Patent ID: 9255850
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G01K

Claim Text:
1. A temperature detection circuit for generating a temperature detection signal indicating a temperature of a semiconductor, comprising: first and second diodes having respective p-n junctions independent from each other; a first current path including a first variable voltage dividing resistor that is connected in series to the first diode and whose dividing resistance ratio is variable according to a first offset adjustment signal, the first variable voltage dividing resistor producing a first divided voltage; a second current path including a second variable voltage dividing resistor that is connected in series to the second diode and whose dividing resistance ratio is variable according to a second offset adjustment signal, the second variable voltage dividing resistor producing a second divided voltage, the second current path having a node between the second diode and the second variable voltage dividing resistor; a reference voltage generation part that includes first and second input terminals and that generates a differential voltage from the first divided voltage applied to the first input terminal and a potential at the node in the second current path that is applied to the second input terminal, the reference voltage generation part applying the differential voltage to an end of the first current path and also to an end of the second current path and additionally outputting the differential voltage as a reference voltage, the differential voltage indicating a difference between the first divided voltage produced by the first variable voltage dividing resistor and the potential at the node in the second current path; and a temperature detection signal generation part that generates the temperature detection signal, the temperature detection signal generation part receiving the second divided voltage produced by the second variable voltage dividing resistor, the temperature detection signal generation part including an amplification part that amplifies the second divided voltage to obtain an amplified voltage and a third variable voltage dividing resistor that adjusts a gain of the amplification part according to a third offset adjustment signal; and a fourth variable voltage dividing resistor that adjusts a level of the amplified voltage output from the second amplifier according to a temperature gradient adjustment signal.