Integrated circuit temperature sensor with reference voltage source pin

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for an integrated circuit (IC) temperature sensor having a reference voltage source pin are disclosed. The apparatus includes an IC temperature sensor comprising sensing circuitry; a reference voltage source for outputting a reference voltage; an operational amplifier coupled to the sensing circuitry and the reference voltage source; an output voltage pin coupled to the output of the operational amplifier, the output voltage reflecting the difference between the voltage of the sensing circuitry and the reference voltage; and a reference voltage source pin coupled to the reference voltage source.

Description

priority

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 615,101, filed on December 27, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to temperature sensors, and more particularly to integrated circuit temperature sensors having a reference voltage source pin. Background Technology

[0003] Integrated circuit (IC) temperature sensors can be built as standalone semiconductor devices or packages to facilitate deployment in larger systems such as circuit boards, servers, mobile phones, tablets, or other suitable electronic devices or systems. IC temperature sensors generate a reference voltage on the IC corresponding to 0 degrees Celsius. The ambient temperature can be calculated by measuring the output voltage of the IC temperature sensor and considering the reference voltage. However, the generation of the reference voltage is susceptible to errors due to component tolerances and manufacturing defects. While manufacturing tolerances can be improved, this can lead to increased manufacturing costs.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a temperature sensor that can achieve higher accuracy without increasing manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Systems and methods for integrated circuit (IC) temperature sensors with a reference voltage source pin are provided. The apparatus includes an integrated circuit temperature sensor comprising sensing circuitry; a reference voltage source for outputting a reference voltage; an operational amplifier coupled to the sensing circuitry and the reference voltage source; an output voltage pin coupled to the output of the operational amplifier, the output voltage reflecting the difference between the voltage of the sensing circuitry and the reference voltage; and a reference voltage source pin coupled to the reference voltage source.

[0006] One method includes measuring a reference voltage at a reference voltage pin of an integrated circuit temperature sensor; measuring an output voltage at an output voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; determining the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; and determining a temperature based on the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

[0007] The system includes an integrated circuit temperature sensor comprising sensing circuitry; a reference voltage source for outputting a reference voltage; an operational amplifier for outputting a voltage at an output voltage pin, the output voltage reflecting the difference between the voltage of the sensing circuitry and the reference voltage; a reference voltage source pin coupled to a reference voltage source; and control circuitry for: measuring the reference voltage at the reference voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; measuring the output voltage at the output voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; determining the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; and determining the temperature based on the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The accompanying figures illustrate examples of the systems and methods.

[0009] Figure 1 An example of an IC temperature sensor according to this disclosure is illustrated;

[0010] Figure 2 An example of an implementation according to this disclosure is shown to determine temperature using an IC temperature sensor; and

[0011] Figure 3 A system including an IC temperature sensor and control circuitry according to an example of this disclosure is illustrated.

[0012] Reference numerals for any illustrated element appearing in multiple different figures have the same meaning in all figures, and any reference or discussion of any illustrated element in the context of any particular figure also applies to every other figure (if any) in which the same illustrated element is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit (IC) temperature sensor with a reference voltage source pin is provided. The IC temperature sensor includes pins to allow measurement of a reference voltage (V). ref ) and voltage output (V out By measuring two voltages, the voltage difference can be calculated and a more accurate temperature reading can be generated without calibrating the IC temperature sensor. The term "pin" as used herein is not intended to be limited to any particular type of physical structure and can include, but is not limited to, gull-wing or J-shaped lead terminals, solder balls, or pads.

[0014] Figure 1 An example of an IC temperature sensor according to this disclosure is illustrated. The IC temperature sensor 100 may include V... out Pin 110, V ref Pin 120, sensing circuit 130, reference voltage source 140, operational amplifier 150, Vdd Pin 160, V ss Pin 170, first resistor R1, and second resistor R2. Sensing circuit 130 can generate a voltage or current proportional to the temperature within a defined operating range. Sensing circuit 130 can produce an output similar to, for example, a diode, transistor, transducer, thermocouple, thermistor, or resistance thermometer. For example, sensing circuit 130 can be formed by a constant current source 132 and a diode 134. When a constant current is applied by constant current source 132, the voltage across diode 134 will change by approximately 1 to 2 mV / °C.

[0015] Reference voltage source 140 can generate a constant voltage. Operational amplifier 150 can receive the output of sensing circuit 130, the voltage generated across diode 134, and the reference voltage from reference voltage source 140, and can transmit the voltage to V. out Pin 110 provides the output voltage to V out The voltage output from pin 110 reflects the difference between the voltage of the sensing circuit and the reference voltage. The output voltage can be proportional to the measured temperature of the environment surrounding the IC temperature sensor 100. The gain of the operational amplifier 150 can be controlled by the corresponding values ​​of the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2. As used herein, the term "ambient" is intended to include the temperature of the silicon of diode 134, which may be affected by the temperatures of adjacent silicon, the silicon substrate, and other environmental conditions.

[0016] V ref Pin 120 can enable the output from V out The circuitry that receives the output voltage at pin 110 is able to determine the temperature of the sensing circuit 130, regardless of any changes in the amount of the reference voltage, such as any changes in the reference voltage due to temperature variations. Additionally, the reference voltage can be used elsewhere in a larger system where the IC temperature sensor 100 is part, thereby providing a stable reference for other components to access. dd Pin 160 can enable the input from the temperature sensor 100 of the power IC, and V ss Pin 170 can be a ground pin for IC temperature sensor 100.

[0017] After measuring the output voltage and reference voltage, the system's user or other parts (such as...) Figure 3 The control circuit 305 shown can calculate the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage and convert it into a temperature reading. For example, the temperature (in degrees Celsius) can be calculated using the following formula:

[0018]

[0019] Where T cIt is the temperature coefficient of IC temperature sensor 100.

[0020] By providing a measurement of the reference voltage, without assuming that the generated reference voltage Vref is a constant predetermined value, any variation of the reference voltage over time can be removed from the temperature determination. Additionally, measuring the provided reference voltage mitigates any errors in the reference voltage provided by the reference voltage source 140 that may be introduced by software or manufacturing defects. Furthermore, the IC temperature sensor 100 can have improved noise immunity because any noise in the output voltage will be canceled out by the same noise characteristics in the reference voltage from the reference voltage source 140.

[0021] The output voltage, reference voltage, and / or the difference between the two can be provided to measuring instruments such as voltmeters, panel meters, or digital multimeters to visually display temperature readings without the use of any programming or complex conversion circuitry. For example, when the temperature coefficient (T...) c When the value is 10 millivolts per degree Celsius (mV / °C), the measuring tool can display 199.9 mV. The user of the measuring tool can determine the temperature as 19.99°C, as the calculation is a simple conversion to one decimal place.

[0022] Figure 2 An example of a method for determining temperature using an IC temperature sensor, according to an example of this disclosure, is illustrated. Method 200 may use an IC temperature sensor (such as...) Figure 1 The IC temperature sensor 100 shown is combined with a processor (such as...) Figure 3 The control circuit 305 shown in the figure or any other system capable of operating to implement method 200 may be used to implement it. Although examples have been described above, other variations and examples may be made in accordance with this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of these disclosed examples.

[0023] Method 200 begins at block 210, wherein method 200 can generate a reference voltage. For example, method 200 can instruct a reference voltage source to generate a reference voltage, such as... Figure 1 The reference voltage source 140 is shown. The reference voltage can provide a voltage that can be compared with the output voltage from the IC temperature sensor to calculate the temperature, as explained in box 250.

[0024] At box 220, method 200 can measure the reference voltage at the reference voltage pin, such as... Figure 1 The V shown ref Pin 120. Voltage can be measured using measuring tools such as voltmeters, panel meters, digital multimeters, or via an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter.

[0025] At box 230, method 200 can measure the output voltage at the output voltage pin, such as... Figure 1 The V shown out Pin 110. Voltage can be measured using measuring tools such as voltmeters, panel meters, digital multimeters, or via an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter. Both boxes 220 and 230 can use the same A / D converter in conjunction with an analog multiplexer, or separate A / D converters can be utilized.

[0026] At box 240, method 200 can determine the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage. At box 250, method 200 can use the difference calculated at box 240 to determine the temperature. For example, the temperature (in degrees Celsius) can be calculated using the following formula:

[0027]

[0028] Where T c It is the temperature coefficient of the IC temperature sensor.

[0029] At box 260, method 200 can output the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage to any suitable measuring instrument, such as a voltmeter, panel meter, digital multimeter, or analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Additionally or alternatively, method 200 can output the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage to control circuitry, such as… Figure 3 The control circuit 305 shown is shown.

[0030] At box 270, method 200 can display the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage. This display can be on the measuring instrument or on any other suitable display, such as a display coupled to the control circuitry performing method 200.

[0031] At box 280, method 200 can output the temperature calculated at box 250. The temperature can be displayed on a monitor or used elsewhere in a system containing an IC temperature sensor.

[0032] Figure 3 A system including an IC temperature sensor 100 and a control circuit 305 according to an example of this disclosure is illustrated. The IC temperature sensor 100 may be... Figure 1 The same IC temperature sensor 100 is shown. Control circuitry 305 can be implemented using any suitable combination of analog and digital circuitry, such as a suitable microprocessor, microcontroller, control board, or other computing device with input and output interfaces for communication with other devices, and memory or other storage devices for program logic / instructions that control circuitry 305 executes to transmit and receive signals and process data. Control circuitry 305 can receive voltage (e.g., V) from IC temperature sensor 100. ref and V outThe control circuit 305 analyzes those voltages to determine the ambient temperature surrounding the IC temperature sensor 100. Specifically, the control circuit 305 can perform... Figure 2 Method 200 is shown.

[0033] Embodiments of this disclosure may include an apparatus. The apparatus may include an integrated circuit temperature sensor comprising a sensing circuit, a reference voltage source for outputting a reference voltage, an operational amplifier coupled to the sensing circuit and the reference voltage source, an output voltage pin coupled to the output of the operational amplifier, and a reference voltage source pin coupled to the reference voltage source. The output voltage may reflect the difference between the voltage of the sensing circuit and the reference voltage.

[0034] Combining any of the examples above, the sensing circuit may include a constant current source and a diode.

[0035] Combining any of the above examples, an integrated circuit temperature sensor may include a first resistor and a second resistor, wherein the gain of the operational amplifier is controlled by the resistance of the first resistor and the resistance of the second resistor.

[0036] Combining any of the examples above, an integrated circuit temperature sensor may include a power input pin.

[0037] Combining any of the examples above, an integrated circuit temperature sensor may include a power ground pin.

[0038] Combining any of the examples above, the output voltage at the output voltage pin can be proportional to the temperature of the environment surrounding the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

[0039] Examples of this disclosure may include a system. The system may include any of the integrated circuit temperature sensors of the examples described above and control circuitry configured to: measure a reference voltage at a reference voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; measure an output voltage at an output voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; determine the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; and determine a temperature based on the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

[0040] By combining any of the examples above, the control circuit can be used to output the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

[0041] By combining any of the examples above, the control circuit can be used to output temperature.

[0042] Combining any of the examples above, the control circuit can be used to output a reference voltage to the analog-to-digital converter.

[0043] By combining any of the examples above, the control circuit can be used to display the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

[0044] Combining any of the above examples, the output voltage can be proportional to the temperature of the environment surrounding the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

[0045] Examples of this disclosure may include a method. The method may include operation of any of the example integrated circuit temperature sensors or systems described above. The method may include measuring a reference voltage at a reference voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; measuring an output voltage at an output voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; determining the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; and determining a temperature based on the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

[0046] Combining any of the examples above, the method may include displaying the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

[0047] Combining any of the examples above, the method may include outputting temperature.

[0048] Combining any of the examples above, the method may include outputting a reference voltage to a control circuit.

[0049] Combining any of the examples above, the method may include outputting the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage to a panel instrument.

[0050] Combining any of the examples above, the method may include outputting a reference voltage to an analog-to-digital converter.

[0051] Combining any of the examples above, the method may include generating a reference voltage at an integrated circuit temperature sensor.

[0052] Combining any of the above examples, the output voltage is proportional to the temperature of the environment surrounding the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

[0053] Although examples have been described above, other variations and examples may be made in accordance with this disclosure without departing from the substance and scope of these disclosed examples.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising: An integrated circuit temperature sensor, the integrated circuit temperature sensor comprising: Sensing circuit; A reference voltage source, wherein the reference voltage source is used to output a reference voltage; An operational amplifier coupled to the sensing circuit and the reference voltage source; An output voltage pin, coupled to the output of the operational amplifier, wherein the output voltage reflects the difference between the voltage of the sensing circuit and the reference voltage; and A reference voltage source pin, which is coupled to the reference voltage source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit comprises: constant current source; and diode.

3. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the integrated circuit temperature sensor includes a first resistor and a second resistor, wherein the gain of the operational amplifier is controlled by the resistance of the first resistor and the resistance of the second resistor.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the integrated circuit temperature sensor includes a power input pin.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the integrated circuit temperature sensor includes a power ground pin.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the output voltage at the output voltage pin is proportional to the temperature of the environment surrounding the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

7. A method, the method comprising: Measure the reference voltage at the reference voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; Measure the output voltage at the output voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; Determine the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; as well as The temperature is determined based on the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method includes displaying the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the method includes outputting the temperature.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, the method comprising outputting the reference voltage to a control circuit.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, the method comprising outputting the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage to a panel instrument.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, the method comprising outputting the reference voltage to an analog-to-digital converter.

13. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 12, the method comprising generating the reference voltage at the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

14. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the output voltage is proportional to the temperature of the environment surrounding the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

15. A system comprising: Integrated circuit temperature sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and Control circuit, the control circuit being used for: Measure the reference voltage at the reference voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; Measure the output voltage at the output voltage pin of the integrated circuit temperature sensor; Determine the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; as well as The temperature is determined based on the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured to output the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

17. The system according to any one of claims 15 to 16, wherein the control circuit is used to output the temperature.

18. The system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the control circuit is used to output the reference voltage to the analog-to-digital converter.

19. The system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the integrated circuit temperature sensor is used to display the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage.

20. The system according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the output voltage is proportional to the temperature of the environment surrounding the integrated circuit temperature sensor.

Images