Multi-sensing PTAT for multiple-location temperature sensing
AssigneeAyDeeKay LLC
InventorScott David Kee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit that controls distributed temperature sensors in a semiconductor die is described. This integrated circuit may include: memory; a controller (such as a PTAT controller) coupled to the memory; temperature sensors distributed at measurement locations in the semiconductor die (such as remote locations from the controller), where a given temperature sensor includes building blocks (or components) that are common to the temperature sensors; and routing between the controller and the building blocks over an addressable bus, where signal lines for analog signals in the addressable bus are reused when communicating between the controller and different temperature sensors.
Claims20
A method for controlling temperature sensors, comprising:
- by a controller in an integrated circuit:
- routing a current to a sensor device in a given temperature sensor in the temperature sensors distributed at measurement locations in a semiconductor die, wherein the given temperature sensor comprises building blocks that are included in all of the temperature sensors, wherein the routing between the controller and the temperature sensors is over an addressable bus, wherein signal lines for analog signals in the addressable bus are reused when communicating between the controller and different temperature sensors, and wherein the addressable bus comprises bus routes;
- and
- conveying a voltage from the sensor device to the controller via the addressable bus, wherein a number of the temperature sensors in the integrated circuit is limited by a number of bits used for addressing the temperature sensors.
An integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
- memory;
- a controller coupled to the memory;
- temperature sensors distributed at measurement locations in a semiconductor die, wherein a given temperature sensor comprises building blocks that are common to the temperature sensors;
- and
- routing between the controller and the building blocks over an addressable bus, wherein signal lines for analog signals in the addressable bus are reused when communicating between the controller and different temperature sensors, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to perform sensor calibration and the sensor calibration comprises:
- a calibration mode in which a first sensor device in the given temperature sensor is provided a first fixed current and a first controlled current, and a second sensor device in the given temperature sensor is provided a second fixed current;
- and
- a measurement mode in which the first sensor device is provided a third fixed current and the second sensor device is provided a fourth fixed current and a second controlled current;
- and
- wherein the integrated circuit comprises a calibration controller configured to:
- adjust the first controlled current based at least in part on a voltage observed between the first sense sensor device and the second sense sensor device;
- and calculate a value of the second controlled current based at least in part on a value of the first controlled current.
An electronic device, comprising an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
- memory;
- a controller coupled to the memory;
- temperature sensors distributed at measurement locations in a semiconductor die, wherein a given temperature sensor comprises building blocks that are common to the temperature sensors;
- and
- routing between the controller and the building blocks over an addressable bus, wherein signal lines for analog signals in the addressable bus are reused when communicating between the controller and different temperature sensors, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to perform sensor calibration and the sensor calibration comprises:
- a calibration mode in which a first sensor device in the given temperature sensor is provided a first fixed current and a first controlled current, and a second sensor device in the given temperature sensor is provided a second fixed current;
- and
- a measurement mode in which the first sensor device is provided a third fixed current and the second sensor device is provided a fourth fixed current and a second controlled current;
- and
- wherein the integrated circuit comprises a calibration controller configured to:
- adjust the first controlled current based at least in part on a voltage observed between the first sense sensor device and the second sense sensor device;
- and calculate a value of the second controlled current based at least in part on a value of the first controlled current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.