Sensor and method of sensing a value of a parameter
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorChia Liang Tai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor for sensing a parameter includes a capacitor, a switch and a comparator. The capacitor is configured to be charged or discharged by at least one of a first current signal or a second current signal. The switch is configured to selectively connect or disconnect the first current signal and the capacitor in response to a feedback signal. The comparator is coupled with the capacitor and configured to output an output voltage based on a comparison of a capacitor voltage of the capacitor to a reference voltage. The first current signal is independent of the parameter, and the second current signal is dependent on the parameter. The output voltage defines the feedback signal and is indicative of a value of the parameter detected by the sensor.
Claims20
A sensor for sensing a parameter, the sensor comprising:
- a capacitor configured to be charged or discharged by at least one of a first current signal or a second current signal;
- a switch configured to selectively connect or disconnect the first current signal and the capacitor in response to a feedback signal;
- a comparator coupled with the capacitor and configured to output an output voltage based on a comparison of a capacitor voltage of the capacitor to a reference voltage;
- and
- a current source electrically coupled to the capacitor regardless of the output voltage,
- wherein
- the first current signal is independent of the parameter, and the second current signal is dependent on the parameter, and
- the output voltage defines the feedback signal and is indicative of a value of the parameter detected by the sensor.
A sensor for sensing a parameter, the sensor comprising:
- a capacitor having first and second terminals;
- a comparator having a first input coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, and an output;
- a latch having an input coupled to the output of the comparator, and a first output;
- a first switch having a control terminal coupled to the first output of the latch;
- a first current source coupled in series with the first switch between a first voltage node and the first terminal of the capacitor, the first current source independent of the parameter;
- and
- a second current source coupled between a second voltage node and the first terminal of the capacitor, the second current source dependent on the parameter.
A method of sensing a value of a parameter, said method comprising:
- generating an output voltage based on a first comparison of a first voltage at a first terminal of a capacitor with a first reference voltage, the output voltage defining a feedback signal and indicative of the sensed value of the parameter;
- connecting a first current signal to the first terminal of the capacitor in response to a first level of the feedback signal, and disconnecting the first current signal from the first terminal of the capacitor in response to a second level of the feedback signal;
- and
- connecting a second current signal to the first terminal of the capacitor regardless of the first and second levels of the feedback signal,
- wherein the first current signal is independent of the parameter, and the second current signal is dependent on the parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.