Analog Sensor Integration in Digital Blocks With Stable Voltage Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased number of transistors on integrated circuits (ICs) leads to challenges in balancing performance, power consumption, and thermal output, with existing sensor systems facing accuracy issues due to variations in supply voltages and low supply voltage levels.
Innovation Solution
An analog sensor circuit is integrated inside a digital functional circuit block using digital power supplies for oscillators, employing ring oscillators to sense local operating properties, and utilizing a substantially fixed or limited range supply voltage to enhance measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If digital power supplies are used for sensor circuits, then device complexity is reduced and integration is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates due to supply voltage variations
Solution Approach 1:
A level shifter circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the digital power supply and the analog sensor circuit. The level shifter converts the variable digital supply voltage to a stable analog supply voltage, mediating the conflict between using simple digital power supplies and maintaining precise sensor measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply system is segmented into separate digital and analog domains. Digital circuits receive digital power supply voltages while analog sensor circuits receive regulated analog power supply voltages through level shifters, allowing each domain to operate independently with appropriate voltage characteristics.
2Measurement precision
If analog power supply is used for sensor circuits, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to complex metrology requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The level shifter circuit serves multiple functions: it acts as a voltage regulator for the analog sensor circuit, provides impedance matching between digital and analog domains, and enables signal level translation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate complex analog power supply infrastructure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If supply voltage level is reduced, then power consumption is decreased, but measurement precision deteriorates due to low voltage levels
Solution Approach 1:
The level shifter maintains continuous stable voltage supply to the analog sensor circuit even when digital supply voltages vary or are reduced. This ensures the sensor always operates at optimal voltage levels for accurate measurements while allowing the digital system to reduce power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit for sensing local operating properties of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The circuit may include one or more sensor circuits configured to sense the local operating properties of the integrated circuit. The sensor circuits may receive a supply voltage with a magnitude in a limited range from a digital power supply that is different from the digital power supply that provides power to functional circuits in the integrated circuit. Level shifters may be coupled to the sensor circuits to shift output signals from the sensor circuits to levels that correspond to the digital power supply that provides power to functional circuits in the integrated circuit. Counters and a shift register may be coupled to the level shifters to receive the shifted output signals, the values of which may be used to determine the local operating properties of the integrated circuit as sensed by the sensor circuits.