Patent ID: 8016482

Claim:
A method of powering on an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising: sensing a temperature for a region of the IC when the IC is powered up; comparing the temperature against a predetermined temperature value; in the case that the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value, delaying functional operation of the IC and heating the region of the IC; monitoring the temperature in the region of the IC; and in the case that the temperature rises above the predetermined temperature value, ceasing the heating and initiating functional operation of the IC; and wherein the IC includes a plurality of regions, wherein each region includes functional logic, a temperature sensor, a heating element therefor and a predetermined temperature value therefor, and the initiating of functional operation of the IC occurs only in the case that each of the plurality of regions is at a temperature above the predetermined temperature value therefor; and wherein in the case that a particular region does not attain the predetermined temperature value after a set number of attempts of attempting to attain the predetermined temperature value, heating another region of the plurality of regions that has been previously unheated, wherein the previously unheated region is in close proximity to the particular region.