Abstract: An integrated circuit has circuitry formed by a fabrication process. The circuitry has an electrical characteristic that is different from a predetermined value due to variations in the fabrication process. The electrical characteristic is responsive to a level of a current, and a current source of the integrated circuit is configured to be selectably enabled to adjust the level of the current to move the electrical characteristic closer to the predetermined value.

Abstract: A programmable thermal sensor is implemented in an integrated circuit such as a microprocessor. The programmable thermal sensor monitors the temperature of the integrated circuit, and generates an output to indicate that the temperature of the integrated circuit has attained a pre-programmed threshold temperature. In a microprocessor implementation, the microprocessor contains a processor unit, an internal register, microprogram and clock circuitry. The microprogram writes programmable input values, corresponding to threshold temperatures, to the internal register. The programmable thermal sensor reads the programmable input values, and generates an interrupt when the temperature of the microprocessor reaches the threshold temperature. In addition to a programmable thermal sensor, the microprocessor contains a fail safe thermal sensor that halts operation of the microprocessor when the temperature attains a critical temperature.