Temperature Sensing Circuit With Shared Reference Error Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Temperature sensing circuits in devices like smartwatches and digital thermometers suffer from errors due to manufacturing variations, aging, and package strain, leading to inaccurate temperature readings.

Innovation Solution

Implementing the same reference voltage across multiple amplifiers and using error averaging techniques, such as polarity reversal and resistor mismatch compensation, to minimize errors in temperature sensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If different reference voltages are used for amplifiers and ADC, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to voltage differences causing sensing errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference voltage configurationVSAvoidtemperature sensing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies equipotentiality by connecting multiple amplifiers and the ADC to the same reference voltage source, ensuring they all operate at the same potential level. This eliminates voltage differences between components that would otherwise cause sensing errors, while maintaining a unified reference voltage configuration across the circuit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the reference voltage parameter from being different for each component to being uniform across all amplifiers and the ADC. By standardizing the reference voltage parameter, the system eliminates measurement errors caused by voltage variations while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through systematic design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If manufacturing tolerances and aging are considered, then reliability improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to component variations and drift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent stabilityVSAvoidtemperature reading accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the reference voltage and using it to compensate for component variations. The system measures actual voltage levels and adjusts readings accordingly, counteracting the effects of manufacturing tolerances and aging on measurement precision while maintaining reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-calibration by using its own reference voltage measurements to correct for component drift and variations. Through self-service mechanisms, the temperature sensing circuit compensates for its own aging and manufacturing tolerances without requiring external calibration, maintaining precision despite component degradation over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If error compensation techniques are implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature sensing accuracyVSAvoidcircuit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reference voltage distribution network to serve multiple amplifiers and the ADC simultaneously. By combining the reference voltage source and distributing it uniformly across all components, the system achieves error compensation through unified potential levels without requiring separate complex compensation circuits for each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12584802B2Method and apparatus for temperature sensing
Publication Date: 2026.03.24 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD
  • US12584802B2 patent drawing
  • US12584802B2 patent drawing
  • US12584802B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An apparatus includes a temperature sensing circuit that includes both on-chip and off-chip components. The apparatus includes components that use the same source as a reference voltage, thus allowing variations in the reference voltage to be compensated for. Additionally, the apparatus can provide error averaging to compensate for deterministic error sources.