Method and apparatus for programmable thermal sensor for an integrated circuit

• US 7,216,064 B1
• Filed: 04/19/1996
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Pippin, Jack D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/636,024
• Time in Patent Office: 4,036 Days
• Field of Search: 364/557, 364/707, 364/437, 364488-491, 361/20, 361/103, 320/39, 395/550, 395/750, 257/12, 327/113, 327/512, 327/83, 713300-340, 713/501, 716/4, 703/1, 702/132
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/265 using bipolar transistors only
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/267 using both bipolar and field-effect technology
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3024 where the computing system component is a central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3093 Configuration details thereof, e.g. installation, enabling, spatial arrangement of the probes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A programmable thermal sensor is implemented in an integrated circuit such as a microprocessor. The programmable thermal sensor monitors the temperature of the integrated circuit, and generates an output to indicate that the temperature of the integrated circuit has attained a preprogrammed threshold temperature. In a microprocessor implementation, the microprocessor contains a processor unit, an internal register, microprogram and clock circuitry. The microprogram writes programmable input values, corresponding to threshold temperatures, to the internal register. The programmable thermal sensor reads the programmable input values, and generates an interrupt when the temperature of the microprocessor reaches the threshold temperature. In addition to a programmable thermal sensor, the microprocessor contains a fail safe thermal sensor that halts operation of the microprocessor when the temperature attains a critical temperature.

Claims

1. A microprocessor comprising:

a register to store a register value corresponding to a threshold temperature;

a programmable thermal sensor to receive the register value, wherein the programmable thermal sensor is to generate a first interrupt signal in response to a microprocessor temperature exceeding the threshold temperature corresponding to the register value;

clock circuitry to provide a clock signal for the microprocessor;

a processor unit coupled to the clock circuitry, wherein the processor unit is to execute instructions to vary the frequency of the clock signal in response to the first interrupt signal; and

a fail-safe thermal sensor to generate a fail-safe interrupt signal in response to the microprocessor temperature exceeding a fail-safe threshold temperature, wherein the processor unit is halted in response to the fail-safe interrupt signal.

2. A microprocessor comprising:

a register to store a register value corresponding to a threshold temperature;

a programmable thermal sensor to receive the register value, wherein the programmable thermal sensor is to generate a first interrupt signal in response to a microprocessor temperature exceeding the threshold temperature corresponding to the register value;

clock circuitry to provide a clock signal for the microprocessor; and

a processor unit coupled to the clock circuitry, wherein the processor unit is to execute instructions to vary the frequency of the clock signal in response to the first interrupt signal;

wherein the clock circuitry further comprises a phase locked loop.

3. A microprocessor comprising:

a register to store a register value corresponding to a threshold temperature;

a programmable thermal sensor to receive the register value, wherein the programmable thermal sensor is to generate a first interrupt signal in response to a microprocessor temperature exceeding the threshold temperature corresponding to the register value;

clock circuitry to provide a clock signal for the microprocessor; and

a processor unit coupled to the clock circuitry, wherein the processor unit is to execute instructions to vary the frequency of the clock signal in response to the first interrupt signal;

wherein the thermal sensor comprises

a current source;

a voltage reference coupled to the current source to provide a bandgap reference voltage, wherein the bandgap reference voltage is substantially constant over a range of temperatures;

programmable circuitry to provide an output voltage varying with the microprocessor temperature in accordance with the register value; and

a comparator, wherein the comparator is to generate the first interrupt signal in response to a difference between the output voltage and the bandgap reference voltage indicating that the threshold temperature has been exceeded.

4. The microprocessor according to claim 3,

wherein the programmable circuitry further comprises

a transistor coupled to the current source to provide the output voltage, a gain ratio of the output voltage to a junction voltage of the transistor to be controlled by a transistor bias, wherein the junction voltage is to vary in accordance with a junction temperature of the transistor, the junction temperature is to correspond to the microprocessor temperature;

and

a bias circuit to provide the transistor bias to control the gain ratio, wherein the output voltage is to vary with the microprocessor temperature in accordance with the register value.

5. The microprocessor according to claim 4,

wherein the bias circuit further comprises binary weighted resistors.

6. A computer system comprising:

an active cooling device;

a microprocessor comprising;

a register to store a register value corresponding to a threshold temperature;

a programmable thermal sensor to receive the register value, wherein the programmable thermal sensor is to generate a first interrupt signal in response to a microprocessor temperature exceeding the threshold temperature,

wherein the active cooling device is to be activated in response to the interrupt signal, and

the microprocessor further comprises

a processor unit coupled to the second clock circuit, wherein the processor unit is to execute instructions to vary the frequency of the clock signal from the second clock circuit in response to the first interrupt signal.

7. The computer system according to claim 6,

wherein the active cooling device is to be activated in response to the interrupt signal, and the processor unit is to program the register with another register value corresponding to another threshold temperature in response to the first interrupt signal.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the active cooling device comprises a fan.

9. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising:

clock circuitry to provide a clock signal for the microprocessor, wherein a frequency of the clock signal is reduced in response to the first interrupt signal.

10. The computer system according to claim 9,

wherein the active cooling device is to be activated in response to the interrupt signal, and the clock circuitry further comprises

a first clock;

a frequency divider coupled to the first clock to provide the clock signal, the frequency divider to reduce a frequency of the clock signal in response to the interrupt signal; and

a second clock circuit coupled to provide the clock signal to the microprocessor.

11. A microprocessor-implemented method of controlling the temperature of a microprocessor, comprising:

a) generating a temperature signal within the microprocessor indicative of the temperature of the microprocessor;

b) comparing the temperature signal with a first threshold temperature level within the microprocessor;

c) generating an interrupt signal in response to the temperature signal indicating that the first threshold temperature level has been exceeded;

d) decreasing a microprocessor clock frequency in response to the interrupt signal;

e) comparing the temperature signal with a second threshold temperature level, wherein the second threshold temperature level represents a fail-safe temperature; and

f) halting the microprocessor, in response to the temperature signal indicating that the second threshold temperature level has been exceeded.

12. A microprocessor-implemented method of controlling the temperature of a microprocessor, comprising:

a) generating a temperature signal within the microprocessor corresponding to the temperature of the microprocessor;

b) comparing the temperature signal with a first threshold temperature level within the microprocessor;

c) generating an interrupt signal in response to the temperature signal indicating that the first threshold temperature level has been exceeded; and

d) activating an active cooling device to decrease the microprocessor temperature in response to the interrupt signal;

wherein the active cooling device is a fan.

13. A microprocessor-implemented method of controlling the temperature of a microprocessor, comprising:

a) generating a temperature signal within the microprocessor corresponding to the temperature of the microprocessor;

b) comparing the temperature signal with a first threshold temperature level within the microprocessor;

c) generating an interrupt signal in response to the temperature signal indicating that the first threshold temperature level has been exceeded;

d) activating an active cooling device to decrease the microprocessor temperature in response to the interrupt signal;

e) comparing the temperature signal with a second threshold temperature level, wherein the second threshold temperature level represents a fail-safe temperature; and

f) halting the microprocessor, in response to the temperature signal indicating that the second threshold temperature level has been exceeded.