Methods and structure for IC temperature self-monitoring

摘要

Methods and systems are provided for thermal self-monitoring of integrated circuits. Temperature is sensed, digitized, encoded, and compared to one or more threshold values by circuits added within an integrated circuit. A signal produced by a thermal diode within an integrated circuit is applied to an analog to digital converter and may be compared to one or more threshold values to produce a digital over temperature condition signal. An appropriate cooling action may be initiated by processing of the digital signal so produced. Also provided are methods and systems to alter the range and resolution of the temperature threshold comparisons.