that represents a maximum temperature of the plurality of temperatures.
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Abstract
An apparatus, in one embodiment, can include a configuration including a plurality of heat generation devices. The apparatus also includes a plurality of thermal sensors respectively, operably connected to each of the plurality of heat generation devices, wherein each thermal sensor of the plurality of thermal sensors includes a respective output terminal configured to provide a voltage representative of the temperature of the respective heat generation device. The apparatus further includes an output circuit configured to output the highest temperature information among the heat generation devices. The output terminals of the plurality of thermal sensors are tied together. A corresponding method is also discussed.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first circuit for generating a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals; a plurality of second circuits coupled to receive the plurality of PWM signals, respectively; wherein each of the plurality of second circuits comprises first and second field effect transistors (FETs), a driver circuit for controlling the first and second FETs, and a temperature sensor circuit for generating a voltage at its output, wherein the voltage represents a temperature; wherein the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensor circuits are connected together to produce a voltage that represents a maximum temperature of the plurality of temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A circuit comprising:
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a first input for receiving a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal; a first transistor coupled to a second transistor; a first driver circuit for controlling the first and second transistors; a first temperature sensor circuit for generating a first voltage that represents a first temperature; wherein the first temperature sensor circuit comprises a first output configured for connection to a second output of a second temperature sensor circuit that generates a second voltage; wherein the first temperature sensor circuit is configured to drive its first output to the first voltage when the first voltage is greater than the second voltage; wherein the first temperature sensor circuit is configured to not drive its output terminal to the first voltage when the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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a first circuit for generating a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals; a plurality of second circuits coupled to receive the plurality of PWM signals, respectively; wherein each of the plurality of second circuits comprises a heat generation device, and a temperature sensor circuit for generating a voltage at its output, wherein the voltage represents a temperature; wherein the outputs of the plurality of temperature sensor circuits are connected together at a node so that the node is driven to a voltage that represents a maximum temperature of the plurality of temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification