Thermal Sensor Current-to-Voltage Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuits (ICs) face overheating issues due to increased clock speed and device activity, which existing thermal management systems struggle to address effectively, particularly in advanced processes like 20 nanometer and 16 nanometer processes, leading to inefficiencies in temperature detection and management.

Innovation Solution

A compact thermal sensor employing current-to-voltage modulation and a temperature control circuit with an oscillator and reference voltage control circuit to adjust clock rate and reference voltage based on detected temperature, ensuring accurate temperature detection and reducing voltage swing and current inaccuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sigma-delta ADC is used for temperature detection, then temperature measurement capability is improved, but sensitivity to process variation and current inaccuracy worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement capabilityVSAvoidsensitivity to process variation and current inaccuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional voltage-based sigma-delta ADC with a current-based sensing system. Current mirrors are used to replicate and compare current signals instead of voltage signals, making the system less sensitive to process variations and current inaccuracy while maintaining temperature measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter being measured from voltage to current. By using current mirrors and current-based comparison, the system transforms the sensing mechanism to operate with current signals, which are less affected by process variations in advanced manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If clock rate is increased to improve response time, then response time is improved, but voltage swing and current inaccuracy worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidvoltage swing and current inaccuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic clock rate adjustment based on temperature conditions. The clock rate is increased when rapid temperature changes are detected to improve response time, and reduced during stable conditions to minimize voltage swing and current inaccuracy, optimizing both response time and measurement precision dynamically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from temperature detection to dynamically adjust the clock rate. When temperature changes are detected, the clock rate is increased to capture the变化 rapidly; when temperature is stable, the clock rate is reduced to minimize signal degradation, creating a self-regulating system that balances response time and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10732210B2Sensor and method of sensing a value of a parameter

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

A sensor for sensing a parameter includes a control circuit that outputs a clock signal, a converter that receives the clock signal, generates a parameter-dependent voltage, and outputs an output voltage based on a comparison of the parameter-dependent voltage to a reference voltage. The sensor also includes a filter that receives the output voltage and counts a number of pulses of the clock signal based on a level of the output voltage.