Patent ID: 7052179

Claim:
An integrated circuit comprising a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor comprising: a first diode-connected PNP-type bipolar transistor connected between a first terminal and a second terminal of the sensor, the second terminal configured to be connected to a reference supply rail; a resistive element and a second diode-connected PNP-type bipolar transistor, connected in series between a third terminal of the sensor and the second terminal, the second bipolar transistor being larger than the first bipolar transistor; a current-to-voltage conversion element connected between a fourth terminal and the second terminal, the first and third terminals being configured to be connected by a voltage-copying element and the first, third, and fourth terminals being configured to receive identical currents; and means for supplying power to the first, third and fourth terminals in response to an enable control signal so that the temperature sensor does not consume power when power is being supplied to the integrated circuit and the enable control signal is inactive.