Semiconductor Device Current Sensing Temperature Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power electronics, existing systems for feedback control of inductor current using PWM control face challenges in achieving high accuracy due to temperature differences between current sensors and processing units on a semiconductor chip, leading to insufficient correction and sensing accuracy of inductor current.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a driver unit and current sensing circuit on one chip, featuring separate temperature sensors for the driver and sensing areas, and a correction circuit that uses multiple temperature signals to accurately correct digital sensed voltages, ensuring precise inductor current sensing and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a driver unit and current sensing circuit are mounted on one semiconductor chip, then integration is improved, but temperature difference between driver and sensing areas increases leading to reduced sensing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the semiconductor chip into distinct temperature zones by placing separate temperature sensors in the driver unit area and current sensing circuit area. This segmentation allows independent temperature measurement and correction for each functional block, resolving the temperature difference issue while maintaining on-chip integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local temperature correction by using area-specific temperature sensors and corresponding correction circuits that process temperature signals locally. Each functional block (driver unit, sensing circuit) has its own temperature compensation mechanism, ensuring accurate current sensing despite temperature gradients across the chip.
2Device complexity
If temperature correction is performed using a single temperature sensor, then device complexity is reduced, but correction accuracy is insufficient due to temperature gradients on the chip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature measurement function by deploying multiple temperature sensors at different locations on the chip (driver unit area and sensing circuit area). This allows accurate capture of temperature gradients while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular temperature correction circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses more temperature sensors than the minimum single sensor, placing sensors in specific critical areas rather than uniformly across the chip. This partial placement strategy provides sufficient correction accuracy for the most temperature-sensitive functional blocks without excessively increasing overall device complexity.
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 configuration enables highly accurate sensing and control of inductor current, improving correction accuracy and reducing errors in PWM control, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the load drive system.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor for sensing temperature in a first area including the driver unit and outputting a first temperature signal indicating the temperature
Implementation Method 2
a second temperature sensor for sensing temperature in a second area excluding the driver unit and outputting a second temperature signal indicating the temperature
Implementation Method 3
a correction circuit for correcting a digital sensed voltage obtained by the analog-digital converter based on a first temperature signal from the first temperature sensor and a second temperature signal from the second temperature sensor
Data Source
AI summary
In one semiconductor chip, driving transistors, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a driver area are arranged in a driver area, and a current sensing circuit, an analog-digital converter, and a temperature sensor for sensing a peripheral circuit area are arranged in a peripheral circuit area. A correction circuit unit corrects a digital sensed voltage from the analog-digital converter based on a sensing result of the temperature sensor of the driver area and a sensed result of the temperature sensor of the peripheral circuit area.