Patent ID: 7971035

Claim:
A method of dispatching instructions in a data processing system having a memory for storing instructions and a plurality of central processing units (CPUs), each CPU providing a signal indicating CPU temperature data, the method comprising the steps of: for each CPU, receiving a first voltage from a temperature measurement circuit positioned on the CPU and including a first and second current source both connected to a switch connecting either the first or the second current source to a thermal diode positioned to measure temperature on the CPU, a first sample and hold circuit connected to receive the first voltage from the thermal diode, incrementing an address counter to provide an addressed temperature value, converting the addressed temperature value to a second voltage provided to a second sample and hold circuit, comparing the first voltage with the second voltage, providing a CPU temperature measurement signal when both the first and second voltages are equal, selecting a CPU according to the received CPU temperature measurement signals, and dispatching instructions from said memory to the selected CPU.