Failsafe mechanism for preventing an integrated circuit from overheating

• US 7,296,928 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bowden, Scott J., Douglas, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/236,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 374/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/005 Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature fire detection G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Techniques for preventing an integrated circuit (IC) from overheating are described herein. According to one embodiment, an exemplary process includes detecting whether a temperature of an integrated circuit (IC) exceeds a threshold independent of an operating state of the IC, and removing at least a portion of a power from the IC if the temperature of the IC exceeds the threshold. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting using a thermal sensor whether a temperature of an integrated circuit (IC) exceeds a threshold independent of an operating state of the IC, the thermal sensor and the IC being driven by a power source;

configuring the thermal sensor when the IC is powered up to a predetermined level of power from the power source based on a thermal configuration associated with the IC;

stalling a predetermined period of time to allow a result of detection by the thermal sensor to be substantially stable, stalling the predetermined period of time being performed in response to a signal indicating that configuration of the thermal sensor has been completed;

removing after the predetermined period of time at least a portion of a power from the IC if the temperature of the IC exceeds the threshold based on the result of the detection; and

generating a clock signal to control the detecting whether the temperature of the IC exceeds the threshold, wherein the generating comprises detecting whether an external clock exists;

deriving the clock signal from the external clock if the external clock source exists; and

generating the clock signal from an internal clock if the external clock source does not exist.

3. A machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the method of claim 1.

4. A machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the method of claim 1.

2. A method comprising:

detecting using a thermal sensor whether a temperature of an integrated circuit (IC) exceeds a threshold independent of an operating state of the IC, the thermal sensor and the IC being driven by a power source;

Configuring the thermal sensor when the IC is powered up to a predetermined level of power from the power source based on a thermal configuration associated with the IC;

stalling a predetermined period of time to allow a result of detection by the thermal sensor to be substantially stable, stalling the predetermined period of time being performed in response to a signal indicating that configuration of the thermal sensor has been completed;

removing after the predetermined period of time at least a portion of a power from the IC if the temperature of the IC exceeds the threshold based on the result of the detection;

generating a clock signal to control the detecting whether the temperature of the IC exceeds the threshold; and

generating a signal to indicate whether the clock signal is stable.