The low cost and direct digital output of CMOS smart temperature sensors
are important advantages compared to conventional temperature sensors.
This book addresses the main problem that nevertheless prevents
widespread - plication of CMOS smart temperature sensors: their
relatively poor absolute accuracy. Several new techniques are introduced
to improve this accuracy. The effectiveness of these techniques is
demonstrated using three prototypes. ? The ?nal prototype achieves an
inaccuracy of±0.1 C over the military t- perature range, which is a
signi?cant improvement in the state of the art. Since smart temperature
sensors have been the subject of academic and industrial research for
more than two decades, an overview of existing knowledge and techniques
is also provided throughout the book. Inthisintroductorychapter,
themotivationandobjectivesofthisworkare- scribed.
ThisisfollowedbyareviewofthebasicoperatingprinciplesofCMOS smart
temperature sensors, and a brief overview of previous work. The ch-
lenges are then described that need to be met in order to improve the
accuracy of CMOS smart temperature sensors while maintaining their cost
advantage. Finally, the structure of the rest of the book is introduced.