HEAT REGULATOR FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

摘要

The temperature of a circuit is monitored and controlled by accumulating an estimate of heat generated in the circuit, and decreasing heat generation in the circuit when necessary. A periodic sampling of the operating mode of the circuit, as determined by clock speed and bus cycle activity, is used to determine heat accumulation in the circuit. An up/down counter increments when the sampling shows an operating mode indicating heating of the circuit and decrements when the sampled mode indicates cooling of the circuit. The circuit is forced to cool if a count on the up/down counter reaches a programmable threshold. Cooling is accomplished by slowing the clock speed of the circuit.