US 2003/0158696 A1 · Controller for monitoring temperature

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.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A controller for monitoring a temperature of an integrated circuit, comprising:

a first interface for receiving a first value representative of a temperature of said integrated circuit;
a second interface for receiving a second value representative of a threshold temperature;
and
a comparator for comparing said first value to said second value for determining whether said first value exceeds said second value, thereby determining if said first value indicates an excessive temperature of said integrated circuit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Controller for monitoring temperature

Life of this patent

Controller for monitoring temperature

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38