EP0631220A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Signals and method for controlling temperature of an electrical circuit
Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A thermal sensor mechanism which controls the operation of a logic circuit to maintain the logic circuit at appropriate temperature. The thermal sensor mechanism includes a thermal sensor incorporated at a junction of the logic circuit to detect the temperature at the junction. The mechanism also includes a temperature feedback signal indicative of the temperature sensed by the thermal sensor at the junction. The temperature feedback signal is an input to a clock divider circuit of the mechanism. The clock divider circuit also receives an input clock signal and then outputs an output clock signal of frequency dictated by the clock divider circuit based upon the temperature feedback signal received by the clock divider circuit. The output clock signal serves as an input to drive the logic circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan S. Mudgett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:24
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; H; H10; H10D; H10D89/00; H10D89/10; H10D89/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for controlling temperature of a circuit driven by a circuit clock signal, comprising: a means for sensing a temperature of said circuit, said means supplying a signal indicative of said temperature sensed; and a means fordetecting said signal from said means for sensing and varying said circuit clock signal to said circuit based on said signal from said means for sensing in order to appropriately maintain circuit temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for controlling temperature of a circuit driven by a circuit clock signal, comprising: a means for sensing a temperature of said circuit, said means supplying a signal indicative of said temperature sensed; and a means fordetecting said signal from said means for sensing and varying said circuit clock signal to said circuit based on said signal from said means for sensing in order to appropriately maintain circuit temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for detecting is a clock divider circuit, said clock divider circuit receiving inputs of an input clock signal and said signal indicative of said temperature sensed by said means for sensing and outputting an output clock signal as said circuit clock signal to said circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for sensing is a temperature sensor which samples said temperature from time to time at a junction of said circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for detecting varies said circuit clock signal to said circuit to a lower frequency when said means for sensing samples that said temperature exceeds a threshold temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for detecting varies said circuit clock signal to said circuit to a frequency equivalent to that of an input clock signal to said system when said means for sensing samples that said temperature is not greater than a threshold temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said circuit is formed on a silicon die and said means for sensing is incorporated as part of said die.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said circuit clock signal to said circuit has a frequency at least as high as that of said input clock signal unless said temperature sensed by said means for sensing exceeds a threshold temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said circuit clock signal to said circuit has a frequency less than that of said input clock signal unless said temperature sensed by said means for sensing does not exceed a threshold temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said means for sensing is incorporated with said circuit and samples said temperature at at least one junction of said circuit
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said circuit clock signal to said circuit is low frequency when said means for sensing samples that said temperature exceeds said threshold temperature and is otherwise high frequency.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said circuit clock signal to said circuit has a frequency lower than that of said input clock signal when said means for sensing samples that said temperature exceeds said threshold temperature.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
18 words
A system for controlling temperature of a circuit, comprising: a thermal sensor mechanism; and a power management mechanism.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
18 words
A system for controlling temperature of a circuit, comprising: a thermal sensor mechanism; and a power management mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said thermal sensor mechanism includes a clock divider means and a thermal sensor/feedback means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said clock divider means is a clock divider circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said thermal sensor/feedback means includes a temperature sensor and a temperature feedback signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
82 words
A system, integrated with a system logic circuit, for controlling said circuit, said system receiving input of an input clock signal, and said circuit receiving input of a circuit clock signal of a frequency dictated by said system, comprising: a means for sensing a temperature of said circuit; a means for generating a temperature signal indicative of said temperature sensed by said means for sensing; and a means for receiving said temperature signal and generating said circuit clock signal having said frequency.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
82 words
A system, integrated with a system logic circuit, for controlling said circuit, said system receiving input of an input clock signal, and said circuit receiving input of a circuit clock signal of a frequency dictated by said system, comprising: a means for sensing a temperature of said circuit; a means for generating a temperature signal indicative of said temperature sensed by said means for sensing; and a means for receiving said temperature signal and generating said circuit clock signal having said frequency.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said frequency of said circuit clock signal is varied by said means for receiving and generating to maintain a circuit temperature of said circuit as desired.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said frequency of said circuit clock signal is varied to lower frequency when said temperature detected by said means for sensing exceeds a threshold temperature and is varied to higher frequency when said temperature detected by said means for sensing is not in excess of said threshold temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said higher frequency is equivalent to a frequency of said input clock signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said higher frequency is programmable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 19, wherein said lower frequency is programmable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for sensing samples said temperature continuously.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
35 words
A method for controlling an electronic circuit including a clock signal generator, comprising sensing the temperature of at least part of said electronic circuit and controlling the clock signal in accordance with said sensed temperature.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
35 words
A method for controlling an electronic circuit including a clock signal generator, comprising sensing the temperature of at least part of said electronic circuit and controlling the clock signal in accordance with said sensed temperature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the frequency of the clock signal is controlled.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 or 24 in which said clock signal is controlled when the sensed temperature exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic circuit comprising a clock signal generator and means for sensing the temperature of at least part of said electronic circuit, and means for controlling the clock signal provided by said clock signal generator in accordance with the temperature sensed by said sensing means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic circuit comprising a clock signal generator and means for sensing the temperature of at least part of said electronic circuit, and means for controlling the clock signal provided by said clock signal generator in accordance with the temperature sensed by said sensing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic circuit as claimed in claim 26 in which said control means controls the frequency of the clock signal provided by said clock signal generator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic circuit as claimed in claim 27 in which said sensing means controls the frequency of the clock signal output of said clock signal generator when the sensed temperature exceeds a threshold value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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