Integrated Sensor Distribution Estimation for Temperature and Voltage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic systems with integrated sensors struggle to directly estimate the value of physical operating quantities like temperature and supply voltage from raw frequency measurements, as these measurements are sensitive to multiple variables, making it difficult to access precise values of individual operating variables.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system with integrated sensors that includes a distribution calculation device to determine a current distribution function from useful measurements, an estimation device to calculate an estimate of the physical operating quantity using stored associations of model distribution functions, and a hypothesis testing unit to statistically select the most appropriate model distribution functions for accurate estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If raw frequency measurements are used directly, then the system is simple, but the measurement precision of physical operating quantities is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of physical operating quantity estimationVSAvoidcomplexity of measurement processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores multiple model distribution functions corresponding to different physical operating quantity values in a memory device before actual measurement. When a measurement is taken, the system compares the current distribution function against these pre-prepared models to estimate the physical quantity, avoiding real-time complex calculations and enabling fast, precise estimation without real-time computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces distribution calculation devices and comparison devices as intermediary components between the raw frequency measurements and the final physical operating quantity estimation. These intermediaries process the raw measurements through statistical distribution analysis and pattern matching against pre-stored models, transforming indirect frequency data into precise physical quantity estimates while managing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensors are integrated to measure multiple variables, then the adaptability of the system improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring individual variables increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to measure multiple operating variablesVSAvoiddifficulty of accessing precise values of individual operating variables
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the measurement problem by creating separate measurement paths for different physical operating quantities (temperature, supply voltage, manufacturing process). Each sensor type measures its specific parameter, and the distribution calculation devices process measurements independently. This segmentation allows multiple variables to be measured simultaneously while maintaining the ability to precisely determine individual values through separate statistical analysis channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2667208B1Electronic integrated sensor system, method of estimating the value of a functional physical quantity and a corresponding computer program
Publication Date: 2014.09.17 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP2667208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2667208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2667208B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This system comprises: an electronic circuit (104) presenting, in operation, a value v of a physical operating quantity; a measuring device (106) comprising: sensors (108) integrated into the electronic circuit (104) so ​​as to provide raw measurements {Xm} sensitive to the value v of the physical operating quantity, and an output unit (112) intended to provide useful measurements {X'n} from the raw measurements {Xm}; a distribution calculation device (114) intended to determine a current distribution function F(x) associated with the useful measurements {X'n}; a memory (116) in which associations {Ak} are stored, each association Ak associating a model distribution function Fk(x) with a model value vk* of the physical operating quantity;and an estimation calculation device (118) intended to determine an estimate ṽ of the value v of the physical operating quantity from the current distribution function F(x) and at least a part of the recorded associations {Ak}.;