Digital Temperature Sensor Oscillator for SoC Hot Spot Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern system-on-a-chip (SoC) implementations, especially in 2.5D or 3D integrated circuits, heat dissipation is a significant challenge due to high gate count and frequency, leading to thermal hot spots that existing temperature sensing methods, such as thermal diodes, are unable to accurately and efficiently monitor.
Innovation Solution
A digital circuit-based device comprising a temperature-sensitive sensor and oscillator that provides a digital temperature signal without the need for an analog-to-digital converter, using a diode-connected transistor and current source to generate a temperature-sensitive voltage, which is correlated with oscillation frequency, allowing accurate temperature sensing within digital devices like CPUs and GPUs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional thermal diodes are used for temperature sensing, then temperature monitoring is provided, but the sensing accuracy in digital devices is insufficient and area efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional thermal diode sensing with a digital circuit-based temperature sensor that uses an oscillator and digital delay cell. This substitution of mechanical/analog components with digital electronic components achieves more accurate temperature measurement while reducing the area occupied by the sensor circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct voltage measurement in thermal diodes to oscillation frequency measurement. The temperature-sensitive voltage controls the oscillation frequency of a digital oscillator, and this frequency is measured by counting clock cycles through a delay cell, providing higher precision temperature sensing with smaller area.
2Measurement precision
If analog-to-digital converters are added to improve temperature signal processing, then measurement capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for analog-to-digital converters by directly generating a digital temperature signal through a digital oscillator circuit. The temperature-sensitive voltage directly controls the oscillation frequency, which is inherently a digital parameter that can be measured and processed without analog conversion stages, thereby reducing circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor circuit generates its own digital output signal directly through the oscillator's frequency modulation. The circuit serves its own conversion function by transforming the temperature-sensitive voltage directly into a measurable digital frequency signal, eliminating the need for separate analog-to-digital conversion components.
3Productivity
If high gate count and high operating frequency are used to improve circuit performance, then processing capability is enhanced, but heat dissipation problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements temperature monitoring and control through the oscillator circuit that senses temperature changes and can provide feedback signals for thermal management. This allows the system to monitor hot spots and adjust operation accordingly, enabling high performance processing while managing heat dissipation through active temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temperature sensor circuits at strategic locations within the high-performance circuit to act as intermediaries that monitor thermal conditions. These sensors provide temperature information that can be used to control power distribution, clock gating, or workload balancing, thereby managing heat dissipation in high-performance circuits.
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
This solution enables accurate and area-efficient temperature sensing within digital devices, overcoming the limitations of traditional thermal diodes by providing a compact, digital solution that directly correlates temperature with oscillation frequency, facilitating effective heat management in SoC applications.
Implementation Method 1
A digital circuit-based device comprising a temperature-sensitive sensor and oscillator that provides a digital temperature signal without the need for an analog-to-digital converter, using a diode-connected transistor and current source to generate a temperature-sensitive voltage, which is correlated with oscillation frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a sensor configured to provide a temperature-sensitive voltage and an oscillator. The sensor includes: a first transistor, being a diode-connected transistor; a second transistor coupled between a source of the first transistor and ground, wherein a gate of the second transistor is controllable by an enable signal; and a current source configured to control the first transistor and comprising a third transistor, a drain of which is directly connected to a drain of the first transistor, the third transistor being a diode-connected transistor. The oscillator includes: a digital delay cell; and an adjustment device configured to, based on the temperature-sensitive voltage, adjust a delay of the digital delay cell. The digital delay cell produces, based on the adjusted delay, a signal at an oscillation frequency.