Greetings, Summary ```````` Describing a method to calibrate voltage readout with use of BIOS voltage readings and some practical electronics knowledge. I was pleasantly surprised to see how few valid R1/R2 combinations match measured vs observed voltage, suggesting this is a viable technique to improve end-user calibration of sensor chips. To me this is a natural follow-on from providing the auto fan clock divider to reduce and/or improve user-space settings for sensors operation. Background `````````` One of the aspects of lm_sensors that surprised me is the requirement to enter reciprocal conversion formulas for each voltage reading, that, plus the thing displaying a rotating fan as zero stopped me using lm_sensors. So here I am, trying to suggest some improvements. The answer to this from the 'group' seemed to be "how else would you do it?". I have an answer. The technically correct method to scale voltages is to recognise this: resistors are made in a discrete value series. Three main series: E12, E24 and E96 (10%, 5% and 1%). In working on adm9240 driver I had the problem of discovering which VccpX input was being used for -5 and -12 volt readings, the resistor selection method left no doubt at all which was which, using the E12 series. The second chip, w83697hf, was more difficult, as two of three datasheet pairs used E96 values. Since I doubt mainboard manufacturers care enough to put 1% resistors down I updated my script to use E24 series. This provided 'close enough' answers, error is less than 0.5%. My new MSI main used Winbond values. An older Gigabyte mainboard does not use IT8712F suggested values, or connections, so that is my next target. One challenge is to perform the math in integer space without underflowing values, this issue I nailed yesterday. I'm working in shell script, mainly because I'm even more rusty with perl... And it has been years since I wrote C++ user-space tools... How it works ````````````` Inputs: User writes down voltage readings from BIOS, if BIOS doesn't display voltages then user needs to measure voltages at the mainboard power connector. Chip knowledge: Main one is how negative voltages are measured, plus Vref: adm9240: # -------o----------------o------> + 5V # | | # - | # | | R1 --------------- # | | | 5V_Vref # - | # | Vread | # o-----------| Vccp1 0..3600mV # | | # - | ADM9240 # | | R2 | # | | --------------- # - # | # -------0---> Vminus Vr1 = (5V_Vref - Vread) Cancel 5V variation affecting Vminus reading w82697hf: # -------o--> +12V # | Vplus # - # | | R2 ---------------------- # | | | | ____ ____ # - | 3600mV Vref |--|____|--o--|____|---> # | Vread | | R1 | R2 # o-----------| 0..4096mV | | -5V, -12V # | | 0..4096mV |---------- Vminus # - | W83697HF | Vread # | | R1 | | # | | # - # | # --------o--> 0V Vr1 = Vread The calibrator script tries possible resistor combinations and presents resistor pair values with the lowest error, useful combinations produce errors well below one percent. Formulas used are basic Ohms Law (ignoring chip input sense current): Find R2: For this we need the BIOS or measured reading of the measured voltage to discover R2: # R2 = voltage across R2 / current through R1 Measure Vplus or Vminus: Once we have R1 and R2 values, the voltage is easy to transform: # Vplus = current through R1 * (R1 + R2) # Vminus = (current through R1 * (R1 + R2)) + Vref Because the sensor calibration is based on component parameters, the user no longer needs to enter reciprocal formulas. The user- space program can do that. Limits entry uses the same parameters as voltage display. So what's it all about? ```````````````````````` * The current sensors expects end-user to enter formulas, when all they need do is provide a pair of parameters for positive voltages, Vref is known by chip type for negative, plus observed readings from BIOS or meter measurement. * Correct operation provides traceability back to standard resistor values and the sensor chip's internal reference. Anything else is simply an unjustified 'fudge factor' which is okay for positive, but definitely more dangerous for negative voltage transforms. * user-space may be simplified by providing a tool that asks for BIOS readings and selects the best resistor pair values. This gets rid of the reciprocal formula entry 'mess' that really is difficult to understand, like, what does '@' mean? * Limits can mostly be set to known specs: eg. Intel ATX 2.0X defines positive voltages at 5% and negative at 10%. pII AGTL+ is 9%, CPU usually 5% -- so why not punt on 5% and 10% for negatives? ON the same point, just have the user enter percentage, what expect them to enter upper and lower bounds (X x .95, X x 1.05) when all that is needed is a 5% entry? what next? ``````````` I've floated an idea, shoot it down, or encourage me to make this into a user-space tool :) Thanks, --Grant.
