Semiconductor device and sensor system

• US 10,371,129 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koyama, Jun, Nagao, Sho
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo, Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keramet-Amircola, Mohammed E
• Application Number:
  US15/431,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20170248128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 738658
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1225 with semiconductor materials not belonging to the group IV of the periodic table, e.g. InGaZnO
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/78648 arranged on opposing sides of the channel
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/7869 having a semiconductor body comprising an oxide semiconductor material, e.g. zinc oxide, copper aluminium oxide, cadmium stannate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/78696 characterised by the structure of the channel, e.g. multichannel, transverse or longitudinal shape, length or width, doping structure, or the overlap or alignment between the channel and the gate, the source or the drain, or the contacting structure of the channel H01L29/78612 takes precedence; transistors having a drain offset region or a lightly doped drain [LDD] H01L29/78621
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A sensor system that does not require wiring connection is provided. The sensor system includes a power generator, a power storage device, a wireless device, a sensing device, and a power switch (PSW). Data is transmitted and received wirelessly. Energy harvesting with vibration or the like is used as a power source, and supply of power to an unused portion of the PSW is stopped.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a power generator;

a wireless device;

a sensing device configured to perform sensing;

a sensing device controller;

a power switch;

a power switch controller; and

a memory,

wherein the memory includes a transistor whose channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor,

wherein the power switch and the power switch controller are configured to power off the sensing device controller and the memory when the sensing is not performed,

wherein data obtained by the sensing device is transmitted through the wireless device, and

wherein the sensing device uses power generated in the power generator.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the power generator is a vibration power generator.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising a timer,

wherein the timer is powered off during sensing.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising an analog-digital converter circuit.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, further comprising a CPU,

wherein the power switch and the power switch controller power off the CPU when the sensing is not performed.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the CPU includes a transistor whose channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, further comprising an image display device.

8. A vehicle comprising the semiconductor device according to claim 1.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising a power storage device.

10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a nonvolatile memory.

11. A sensor system comprising:

a power generator;

a wireless device;

a sensing device configured to perform sensing;

a sensing device controller;

a power switch;

a power switch controller; and

a memory,

wherein the memory includes a transistor whose channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor,

wherein the power switch and the power switch controller are configured to power off the sensing device controller and the memory when the sensing is not performed,

wherein data obtained by the sensing device is transmitted through the wireless device,

wherein the sensing device uses power generated in the power generator, and

wherein at least one of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, a light wavelength, light quantity, acceleration, and a gas concentration is obtained by the sensing device.

12. The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein the power generator is a vibration power generator.

13. The sensor system according to claim 11, further comprising a timer,

wherein the timer is powered off during sensing.

14. The sensor system according to claim 11, further comprising an analog-digital converter circuit.

15. The sensor system according to claim 14, further comprising a CPU,

wherein the power switch and the power switch controller power off the CPU when the sensing is not performed.

16. The sensor system according to claim 14, further comprising an image display device.

17. The sensor system according to claim 11, further comprising a power storage device.

18. The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein the memory is a nonvolatile memory.