Temperature-Controlled Oscillator Using RC Sensing and Offset Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As the degree of integration and operating speed of system-on-chip (SoC) increase, local temperature management becomes crucial due to heat emission and temperature variations within the SoC, requiring efficient temperature-controlled oscillators and sensors that can accurately detect temperature changes in a smaller and simpler configuration.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-controlled oscillator and sensor system utilizing an on-chip metal resistor and capacitor, where the resistor's resistance varies with temperature, generating an oscillation signal with a period proportional to temperature, and an adjusting unit corrects the signal to remove offset errors caused by parasitic delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the degree of integration and operating speed of SoC are increased, then productivity and processing capability are improved, but heat emission and temperature variation increase causing reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a temperature-controlled oscillator where the oscillation period changes according to temperature variations. The oscillation unit generates an oscillation signal whose period is proportional to temperature, allowing the system to adapt to temperature changes by adjusting timing parameters dynamically rather than maintaining fixed parameters that would fail under thermal stress.
2Measurement precision
If a traditional temperature sensor configuration is used, then temperature detection function is achieved, but device area and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillator circuit serves multiple functions: it generates clock signals for normal operation and simultaneously acts as a temperature sensor. The oscillation period depends on temperature through the RC time constant formed by the on-chip resistor and capacitor, allowing the same circuit to perform both timing and temperature measurement without requiring separate dedicated sensor components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the temperature sensing function with the existing oscillator circuit by using the same on-chip resistor and capacitor components for both oscillation generation and temperature detection. This merging eliminates the need for separate temperature sensor structures, reducing overall device complexity and area while maintaining measurement capability.
3Device complexity
If offset errors from parasitic delays are not corrected, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the oscillation signal is monitored and compared against expected timing characteristics. The control unit adjusts the oscillation parameters based on feedback about actual performance, compensating for parasitic delays and other errors to maintain accurate temperature measurements despite the presence of unavoidable circuit imperfections.
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 system achieves accurate and reliable temperature detection and oscillation signal generation, improving the accuracy and reliability of digital output signals while maintaining a compact and cost-effective configuration.
Implementation Method 1
The on-chip metal resistor has a first terminal connected with a first node, the on-chip metal resistor having a resistance value that varies according to the temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature controlled oscillator includes an oscillation unit and a filter unit. The oscillation unit is configured to generate at least one reference voltage based on a supply voltage and a ground voltage, and to generate an oscillation signal having a period varying according to a temperature, the oscillation unit configured to generate the oscillation signal based on a filter voltage and the at least one reference voltage. The filter unit is configured to generate the filter voltage based on the oscillation signal.