Hybrid Temperature Sensor for IC Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temperature sensors face challenges in achieving high accuracy calibration quickly and at low cost, particularly in applications requiring low power consumption and high resolution, while also dealing with errors from manufacturing variations and environmental changes.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit incorporating both an application temperature sensor for normal operation and a calibration temperature sensor, where the calibration sensor, which is highly accurate initially, is used to calibrate the application sensor without requiring extensive temperature point calibration, reducing calibration time and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional temperature sensors are used for calibration, then manufacturing precision can be improved, but calibration time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is segmented into two distinct components: a high-precision calibration temperature sensor and a low-power application temperature sensor. The calibration sensor is specifically designed and optimized for accurate temperature measurement during the calibration process, while the application sensor is optimized for low-power operation during normal use. This segmentation allows each sensor to be specialized for its specific purpose, resolving the contradiction between calibration accuracy and calibration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration temperature sensor performs the calibration function before the application sensor is deployed for normal operation. By conducting the calibration process separately and preliminarily using a dedicated high-precision sensor, the system establishes accurate reference data that compensates for manufacturing variations. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated time-consuming calibration procedures, thereby reducing overall calibration time while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If high accuracy calibration is performed at multiple temperature points, then manufacturing precision improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the operational modes by deploying different sensors for different purposes: the calibration temperature sensor (which may consume more power) is used only during the initial calibration phase, while the application temperature sensor (optimized for low power) handles all subsequent temperature measurements. This segmentation ensures that high power consumption is limited to the necessary calibration period, resolving the contradiction between achieving high calibration accuracy and minimizing ongoing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between two different temperature sensing mechanisms: a high-precision calibration sensor for accurate temperature measurement during calibration, and a low-power application sensor for normal operation. This parameter change allows the system to achieve high calibration accuracy when needed while maintaining low power consumption during extended operation, effectively resolving the contradiction between calibration precision and energy usage.
3Use of energy by moving object
If application temperature sensor is optimized for low power, then energy efficiency improves, but calibration accuracy deteriorates due to manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is divided into two specialized sensors: a calibration temperature sensor designed specifically for high-accuracy temperature measurement during the calibration process, and an application temperature sensor optimized for low-power operation during normal use. This segmentation allows the application sensor to maintain low power consumption while the calibration sensor compensates for manufacturing variations through precise pre-calibration, thereby resolving the contradiction between power efficiency and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the temperature sensing function using two different sensor implementations. The calibration temperature sensor serves as a reference copy that is highly accurate and is used to establish calibration data that compensates for manufacturing variations in the application sensor. This copying approach allows the low-power application sensor to achieve high accuracy by referencing the calibrated data from its more precise counterpart, resolving the contradiction between low power consumption and high measurement accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid temperature sensor for an integrated circuit includes two temperature sensors—an application temperature sensor for measuring temperature during normal use of the integrated circuit, and a calibration temperature sensitive element. By providing two temperature sensitive elements within the integrated circuit, it is possible to take advantage of different characteristics of temperature sensors to achieve high accuracy calibration of the application temperature sensor relatively quickly and at low cost, whilst also maintaining desirable characteristics for the application temperature sensor, such as high speed, low power consumption, high resolution, etc.