Semiconductor Temperature Sensor Using Self-Referential Differential Signals

The patent applies the self-service principle by using one of the existing electrical temperature signals (first or second) as the reference signal for the ADC conversion. Instead of requiring an external circuit to generate a reference signal with a predetermined temperature coefficient, the system utilizes its own internally generated temperature signals. This self-referential approach eliminates the need for additional reference signal generation circuits while maintaining accurate temperature sensing capabilities.

The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary additional circuit for generating reference signals with predetermined temperature coefficients. By recognizing that the existing first and second electrical temperature signals can serve as reference signals, the design removes the extraneous circuitry that would occupy semiconductor area, thereby reducing the overall chip area while preserving temperature sensing functionality.

The system performs self-service by utilizing its existing temperature signal generation capabilities to provide the reference signal function. Since the first and second electrical temperature signals are already being generated for differential processing, reusing one of these signals as the ADC reference eliminates the need for additional power-consuming reference signal generation circuits, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining sensing accuracy.