Patent ID: 6717530
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: G06F,H01L,Y02D

Abstract:
A thermal sensing system for an integrated circuit comprising:a thermal sensing circuit, having a first input for a voltage bias and a second input for a temperature selection clock signal T1, the thermal sensing circuit for monitoring the temperature t0 of the integrated circuit for a temperature in between a first t1 and a second t2 threshold temperature range, wherein if t1&lE;t0&lE;t2, the thermal sensing circuit generates at least one detection signal; a decode circuit, having a first input, a second input, a first detect latch output, and a second detect latch output, the decode circuit coupled to the thermal sensing circuit for receiving the at least one detection signal to determine whether the first t1 and second t2 threshold temperature has been reached and generating at least one detection flag signal at a predetermined threshold temperature, the first input coupled to receive the temperature selection clock signal T1, the second input coupled to receive the a detection clock signal C1, wherein the detection clock signal C1 has a higher frequency than that of the temperature selection clock signal T1; and a hysteresis circuit coupled to the first and second detect latch outputs for receiving the at least one detection flag and generating a shutdown signal to selectively reduce the power consumption of the integrated circuit to prevent overheating.