Thermal event sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermal event sensor comprising:
- a charge storage component formed on a substrate including a floating gate and a plurality of metal layers, the plurality of metal layers being electrically coupled to one another and the floating gate, separated by corresponding layers of field oxide, and configured to hold an initial charge and to lose charge at a rate dependent upon a temperature of the charge storage component;
a sensing interface including at least one field effect transistor channel in proximity to the floating gate, the at least one field effect transistor channel being coupled to the floating gate through a gate oxide; and
a readout mechanism coupled to the sensing interface and configured to sense a remaining charge on the charge storage component without substantially altering the remaining charge, and configured to provide a readout value indicative of the remaining charge.
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Abstract
A thermal event sensor includes a charge storage component formed on a substrate, configured to hold an initial charge, and configured to lose charge at a rate dependent upon temperature. A sensing interface is coupled to the charge storage component and a readout mechanism is coupled to the sensing interface. The readout mechanism senses a remaining charge on the charge storage component and provides a readout value indicative of the remaining charge.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A thermal event sensor comprising:
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a charge storage component formed on a substrate including a floating gate and a plurality of metal layers, the plurality of metal layers being electrically coupled to one another and the floating gate, separated by corresponding layers of field oxide, and configured to hold an initial charge and to lose charge at a rate dependent upon a temperature of the charge storage component; a sensing interface including at least one field effect transistor channel in proximity to the floating gate, the at least one field effect transistor channel being coupled to the floating gate through a gate oxide; and a readout mechanism coupled to the sensing interface and configured to sense a remaining charge on the charge storage component without substantially altering the remaining charge, and configured to provide a readout value indicative of the remaining charge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting thermal events, the method comprising:
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providing, via a charging mechanism, a first charge on a charge storage component at a first time, the charge storage component including a plurality of metal layers electrically coupled to one another and separated by corresponding layers of field oxide, the first charge being provided by depositing charge on the plurality of metal layers, and the charge storage component configured to lose charge at a rate corresponding to temperature; sensing a remaining charge on the charge storage component at a second time; and comparing the sensed remaining charge to the first charge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of detecting temperature variations, the method comprising:
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providing, via a charging mechanism, a first charge on a charge storage component at a first time, the charge storage component including a plurality of metal layers electrically coupled to one another and separated by corresponding layers of field oxide, the first charge being provided by depositing charge on the plurality of metal layers, and the charge storage component configured to lose charge at a rate corresponding to temperature; determining an expected charge remaining on the charge storage component at a second time; sensing a second charge remaining on the charge storage component at the second time; comparing the second charge to the expected charge; and determining based on the comparison whether the charge storage component has been exposed to a temperature variation outside of an allowed range. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A thermal event sensor comprising:
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a charge storage component formed on a substrate including a plurality of metal layers electrically coupled to one another and a doped dielectric configured to hold an initial charge by trapping the initial charge, the charge storage component configured to lose charge at a rate dependent upon a temperature of the charge storage component; a sensing interface coupled to the charge storage component; and a readout mechanism coupled to the sensing interface and configured to sense a remaining charge on the charge storage component without substantially altering the remaining charge, and configured to provide a readout value indicative of the remaining charge.
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Specification