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Understanding Smart Sensors - Nomads.usp

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252 <strong>Understanding</strong> <strong>Smart</strong> <strong>Sensors</strong>Input(s)PowerdeviceDiagnosticsControlPowerdevicePowerdeviceLoadProtectionLoadLoadFigure 11.1 <strong>Smart</strong>-power IC block diagram.devices can provide. One of the key means to achieving increased functionalityis to integrate sensing into the smart-power IC.11.3 Embedded SensingSensing in smart-power ICs detects fault conditions and threshold conditions,which allows implementation of control strategies. Overtemperature, overcurrent,and overvoltage conditions can be sensed, and the smart-power IC can bedesigned to react or simply provide a signal to the MCU for system-safe operation.This section explores the different sensing techniques and applications ofthe sensed signal.11.3.1 Temperature SensingTemperature sensors can be easily produced in semiconductor devices by usingeither the temperature characteristics of base-emitter voltage (V be ) or a diffusedresistor. In addition, circuitry is easily integrated to produce a monolithic temperaturesensor with an output that can be easily interfaced to an MCU. Byusing an embedded temperature sensor, additional features can be added toICs. (Note: A sensor becomes an embedded item in a semiconductor productwhen it has a secondary instead of primary function.)

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