Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Safety and protection of systems and devices – Circuit interruption by thermal sensing
Patent
1998-12-02
2000-04-25
Jackson, Stephen W.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Safety and protection of systems and devices
Circuit interruption by thermal sensing
361 931, 361 98, 361115, H02H 500
Patent
active
060551496
ABSTRACT:
A thermally protected power device is disclosed and includes a semiconductor package having at least five pins. One of the pins comprises a ground pin for connecting to a ground connection, and another one of the five pins comprises a power pin for connecting to a source of a temperature stable reference voltage. A field effect transistor is formed within the semiconductor package and has a source, drain and gate connected to three of the output pins and forms respective source, drain and gate pins. A parasitic bipolar transistor is formed within the package and has a base, collector and emitter. The collector is connected to the gate of the field effect transistor. A voltage divider circuit is formed within the semiconductor package and connected to the power pin, the ground pin and the base of the thermal limiting bipolar transistor for receiving a temperature stable reference voltage obtained from a temperature stable voltage source connected to the power pin, and dividing the voltage down close to the Vbe of the thermal limiting bipolar transistor. As the temperature rises within the semiconductor package, the Vbe of the thermal limiting bipolar transistor drops and switches on to pull gate voltage down and limit current passing through the field effect transistor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3796943 (1974-03-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 4355344 (1982-10-01), Felici et al.
patent: 4360852 (1982-11-01), Gilmore
patent: 4672302 (1987-06-01), DeShazo, Jr. et al.
patent: 4698655 (1987-10-01), Schultz
patent: 4750079 (1988-06-01), Fay et al.
patent: 4787007 (1988-11-01), Matsumura et al.
patent: 4896245 (1990-01-01), Qualich
patent: 4903106 (1990-02-01), Fukunaga et al.
patent: 5008771 (1991-04-01), Palara
patent: 5272392 (1993-12-01), Wong et al.
patent: 5434443 (1995-07-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5483102 (1996-01-01), Neal et al.
patent: 5497285 (1996-03-01), Nadd
patent: 5543996 (1996-08-01), Nakago
patent: 5568347 (1996-10-01), Shirai et al.
patent: 5642252 (1997-06-01), Sakamoto et al.
patent: 5737170 (1998-04-01), Moyer
Gillberg James E.
Giordano Raymond L.
Intersil Corporation
Jackson Stephen W.
LandOfFree
Current limited, thermally protected, power device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Current limited, thermally protected, power device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Current limited, thermally protected, power device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-998685