Controller for monitoring temperature
First Claim
1. A controller for monitoring a temperature of an integrated circuit, comprising:
- a first interface for receiving a first value representative of an temperature of said integrated circuit, the first value is produced by one of an active thermal sensor and a passive thermal sensor formed in said integrated circuit;
a second interface for receiving a second value representative of a threshold temperature;
a comparator for comparing said first value to said second value; and
a comparator response logic coupled to said comparator for determining in response to a comparison of said first value to said second value by said comparator whether an over-temperature condition in said integrated circuit exists.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller and method are provided for monitoring and controlling a temperature of an integrated circuit to inhibit damage from a thermal problem. The controller and method allow for individual temperature thresholds for each of one or more temperature sensors. Digital filtering of values received from temperature sensors is also provided. A variety of actions can be selected for execution upon a determination of an over-temperature condition of the integrated circuit, including assert an over-temperature pin, assert an over-temperature bit in an error register of said controller, assert an over-temperature bit in an error register of said microprocessor, issue an over-temperature interrupt to a service bus of said integrated circuit, cause a trap, slow an operating frequency of said integrated circuit, stop said integrated circuit, and do nothing.
71 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A controller for monitoring a temperature of an integrated circuit, comprising:
-
a first interface for receiving a first value representative of an temperature of said integrated circuit, the first value is produced by one of an active thermal sensor and a passive thermal sensor formed in said integrated circuit;
a second interface for receiving a second value representative of a threshold temperature;
a comparator for comparing said first value to said second value; and
a comparator response logic coupled to said comparator for determining in response to a comparison of said first value to said second value by said comparator whether an over-temperature condition in said integrated circuit exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification