US 12,068,747 B2
Semiconductor device and method of monitoring a temperature thereof
Szu-Lin Liu, Hsinchu (TW); Bei-Shing Lien, Taipei (TW); Yi-Wen Chen, Hsinchu (TW); Chin-Ho Chang, Hsinchu (TW); Jaw-Juinn Horng, Hsinchu (TW); and Yung-Chow Peng, Hsinchu (TW)
Assigned to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/718,456.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/232,239, filed on Aug. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0049398 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H03K 3/011 (2006.01); H03F 3/45 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 3/011 (2013.01) [H03F 3/45475 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A semiconductor device comprising:
a temperature-independent current generator configured to generate a reference current substantially independent of temperature and a first mirror current, a second mirror current, and a third mirror current that are substantial duplicates of the reference current;
a first pulse signal generator coupled to the temperature-independent current generator and configured to sample the first mirror current so as to generate a pulse signal;
a first counter coupled to the first pulse signal generator and configured to obtain a number of pulse signals generated by the first pulse signal generator, to permit the first pulse signal generator to generate a pulse signal when it is determined thereby that the number of pulse signals obtained thereby is less than a predetermined threshold value, and to inhibit the first pulse signal generator from generating a pulse signal when it is determined thereby that the number of pulse signals obtained thereby is equal to the predetermined threshold value; and
a temperature-dependent current generator configured to receive the second mirror current and the third mirror current generated by the temperature-independent current generator and to generate a temperature-dependent current based on the second mirror current and the third mirror current received thereby.