Oxide Semiconductor Environmental Sensor Low Power Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environmental sensors with passive RFICs lack power for long-distance communication due to insufficient electric power from received radio waves, while active RFICs consume high power due to off-state current leakage in silicon-based transistors, leading to frequent battery replacement and high power consumption, especially in hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
An environmental sensor design incorporating an oxide semiconductor transistor with a reduced number of circuits, including a control circuit, transmission amplifier, modulation circuit, and memory device, which allows sensing without receiving radio waves and enables low power consumption, long-distance communication, and reduced battery replacement through a battery-powered system with a power supply circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a passive RFIC is used in the environmental sensor, then the sensor does not require a battery and can operate without external power, but the electric power obtained from received radio waves is insufficient for long-distance communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transistor material from conventional silicon to oxide semiconductor, fundamentally altering the electrical parameters of the device. This material substitution enables ultra-low off-state current characteristics, allowing the system to operate with extremely low power consumption while maintaining battery-less operation capability
2Reliability
If an active RFIC with silicon-based transistors is used, then the sensor can perform sensing and communication continuously, but off-state current leakage causes high power consumption and frequent battery replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transistor material from conventional silicon to oxide semiconductor, fundamentally altering the electrical parameters of the device. This material substitution enables ultra-low off-state current characteristics, allowing the system to operate with extremely low power consumption while maintaining continuous operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hybrid approach by combining oxide semiconductor transistors for low-power circuit sections with conventional silicon transistors for high-performance sections where needed. This composite material strategy optimizes the balance between power consumption and operational reliability
3Reliability
If the environmental sensor is placed in hard-to-reach locations such as high places, tunnels, or bridge piers, then the sensor can collect environmental data from critical positions, but battery replacement and charging cannot be performed safely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the sensor to serve itself by achieving such low power consumption through oxide semiconductor transistors that the battery lasts for many years without replacement. The system effectively maintains itself without requiring human intervention for battery maintenance, solving the accessibility problem
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 sensor can operate effectively in hard-to-reach locations with reduced power consumption and extended battery life, enabling continuous data collection and communication over long distances without frequent battery replacement.
Implementation Method 1
the first transistor includes an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region; the second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region
Implementation Method 2
a battery; and a power supply circuit
Implementation Method 3
a transmission amplifier; and a first antenna
Implementation Method 4
a modulation circuit; and a first antenna
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an environmental sensor with reduced power consumption.A semiconductor device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a control circuit, a transmission amplifier, a modulation circuit, a memory device, an analog-to-digital converter circuit, and an antenna. The memory device and the analog-to-digital converter circuit each include a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is formed in a channel region. The second sensor is an optical sensor, and has a function of transmitting a trigger signal to the control circuit when receiving laser light. The control circuit has a function of transmitting a control signal to the first sensor, the transmission amplifier, the modulation circuit, the memory device, and the analog-to-digital converter circuit when receiving the trigger signal. The first sensor is a sensor that senses a physical or chemical quantity, and the measured data is subjected to digital conversion by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and stored in the memory device. In addition, the data is transmitted as an electromagnetic wave signal from the antenna through the modulation circuit and the transmission amplifier.