IP Library Granted Patent US 9,417,146
Granted Patent B2
US 9,417,146 · App. 13/479,168 · Granted Aug 16, 2016

Sensor device and related operating methods

Inventor: Chad S. Dawson (Queen Creek, AZ)
Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
G01L9/065G01L27/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,417,146
App. No.
13/479,168
Granted
Aug 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and fabrication methods are provided for sensing devices. An exemplary sensing device includes a first sensing arrangement to measure a first property and provide one or more measured values for the first property, a second sensing arrangement to measure a second property, a storage element coupled to the second sensing arrangement to maintain a stored value for the second property measured by the second sensing arrangement, and a control system coupled to the first sensing arrangement and the storage element to determine one or more calibrated measurement values for the first property using the one or more measured values for the first property from the first sensing arrangement and the stored value for the second property.

Claims (65)

1. A sensing device comprising:

a first sensing arrangement to measure a first property and provide one or more raw measurement values for the first property;

a first switching element coupled electrically in series between a reference voltage node and the first sensing arrangement;

a second sensing arrangement to measure a second property;

a second switching element coupled electrically in series between the reference voltage node and the second sensing arrangement;

a storage element coupled to the second sensing arrangement to maintain a stored raw measurement value for the second property measured by the second sensing arrangement at a previous sampling time; and

a control system coupled to the first sensing arrangement, the second sensing arrangement, and the storage element to:

activate the first switching element to activate and sample the first sensing arrangement to obtain the one or more raw measurement values at a current sampling time;

deactivate the second switching element to maintain the second sensing arrangement in a deactivated state while the first sensing arrangement is sampled to obtain the one or more raw measurement values, and

determine one or more calibrated measurement values for the first property using the one or more raw measurement values for the first property from the first sensing arrangement and the stored raw measurement value for the second property.

2. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing arrangement comprises a pressure sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement comprises a temperature sensing arrangement.

3. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the control system operates the first sensing arrangement to obtain the one or more raw measurement values of the first property in response to receiving a first signal after the previous sampling time.

4. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing arrangement, the second sensing arrangement, the storage element, and the control system are encapsulated in a single device package.

5. The sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing arrangement is formed on a first die and the second sensing arrangement, the storage element, and the control system are formed on a second die.

6. The sensing device of claim 5 , wherein the first switching element and the second switching element are formed on the second die.

7. The sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sampling arrangement coupled to an output of the first sensing arrangement to sample a first output signal of the first sensing arrangement indicative of the first property; and

a second sampling arrangement coupled to an output of the second sensing arrangement to sample a second output signal of the second sensing arrangement indicative of the second property, wherein:

the storage element is coupled to an output of the second sampling arrangement;

the control system is coupled to the first sampling arrangement and the second sampling arrangement to operate the first sampling arrangement to obtain the one or more raw measurement values at the current sampling time and maintain the second sampling arrangement in a deactivated state while the first sampling arrangement is operated at the current sampling time.

8. The sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising an input terminal coupled to the control system to receive an indication to reuse the stored raw measurement value for the second property, wherein in response to the indication, the control system activates the first switching element and maintains the second switching element in a deactivated state while the first sensing arrangement is sampled.

9. A method comprising:

storing a first raw measurement value for a first property obtained using a first sensing arrangement at a first time, resulting in a stored raw measurement value for the first property;

deactivating a first switching element coupled electrically in series between the first sensing arrangement and a reference voltage node to deactivate the first sensing arrangement;

after deactivating the first sensing arrangement, receiving an indication to obtain a calibrated measurement for a second property after the first time; and

after receiving the indication:

activating a second switching element coupled electrically in series between a second sensing arrangement and the reference voltage node;

sampling the second sensing arrangement to obtain one or more raw measurement values for the second property;

maintaining the first switching element in a deactivated state to maintain the first sensing arrangement in a deactivated state while sampling the second sensing arrangement to obtain the one or more raw measurement values for the second property; and

determining a calibrated measurement value for the second property using the stored raw measurement value and the one or more raw measurement values for the second property.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

sampling the second sensing arrangement comprises providing a supply voltage to the second sensing arrangement; and

deactivating the first sensing arrangement comprises decoupling the supply voltage from the first sensing arrangement.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving a second indication to utilize the stored raw measurement value for the calibrated measurement, wherein maintaining the first sensing arrangement in the deactivated state comprises maintaining the first sensing arrangement in the deactivated state in response to receiving the second indication.

12. The method of claim 9 , the first sensing arrangement comprising a temperature sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement comprising a pressure sensing arrangement, wherein:

storing the first raw measurement value comprises storing a temperature value measured by the temperature sensing arrangement at the first time;

sampling the second sensing arrangement comprises sampling the pressure sensing arrangement to obtain a pressure value measured by the pressure sensing arrangement; and

determining the calibrated measurement value comprises determining a calibrated pressure value based on the pressure value in a manner that is influenced by the temperature value measured at the first time.

13. The method of claim 9 , the indication being received at a second time, wherein determining the calibrated measurement value comprises determining the calibrated measurement value for the second property corresponding to the second time using the one or more raw measurement values sampled at or around the second time and the stored raw measurement value sampled at or around at the first time.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

storing the first raw measurement value comprises storing the first raw measurement value by a sensing device including the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement; and

receiving the indication comprises receiving the indication by the sensing device, wherein the sensing device outputs the calibrated measurement value.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

storing the first raw measurement value comprises storing the first raw measurement value by a sensing device including the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement;

deactivating the first sensing arrangement comprises the control system decoupling a supply voltage from the first sensing arrangement;

receiving the indication comprises a control system of the sensing device receiving the indication; and

sampling the second sensing arrangement comprises the control system operating a sampling arrangement coupled to an output of the second sensing arrangement to obtain the one or more raw measurement values.

16. A system comprising:

a computing device to provide an indication to obtain a calibrated measurement for a first property; and

a sensing device coupled to the computing device to receive the indication, the sensing device comprising:

a pressure sensing arrangement;

a temperature sensing arrangement;

a first switching element coupled electrically in series between the pressure sensing arrangement and a reference voltage node;

a second switching element coupled electrically in series between the temperature sensing arrangement and the reference voltage node;

a storage element to maintain one or more raw temperature measurement values from the temperature sensing arrangement at a previous sampling time; and

a control system coupled to the first switching element, the second switching element, the pressure sensing arrangement and the storage element to activate the first switching element and sample the pressure sensing arrangement to obtain one or more raw pressure measurement values in response to receiving the indication, deactivate the second switching element and maintain the second switching element in a deactivated state based on the indication to maintain the temperature sensing arrangement in a deactivated state while the one or more raw pressure measurement values are obtained, determine a calibrated pressure measurement value using the one or more raw pressure measurement values and the one or more raw temperature measurement values, and provide the calibrated pressure measurement value to the computing device.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein:

the sensing device includes a second storage element to maintain the one or more raw pressure measurement values; and

the control system is coupled to the second storage element to obtain the one or more raw pressure measurement values.

18. The system of claim 16 , the computing device providing and a second indication to reuse a stored raw temperature measurement, the control system maintaining the temperature sensing arrangement in the deactivated state while the one or more raw pressure measurement values are obtained in response to the second indication, wherein the one or more raw temperature measurement values are obtained prior to receiving the indication.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the pressure sensing arrangement is formed on a first die and the temperature sensing arrangement, the first switching element, the second switching element, the storage element, and the control system are formed on a second die.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein:

the first die comprises a pressure sensor die;

the second die comprises an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die; and

the pressure sensor die and the ASIC die are encapsulated in a single device package.

Assignments (32)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2026
From: NXP USA, INC.
To: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
Reel/Frame 075220/0298 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040925 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V. F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 052917/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040928 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 052915/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037486 FRAME 0517. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 053547/0421 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042985 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0387 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051030/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042762 FRAME 0145. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0184 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050744/0097 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050745/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. FROM 13,883,290 TO 13,833,290 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 041703 FRAME 0536. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS.. Recorded Feb 20, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: SHENZHEN XINGUODU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048734/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042762/0145 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042985/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENTS 8108266 AND 8062324 AND REPLACE THEM WITH 6108266 AND 8060324 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037518 FRAME 0292. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 041703/0536 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040652 FRAME: 0241. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jan 5, 2017
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 041260/0850 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 8, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 040652/0241 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 040928/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V., F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040925/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12092129 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Jul 14, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039361/0212 →
SUPPLEMENT TO THE SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039138/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 038017/0058 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 13, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
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ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 12, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
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PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0535 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0555 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0575 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 6, 2013
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031591/0266 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2013
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2013
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 20, 2013
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
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ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2012
From: DAWSON, CHAD S.
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 028267/0986 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130317772A1 · Nov 28, 2013