Datasheet
87
Thermal Specifications and Design Considerations
When calculating a temperature based on thermal diode measurements, a number of parameters
must be either measured or assumed. Most devices measure the diode ideality and assume a series
resistance and ideality trim value, although some are capable of also measuring the series
resistance. Calculating the temperature is then accomplished using the equations listed under
Table 5-3. In most temperature sensing devices, an expected value for the diode ideality is
designed-in to the temperature calculation equation. If the designer of the temperature sensing
device assumes a perfect diode the ideality value (also called ntrim) will be 1.000. Given that most
diodes are not perfect, the designers usually select an ntrim value that more closely matches the
behavior of the diodes in the processor. If the processors diode ideality deviates from that of ntrim,
each calculated temperature will be offset by a fixed amount. This temperature offset can be
calculated with the equation:
Terror(nf) = Tmeasured X (1 – nactual/ntrim)
Where Terror(nf) is the offset in degrees C, Tmeasured is in Kelvin, nactual is the measured ideality of
the diode, and ntrim is the diode ideality assumed by the temperature sensing device.
To improve the accuracy of diode based temperature measurements, a new register (Tdiode_Offset)
has been added to processor that will contain thermal diode characterization data. During
manufacturing each processors thermal diode will be evaluated for its behavior relative to a
theoretical diode. Using the equation above, the temperature error created by the difference
between ntrim and the actual ideality of the particular processor will be calculated. This value
(Tdiode_Offset) will be programmed in to the new diode correction MSR and when added to the
Tdiode_Base value can be used to correct temperatures read by diode based temperature sensing
devices.
If the ntrim value used to calculate Tdiode_Offset differs from the ntrim value used in a temperature
sensing device, the Terror(nf) may not be accurate. If desired, the Tdiode_Offset can be adjusted by
calculating nactual and then recalculating the offset using the actual ntrim as defined in the
temperature sensor manufacturers' datasheet.
The Diode_Base value and ntrim used to calculate the Diode_Correction_Offset are listed in
§
Table 5-5. Thermal “Diode” ntrim and Diode_Correction_Offset
Symbol
Parameter
Unit
ntrim
Diode ideality used to calculate Diode_Offset
1.008
—
Diode_Base
0
C
Table 5-6. Thermal Diode Interface
Signal Name
Land Number
Signal Description
THERMDA
AL1
diode anode
THERMDC
AK1
diode cathode