Thermal sensing circuit
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsBal S. Sandhu, Dennis Reinhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for use with a semiconductor substrate includes a digital interface, a digital-to-analog converter and a thermal sensor circuit. The digital interface stores a value that indicates a desired thermal threshold, and the digital-to-analog converter provides an analog signal that indicates the value. The thermal sensor circuit uses the analog signal to set the desired thermal threshold and indicate when a temperature of the substrate exceeds the thermal threshold.
Claims27
An apparatus for use with a semiconductor substrate, comprising:
- a digital interface to store a value indicative of a desired thermal threshold;
- a digital-to-analog converter to provide an analog signal indicative of the value;
- and
- a thermal sensor circuit to use the analog signal to set the desired thermal threshold and indicate when a temperature of the substrate exceeds the thermal threshold.
A method for use with a semiconductor substrate, comprising:
- storing a value indicative of a desired thermal threshold;
- providing an analog signal indicative of the value;
- using the analog signal to provide a threshold signal indicative of the thermal threshold;
- providing a thermal signal indicative of a temperature of the substrate;
- comparing the thermal signal with the threshold signal;
- and
- indicating the result of the comparison.
A microprocessor comprising:
- a processing core to execute instructions in synchronization with a clock signal, the clock signal having a frequency;
- a clock generator to furnish the clock signal and change the frequency in response to an indication of a thermal event;
- a digital interface to store a value indicative of a desired thermal threshold;
- a digital-to-analog converter to provide an analog signal indicative of the value;
- and
- a thermal sensor circuit to use the analog signal to set the desired thermal threshold and indicate when a temperature of the substrate exceeds the thermal threshold.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a digital interface fabricated on a semiconductor substrate to store a value indicative of a desired thermal threshold;
- a digital-to-analog converter fabricated on the semiconductor substrate to provide an analog signal indicative of the value;
- and
- a thermal sensor circuit fabricated on the semiconductor substrate to use the analog signal to set the desired thermal threshold and indicate when a temperature of the substrate exceeds the thermal threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.