Digital Bandgap Temperature Sensor Using Variable Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature sensors for integrated circuits occupy a large area on a chip and consume significant power due to their design, which includes fixed current sources and bipolar junction transistors, limiting their efficiency and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A programmable temperature sensor system that utilizes a variable current source and bipolar junction transistors to generate multiple analog base-emitter voltage signals, which are then converted to digital signals by a passive analog-to-digital converter, allowing for precise temperature sensing with reduced power consumption and chip area through a microcontroller that determines the differential voltage proportional to absolute temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional temperature sensors use fixed current sources and bipolar junction transistors to determine voltage difference, then temperature measurement is achieved, but chip area and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using a single bipolar junction transistor with sequentially applied different current values instead of multiple transistors with fixed currents. This parameter-based approach maintains temperature measurement capability while reducing the number of physical components needed, thereby reducing chip area.
Solution Approach 2:
The single bipolar junction transistor performs multiple functions by being sequentially driven with different current values. The same transistor that would traditionally require multiple instances is now reused across different measurement phases, eliminating redundant components and reducing overall chip area.
2Measurement precision
If conventional temperature sensors use fixed current sources and bipolar junction transistors to determine voltage difference, then temperature measurement is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by sequentially applying different current values to the single transistor over time phases. Instead of continuously powering multiple transistors and current sources, the system uses time-multiplexed periodic measurement cycles, reducing instantaneous and average power consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the current parameter dynamically over time phases rather than maintaining fixed currents through multiple parallel sources, the system reduces total power consumption. The single transistor is activated sequentially with different current levels, eliminating the need for multiple continuous current sources.
3Measurement precision
If conventional temperature sensors use multiple fixed current sources and transistors, then temperature sensing capability is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates redundant components from the traditional temperature sensor architecture. By removing duplicate transistors and current sources, only the essential single transistor and control logic remain, simplifying the device structure while preserving temperature sensing functionality through sequential parameter variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional elements into a single bipolar junction transistor. Instead of having separate transistors for each measurement phase, the same transistor is reused across different phases with different current values, consolidating the device structure and reducing overall complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient and precise temperature sensing with reduced power consumption and chip area, allowing for improved scalability and resolution in temperature measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a first bipolar junction transistor has a first voltage VBE according when it receives and passes a first current from one of the fixed current sources, while the second bipolar junction transistor has a second voltage VBE according when it receives and passes a second current from the other fixed current source
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a temperature sensor generate multiple base-emitter voltage signals by sequentially providing various currents to a transistor, and a system controller to determine a differential voltage signal according to the multiple base-emitter voltage signals, the differential voltage signal proportional to an environmental temperature associated with the transistor.