Method and apparatus for temperature sensing
AssigneeOPTi Inc.
InventorsMark Williams, Loi Tran
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Abstract
A temperature sensing apparatus is disclosed which generates a signal having a frequency which is related to temperature. The apparatus includes means for receiving a temperature input, an output for carrying an output signal having a frequency related to the temperature output, and a converting means for converting the temperature input to the output signal.
Claims14
A temperature sensing system for monitoring the temperature of a processor having a clock and for modulating processor operations when an overtemperature condition is detected, comprising:
- a temperature sensor, having means for receiving a temperature input and an output for carrying a sensor output signal, said sensor output signal having a frequency related to said temperature input;
- and
- modulation means, external to said processor and operatively coupled to receive said sensor output signal and having a modulation output operatively coupled to said processor, for monitoring said frequency, for detecting, based on said frequency, whether an overtemperature condition has occurred, and for periodically asserting and deasserting a modulation signal, independent of said clock, on said modulation output for controlling said processor clock, thereby controlling the temperature of said processor.
An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of a processor and for modulating processor operations when an overtemperature condition is detected, comprising:
- a temperature-to-frequency converter, having an output;
- and
- a thermal management unit in communication with said temperature-to-frequency converter and said processor, said thermal management unit external to said processor and including:
- a frequency monitor in communication with said temperature-to-frequency converter output, said frequency monitor having an output and structured to produce a frequency value after a predetermined time period;
- a comparator, having a first input in communication with said frequency monitor output and a second input for carrying a threshold frequency value, said comparator having a modulation output in communication with said processor, said comparator structured to periodically assert and deassert a signal on said modulation output indicative of whether said frequency value is at least said threshold frequency value.
A method for monitoring and controlling temperature of a processor having a clock and for modulating processor operations, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature;
- producing a signal having a frequency related to temperature;
- comparing said frequency to a threshold frequency value;
- and
- if said frequency is at least said threshold frequency value, periodically asserting and deasserting a STPCLK# signal to a STPCLK# input of said processor thereby controlling the temperature of said processor.
A method for monitoring temperature of a processor having a clock and modulating processor operations, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature;
- producing a signal having a frequency related to temperature;
- comparing said frequency to a threshold frequency value;
- and
- periodically asserting and deasserting, if said frequency is between a first frequency value and a second frequency value higher in frequency than said first frequency value, a STPCLK# signal to a STPCLK# input of said processor, at a first modulation level, and
- periodically asserting and deasserting, if said frequency is above said second frequency value, said STPCLK# signal to a STPCLK# input of said processor, at a second modulation level higher in level of modulation than said first modulation level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.