Variable thermal sensor
DCFirst Claim
1. A monolithic integrated circuit microprocessor, comprising:
- a clock driver;
a thermal sensor integrated adjacent the clock driver, the thermal sensor providing an output signal, said output signal being related to temperature within said microprocessor; and
a control circuit having a control input, said control input being operatively coupled with said thermal sensor to receive said output signal, said control circuit generating a thermal detect signal in response to said output signal, said detect signal being generated when said output signal is in a predetermined relationship with a threshold.
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Abstract
A thermal sensor for use in integrated circuits includes a plurality of MOSFET diodes. The thermal sensor senses temperature within the integrated circuit and provides a control signal. The control signal may be utilized to control thermal management devices such as fans, clock dividers, or other thermal management devices. The thermal sensor is preferably integrated within the microprocessor adjacent clock driver circuitry. The thermal sensor generally includes current mirrors coupled to diodes. The diodes control the output of the current mirrors so that larger current is drawn from the current mirrors when the temperature is higher in the integrated circuit. The current mirrors supply current to a constant signal source and an impedance circuit. The control circuit compares the voltages from the impedance circuit and the constant signal source. The control circuit provides the control signal when the signal from the impedance circuit is above a predetermined threshold.
79 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A monolithic integrated circuit microprocessor, comprising:
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a clock driver; a thermal sensor integrated adjacent the clock driver, the thermal sensor providing an output signal, said output signal being related to temperature within said microprocessor; and a control circuit having a control input, said control input being operatively coupled with said thermal sensor to receive said output signal, said control circuit generating a thermal detect signal in response to said output signal, said detect signal being generated when said output signal is in a predetermined relationship with a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for providing an indicator signal in response to temperature in an integrated circuit, the apparatus being integrated within the integrated circuit and comprising:
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threshold means for providing a threshold signal; thermal sensing means for generating a temperature signal related to said temperature, said thermal sensing means including a plurality of temperature sensitive devices coupled to generate a thermal signal, said plurality of temperature sensitive devices including like parameters, said thermal signal related to said temperature and a factor, said factor being related to a ratio of said like parameters, said thermal sensing means generating said temperature signal in response to said thermal signal; and indicator means for providing said indicator signal, said indicator means having a first indicator input and a second indicator input, said first indicator input being coupled with said thermal sensing means to receive said temperature signal, said second indicator input being coupled with said threshold means to receive said threshold signal, said indicator means providing said indicator signal when said temperature signal is in a predetermined relationship with said threshold signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for providing a control signal in response to temperature, the apparatus comprising:
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a current source means for providing a current source signal; a current source control means for controlling said current source means, said current source control means being responsive to said temperature, said current source means cooperating with said current source control means to generate said current source signal, said current source signal being related to said temperature; control means for providing said control signal, said control means receiving a first input and a second input, said control means providing said control signal when said second input is in a predetermined relationship with said first input; first impedance means for providing said first input, said first impedance means being coupled with said current source means, said first impedance means receiving said current source signal and generating said first input in response to said current source signal; and second impedance means for providing said second input, said second impedance means being coupled with said current source means, said second impedance means receiving said current source signal and generating said second input in response to said current source signal, said second input being relatively constant with respect to changes in said current source signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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21. An apparatus for generating a control signal in response to temperature, the apparatus comprising:
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a first current generator having a first control input and a first output; a second current generator having a second control input and a second output; a third current generator having a third control input and a third output, said first control input being coupled to said second control input and said third control input, said third output providing a current signal; a first diode coupled with the first output; a second diode coupled with said second output; an impedance device coupled with said third output, said impedance device generating a temperature signal in response to said current signal; and a control circuit having a first input coupled with said impedance device, said control circuit receiving said temperature signal, said control circuit providing said control signal when said temperature signal is in a predetermined relationship with a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification