Patent ID: 7149645

Claim:
A device comprising: a processor having a plurality of hotspots during operation, each hotspot being a localized region having a higher temperature than regions of the processor adjoining the respective hotspot; a plurality of p-n junctions, each within a hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, a junction voltage of each p-n junction to change as a function of temperature of the respective hotspot of the processor; a first analog multiplexer having inputs connected to the plurality of p-n junctions; a register to store a temperature code; a digital-to-analog converter to output an analog signal in accordance with a binary number; an analog comparator to compare the output from the digital-to-analog converter with an output from the first analog multiplexer, a logic-state transition in an output of the analog comparator to signal the register to store the binary number as the temperature code; and a digital comparison circuit, to compare the temperature code with a plurality of programmable temperature trip values, the processor to modify processor operation based upon comparison of the temperature code with the plurality of programmable temperature trip values.