System and method for providing temperature data from a memory device having a temperature sensor

Abstract

A circuit and method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor. The circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to identify for a coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and generate temperature data that is provided on an asynchronous output data path.

1 . A method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor integrated with a semiconductor circuit, the method comprising:
 identifying one of a plurality of temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor;   generating temperature data indicative of the identified temperature range, the temperature data having a plurality of binary digits; and   coupling the binary digits of the temperature data to a respective one of a plurality of output terminals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 converting an analog signal representative of the temperature measured into data representative of the temperature measured; and   comparing the data to the plurality of temperature ranges.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying one of the plurality of temperature ranges comprises:
 determining a current coarse temperature range selected from a plurality of coarse temperature ranges; and 
 based on the current coarse temperature range, determining which one of a plurality of preset fine temperature ranges of the current coarse temperature range corresponds to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of coarse temperature ranges comprises a plurality of coarse temperature ranges having at least two coarse temperature ranges having sequential temperature ranges, and having at least two coarse temperature ranges having an overlap of temperature ranges. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein coupling the binary digits of the temperature data to a respective one of the plurality of output terminals comprises:
 decoupling the plurality of output terminals from a synchronous output path; 
 coupling the binary digits of the temperature data to an asynchronous output path; and 
 coupling the asynchronous output path to the plurality of output terminals. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of identifying one of a plurality of temperature ranges comprises identifying one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges within a current coarse temperature range corresponding to the measured temperature, the current coarse temperature range within a plurality of coarse temperature ranges; and
 wherein the number of binary digits of the temperature data is the same number of binary digits used to identify a fine temperature range in a different one of the plurality of coarse temperature ranges. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method of monitoring a temperature measured by a temperature sensor integrated with a semiconductor circuit, the method comprising:
 setting a current coarse temperature range to a minimum coarse temperature range;   receiving temperature data from the semiconductor circuit, the temperature data identifying one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor;   in response to the temperature data identifying a fine temperature range corresponding to a range overflow condition of the current coarse temperature range, switching the current coarse temperature range to a higher coarse temperature range;   in response to the temperature data representing a fine temperature range corresponding to a range underflow condition of the current coarse temperature range, switching the current coarse temperature range to a lower coarse temperature range; and   identifying the fine temperature range corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor based on the current coarse temperature range and the temperature data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising initiating a process to reduce temperature in response to the temperature data identifying a fine temperature range corresponding to a range overflow condition for a maximum coarse temperature range. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the temperature data identifying a fine temperature range corresponding to a range overflow condition comprises temperature data represented by a plurality of binary digits all having a first value. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the temperature data identifying a fine temperature range corresponding to a range underflow condition comprises temperature data represented by the plurality of binary digits all having a second value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the current coarse temperature range comprises one of a plurality of coarse temperature ranges, the plurality of coarse temperature ranges including at least two temperature ranges that are sequential. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the current coarse temperature range comprises one of a plurality of coarse temperature ranges, the plurality of coarse temperature ranges including at least two temperature ranges that overlap temperatures. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising representing the identified fine temperature range with the same number of binary digits used to identify a fine temperature range in a different one of the plurality of coarse temperature ranges. 
     
     
         14 . A memory device comprising:
 an address bus;   a control bus;   a data bus;   a plurality of output terminals;   an address decoder coupled to the address bus;   a read/write circuit coupled to the data bus;   a control circuit coupled to a control bus;   a memory-cell array coupled to the address decoder, control circuit, and read/write circuit;   an output buffer coupled to the data bus and to the plurality of output terminals;   a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the memory device;   and   a temperature data output circuit coupled to the output buffer and further coupled to the temperature sensor, the temperature data output circuit configured to convert a measured temperature of the temperature sensor into temperature data that idenities for a current coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the measured temperature;   wherein the temperature data represents one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges within the current coarse temperature range corresponding to the measured temperature, the current coarse temperature range within a plurality of coarse temperature ranges, the same number of binary digits representing the one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges within the current coarse temperature range used to identify a fine temperature range in a different one of the plurality of coarse temperature ranges.   
     
     
         15 . A processor-based system, comprising:
 a data input device;   a data output device;   a processor coupled to the data input and output devices; and   a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device comprising:
 an address; 
 a control bus; 
 a data bus; 
 a plurality of output terminals; 
 an address decoder coupled to the address bus; 
 a read/write circuit coupled to the data bus; 
 a control circuit coupled to the control bus' 
 a memory-cell array coupled to the address decoder, control circuit, and read/write circuit; 
 an output buffer coupled to the data bus and to the plurality of output terminals; 
 a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the memory device; and 
 a temperature data output circuit coupled to the output buffer and further coupled to the temperature sensor, the temperature data output circuit configured to convert a measured temperature of the temperature sensor into temperature data that identifies for a current coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the measured temperature; 
   wherein the temperature data represents one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges within the current coarse temperature range corresponding to the measured temperature, the current coarse temperature range within a plurality of coarse temperature ranges, the same number of binary digits representing the one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges within the current coarse temperature range used to identify a fine temperature range in a different one of the plurality of coarse temperature ranges.