Patent ID: 6966693
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A thermal characterization chip comprising: a substrate having overlying electronics, the electronics including semiconductor circuitry and thin film circuitry overlying the semiconductor circuitry; wherein the electronics define a plurality of thermal domains, each of the domains defining a portion of a receiving surface for receiving an external influence that alters a thermal parameter within the thermal domains; wherein the thin film circuitry forms a thin film resistor having a temperature-dependent variable resistance for heating each of the domains; wherein the electronics further comprises monitoring circuitry for monitoring the thermal parameter in each of the thermal domains over a test time period; and wherein the monitoring circuitry includes a plurality of control-signal dependent variable resistance devices associated with each domain, wherein each control-signal dependent variable resistance device is connected in series with an associated one of the thin film resistors, thereby forming a voltage divider circuit having a thermal domain output signal associated with each thermal domain.