1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a measurement device, and more particularly to a measurement device for compensating for an effect, which was caused due to shifting of a beta parameter of a transistor of an integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
With technological development, integrated circuits (ICs) are being more widely used in a variety of fields. When an IC operates, heat will be generated by the IC. If the IC is too hot, the IC will be damaged. Thus, a radiator (e.g. fan) is utilized to reduce the temperature of the IC.
To obtain the temperature of the IC, a transistor is generally designed within the IC. The voltage change of the transistor is measured to obtain the temperature of the IC. The measured voltage may be the voltage difference between the emitter and the base of the transistor. The temperature of the IC is expressed by the following equation:
As shown, the voltage of the transistor relates to the beta (β) parameter. However, the beta parameter is easily affected and shifted when the IC is manufactured. Additionally, as the IC manufacturing processes shrinks, negative effects and shifts of the beta parameter are compounded.
Meanwhile, when the transistor receives different currents, the voltage difference between the emitter and the base of the transistor will also affect band gap voltage. Thus, the beta parameter must be compensated for the effects of the band gap voltage in the band gap field. For detailed description of the band gap, reference may be made to U.S. publication No. 2007/0040600.
Measurement devices are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a measurement device, which is independent of an integrated circuit, comprises a transistor, comprises a current supply, a switching unit, a current detection unit, a voltage processing unit, and a calculation unit. The current supply provides a first current and a second current. The switching unit transmits the first or the second current to the transistor. The current detection unit generates a first voltage and a second voltage according to a first base current of the transistor and the first current and generates a third voltage and a fourth voltage according to a second base current of the transistor and the second current. The voltage processing unit processes the first and the second voltages to generate a first differential value and processes the third and the fourth voltages to generate a second difference value. The calculation unit divides the second differential value by the first differential value to obtain a current ratio and controls the current supply to adjust at least one of the first and the second currents according to the current ratio.
Electronic systems are also provided. An exemplary embodiment of an electronic system comprises an integrated circuit and a measurement device. The integrated circuit comprises a transistor. The measurement device is independent of the integrated circuit and comprises a current supply, a switching unit, a current detection unit, a voltage processing unit, and a calculation unit. The current supply provides a first current and a second current. The switching unit transmits the first or the second current to the transistor. The current detection unit generates a first voltage and a second voltage according to a first base current of the transistor and the first current and generates a third voltage and a fourth voltage according to a second base current of the transistor and the second current. The voltage processing unit processes the first and the second voltages to generate a first differential value and processes the third and the fourth voltages to generate a second difference value. The calculation unit divides the second differential value by the first differential value to obtain a current ratio and controls the current supply to adjust at least one of the first and the second currents according to the current ratio.
A control method for compensating for an effect, which was caused due to shifting of a beta parameter of a transistor of an integrated circuit, is provided. An exemplary embodiment the control method is described in the following. A first current and a second current are provided to the transistor. A first base current of the transistor and the first current are utilized to generate a first voltage and a second voltage and a second base current of the transistor and the second current are utilized to generate a third voltage and a fourth voltage. The first and the second voltages are processed to generate a first difference value. The third and the fourth voltages are processed to generate a second difference value. The second differential value is divided by the first differential value to obtain a current ratio. At least one of the first and the second currents is adjusted according to the current ratio.
A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The invention can be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
The current supply 121 provides currents IE1 and IE2. The switching unit 122 transmits the currents IE1 and IE2 to the transistor 111. The current detection unit 123 generates voltages V1 and V2 according to the base current IB1 of the transistor 111 and the current IE1 and generates voltages V3 and V4 according to the base current IB2 of the transistor 111 and the current IE2. Following, the voltage processing unit 124 processes the voltages V1 and V2 to generate a differential value DV1 and processes the voltages V3 and V4 to generate a differential value DV2. The calculation unit 125 performs a calculation, wherein the differential value DV2 is divided by the differential value DV1 to obtain a corresponding current ratio. The calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to adjust at least one of the currents IE1 and IE2 according to the current ratio.
For example, during a first period, when the switching unit 122 transmits the current IE1 to the transistor 111, the base current IB1 of the transistor 111 is measured by the current detection unit 123. Next, the current detection unit 123 generates the voltages V1 and V2 according to the base current IB1 and the current IE1. Following, the voltage processing unit 124 processes the voltages V1 and V2 to obtain the differential value DV1.
During a second period, when the switching unit 122 transmits the current IE2 to the transistor 111, the base current IB2 of the transistor 111 is measured by the current detection unit 123. Next, the current detection unit 123 generates the voltages V3 and V4 according to the base current IB2 and the current IE2. Following, the voltage processing unit 124 processes the voltages V3 and V4 to obtain the differential value DV2. The calculation unit 125 performs a calculation, wherein the differential value DV2 is divided by the differential value DV1 to obtain the current ratio. The calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to adjust at least one of the currents IE1 and IE2 according to the current ratio.
In one embodiment, the calculation unit 125 compares the current ratio with a preset value. When the current ratio exceeds the preset value, the calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to reduce the current IE2. When the current ratio is less than the preset value, the calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to increase the current IE2. In another embodiment, when the current ratio exceeds the preset value, the calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to increase the current IE1. When the current ratio is less than the preset value, the calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to reduce the current IE1.
Since at least one of the currents IE1 and IE2 is adjusted, the corresponding base current IB1 or IB2 is also changed. Thus, the differential value DV1 or DV2 is changed. For example, if the current IE1 is adjusted, the current detection unit 123 renews the voltage V1. Thus, the voltage processing unit 124 also renews the differential value DV1.
When the differential value DV1 is changed, the calculation unit 125 renews the current ratio and compares the renewed current ratio with the preset value. The calculation unit 125 utilizes the compared result to adjust at least one of the currents IE1 and IE2 until the current ratio is equal to the preset value. When the current ratio is equal to the preset value, it represents that the effect, which was caused when the beta (β) parameter of the transistor 111 shifted, has been compensated for. Thus, the calculation 125 controls the current supply 121 to stop adjusting the currents IE1 and IE2.
When the current ratio is equal to the preset value, the calculation unit 125 maintains the currents IE1 and IE2. Then, the switching unit 122 transmits the maintained current IE1 to the transistor 111 during a third period. Following, the voltage processing unit 124 processes the emitter voltage VE1 and the base voltage VB1 of the transistor 111 to generate a base-emitter voltage VBE1. In one embodiment, the base-emitter voltage VBE1 is a voltage difference between the emitter and the base of the transistor 111.
During a fourth period, the switching unit 122 transmits the maintained current IE2 to the transistor 111. Following, the voltage processing unit 124 processes the emitter voltage VE2 and the base voltage VB2 of the transistor 111 to generate a base-emitter voltage VBE2. In one embodiment, the base-emitter voltage VBE2 is a voltage difference between the emitter and the base of the transistor 111.
The calculation unit 125 generates a temperature signal ST according to the base-emitter voltages VBE1 and VBE2. The temperature signal ST represents the temperature of the integrated circuit 110. Thus, an external device (not shown) is capable of controlling a radiator (e.g. fan, now shown) according to the temperature signal ST such that the temperature of the integrated circuit 110 can be reduced. In some embodiments, the control method utilized by the calculation unit 125 can be applied to a band gap circuit.
As shown in
In this embodiment, the current detection unit 123 comprises a current mirror 211 and a resistor 212. The current mirror 211 processes a current signal. The resistor 212 generates a corresponding voltage signal according to the processed current signal. The switches SW4 and SW5 transmit the voltage signal generated by the resistor 212 to the voltage processing unit 124.
For example, when the switch SW1 transmits the current IE1 to the transistor 111, the base current IB1 is generated by the transistor 111. The switch SW3 transmits the base current IB1 to the current mirror 211. The current mirror 211 processes the base current IB1. The resistor 212 generates a voltage V1 according to the result of processing the base current IB1. The voltage processing unit 124 receives the voltage V1 via the switches SW4 and SW5. In one embodiment, the voltage V1=IB1*R, wherein R is the resistance of the resistor 212.
Then, the switch SW3 stops transmitting the base current IB1 to the current mirror 211. At this time, the switch SW1 transmits the current IE1 to the current mirror 211. The current mirror 211 processes the current IE1. The resistor generates a voltage V2 according to the result of processing the current IE1. The switches SW4 and SW5 transmit the voltage V2 to the voltage processing unit 124. In one embodiment, the voltage V2=IE1*R. The voltage processing unit 124 generates a differential value DV1 according to the voltages V1 and V2. In one embodiment, the differential value DV1=(IE1−IB1)*R.
Similarly, when the switch SW1 transmits the current IE2 to the transistor 111, the transistor 111 generates the base current IB2. The switch SW3 transmits the base current IB2 to the current mirror 211. The current mirror 211 processes the base current IB2. The resistor 212 generates a voltage V3 according to the result of processing base current IB2. The voltage processing unit 124 receives the voltage V3 according to the switches SW4 and SW5. In one embodiment, the voltage V3=IB2*R.
Then, the switch SW3 stops transmitting the base current IB2 to the current mirror 211. At this time, the switch SW1 transmits the current IE2 to the current mirror 211. The current mirror 211 processes the current IE2. The resistor 212 generates a voltage V4 according to the result of processing the current IE2. The switches SW4 and SW5 transmit the voltage V4 to the voltage processing unit 124. In one embodiment, V4=IE2*R. The voltage processing unit 124 generates a differential value DV2 according to the voltages V3 and V4. In one embodiment, the differential value DV2=(IE2−IB2)*R.
The calculation unit 125 performs a calculation, wherein the differential value DV2 is divided by the differential value DV1 to obtain a current ratio. Assuming that the differential value DV1=(IE1−IB1)*R and the differential value DV2=(IE2−IB2)*R. The current ratio Ra is expressed by the following equation:
The calculation unit 125 controls the current supply 121 to adjust at least one of the currents IE1 and IE2 according to the current ratio Ra until the current ratio Ra is equal to a preset value. In one embodiment, the preset value is 16.
In this embodiment, the voltage processing unit 124 comprises a differential amplifier 221 and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 222. The differential amplifier 221 processes the voltages V1 and V2 to generate the differential value DV1. The ADC 222 transforms the result of processing the voltages V1 and V2. Similarly, the differential amplifier 221 processes the voltages V3 and V4 to generate the differential value DV2. The ADC 222 transforms the result of processing the voltages V3 and V4.
A first current and a second current are provided to the transistor (step S310). For example, the first current is provided to the transistor during a first period and the second current is provided to the transistor during a second period. In one embodiment, when the transistor receives the first current, the transistor generates a first base current. Similarly, when the transistor receives the second current, the transistor generates a second base current.
A first voltage, a second voltage, a third voltage, and a fourth voltage are generated according to a first base current of the transistor, the first current, a second base current of the transistor, and the second current (step S320). In one embodiment, a current mirror is utilized to process a current signals and a resistor is utilized to generate a corresponding voltage signal according to the result of processing the current signal. For example, the current mirror processes the first base current and the first current during the first period. Then, the resistor generates the first and the second voltages according to the result of processing the first base current and the first current. During the second period, the current mirror processes the second base current and the second current. Then, the resistor generates the third and the fourth voltages according to the result of processing the second base current and the second current.
The first and the second voltages are processed to generate a first differential value (step S330). The third and the fourth voltages are processed to generate a second differential value (step S340). In one embodiment, a differential amplifier is utilized to process the first and the second voltages. Then, an ADC is utilized to transform the result of processing the first and the second voltages. In one embodiment, the first differential value is a voltage difference between the first and the second voltages and the second differential value is a voltage difference between the third and the fourth voltages.
The second differential value is divided by the first differential value to obtain a current ratio (step S350). At least one of the first and the second currents is adjusted according to the current ratio (step S360). In one embodiment, when the current ratio exceeds a preset value, the second current is reduced. When the current ratio is less than the preset value, the second current is increased. In other embodiments, when the current ratio exceeds a preset value, the first current is increased. When the current ratio is less than the preset value, the first current is reduced.
In the step S451, it determined whether the current ratio is equal to a preset value. If the current ratio is unequal to the preset value, at least one of the first and the second currents is adjusted (step S460). Then, the adjusted current is provided to the transistor until the current ratio is equal to the preset value.
When the current ratio is equal to the preset value, the first and the second currents are maintained (step S470). Then, the maintained first current and the maintained second current are provided to the transistor (step S480). For example, the maintained second current is provided to the transistor during a third period and the maintained first current is provided to the transistor during a fourth period. When the transistor receives the first current, the transistor generates a first emitter voltage and a first base voltage. Similarly, when the transistor receives the second current, the transistor generates a second emitter voltage and a second base voltage.
A first base-emitter voltage is generated according to the first emitter voltage and the first base voltage and a second base-emitter voltage is generated according to the second emitter voltage and the second base voltage (step S490). For example, the first emitter voltage and the first base voltage are processed to generate the first base-emitter voltage during the third period and the second emitter voltage and the second base voltage are processed to generate the second base-emitter voltage during the fourth period
When the current ratio is equal to the preset value, it represents that the effect, which was caused when the beta parameter of the transistor shifted, has been compensated for. Thus, the temperature of the integrated circuit is obtained according to the change of the base-emitter voltage of the transistor.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.