Sense circuit for on-chip thermal shutdown
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDenis M. Flynn, Peter M. Ippolito
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An on-chip thermal shutdown circuit senses the average junction temperature of an integrated circuit device. The on-chip circuit generates a signal when the junction temperature exceeds a preset limit. This signal may then be used to control other circuitry such that the electrical shutdown of the integrated circuit device is enabled under conditions of excessive device temperature. In this manner, catastrophic device damage can be avoided and the host system can be notified of the existence of a fault condition.
Claims12
A sense circuit for on-chip thermal shutdown of an integrated circuit device on a chip comprising:
- comparator means having first and second inputs for sensing a voltage difference at said first and second inputs and switching from a first state to a second state upon a predetermined increase in voltage at said first input and a corresponding predetermined decrease in voltage at said second input;
- temperature sensing means including first and second diode means connected respectively to said first and second inputs of said comparator means, voltage drops across said first and second diode means decreasing with increasing temperature, said first diode means being connected to decrease a voltage at said first input and said second diode means being connected to increase a voltage at said second input with increasing temperature;
- and
- means connected to said comparator means for detecting the state of said comparator means.
A method for sensing a thermal fault in an integrated circuit device on a chip comprising the steps of:
- sensing a voltage difference at first and second inputs and switching from a first output state to a second output state upon a predetermined increase in voltage at said first input and a corresponding predetermined decrease in voltage at said second input;
- sensing temperature with first and second diode means connected respectively to said first and second inputs, voltage drops across said first and second diode means decreasing with increasing temperature, said first diode means being connected to decrease a voltage at said first input and said second diode means being connected to increase a voltage at said second input with increasing temperature;
- and
- detecting said second output state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.