Multi-point Temperature Sensing for Integrated Circuit Chips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-point temperature sensing systems for integrated circuit chips require a large area due to the use of precise temperature sensors, limiting the number of sensors that can be integrated and reducing the stability of the temperature control system.
Innovation Solution
A multi-point temperature sensing system that employs a master temperature sensor with a large area and high precision to correct slave temperature sensors with smaller areas and lower precision, significantly reducing the overall area required for temperature sensors by using a PTAT bias generator and analog-to-digital conversion module for the master sensor and an oscillator and counter for the slave sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional precise temperature sensors are used for multi-point temperature sensing, then temperature measurement precision is improved, but chip area is dramatically increased
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing system is segmented into a master temperature sensor and multiple slave temperature sensors. The master sensor provides comprehensive temperature monitoring while slave sensors provide localized temperature data with reduced precision requirements, allowing distributed temperature monitoring without proportionally increasing total sensor area.
Solution Approach 2:
A master temperature sensor acts as an intermediary that corrects temperature measurements from slave sensors. The master sensor compensates for systematic errors in slave sensors through calibration data stored in a lookup table, enabling accurate temperature measurement using smaller slave sensor areas.
2Reliability
If multiple precise temperature sensors are integrated, then temperature control stability is improved, but chip area consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides temperature sensing responsibilities between a master sensor for overall temperature control and multiple slave sensors for localized monitoring. This segmentation allows stable temperature control through the master sensor while slave sensors provide additional monitoring points with minimal area overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
Slave temperature sensors are designed as simplified copies of the master sensor, using the same basic sensing mechanism but with reduced precision components. This allows multiple sensors to be placed on the chip with minimal area increase, as each slave sensor is a compact version of the master sensor design.
3Area of stationary object
If slave temperature sensors with smaller area are used, then chip area is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The master temperature sensor serves as an intermediary that corrects measurements from slave sensors. Calibration data stored in the lookup table compensates for the reduced precision of slave sensors, allowing small-area slave sensors to provide accurate temperature measurements when corrected by the master sensor's data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of slave sensors by applying correction factors from the master sensor's calibration data. This allows slave sensors to operate at reduced precision while still providing accurate measurements after correction, effectively decoupling sensor area from measurement precision.
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 approach allows for a substantial reduction in the area occupied by temperature sensors, enabling more sensors to be used without increasing the chip area, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the temperature control system.
Implementation Method 1
most of the temperature sensor 5 uses conventional proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) circuit to generate PTAT current
Implementation Method 2
The oscillator has an oscillation frequency that is controlled by a logic coding circuit and is changed linearly along with the temperature being detected
Implementation Method 3
The counter records the oscillation frequency and outputs counting results
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-point temperature sensing method for integrated circuit chips and a system of the same are revealed. The system includes at least one slave temperature sensor embedded at preset positions for measuring temperature of a block and a master temperature sensor embedded in an integrated circuit chip and electrically connected to each slave temperature sensor. Variations of the slave temperature sensor induced by variations of process, voltage and temperature are corrected by the master temperature sensor. Thus the area the temperature sensors required on the integrated circuit chip is dramatically reduced and the stability of the temperature control system is improved. The problem of conventional System-on-a-Chip that only a limited number of temperature sensors could be used due to the area they occupied can be solved.