Patent ID: 8625375

Claim:
A temperature detection circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus comprising: a temperature variable signal generating unit configured to enable a temperature variable signal when an enable signal is enabled, and to charge a capacitor, and to discharge the capacitor when a voltage level of the capacitor is increased to above a reference voltage level, and to disable the temperature variable signal when the voltage level of the capacitor is decreased to below the reference voltage level; a counting unit configured to count an oscillator signal during an enable interval of the temperature variable signal to generate a temperature information signal, wherein the temperature variable signal generating unit comprises a charging unit that charges the capacitor when the charging unit is activated, and a discharging unit that discharges the capacitor when the discharging unit is activated, wherein the temperature variable signal generating unit is configured to activate one of the charging unit and the discharging unit in response to the enable signal and a result of comparing the voltage level of the capacitor with the reference voltage level.