Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Safety and protection of systems and devices – Circuit interruption by thermal sensing
Patent
1997-09-12
1999-08-31
Leja, Ronald W.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Safety and protection of systems and devices
Circuit interruption by thermal sensing
323907, H02H 504
Patent
active
059461810
ABSTRACT:
A circuit provides at least partial thermal shutdown of an integrated circuit chip including a functional circuit (7) in response to detection of a hot spot in a first area of the chip. First (Q1) and second (Q3) transistors in a second area (3) of the chip are located a first distance (10) from the second area of the chip, and third (Q4) and fourth (Q2) transistors in a third area (4) of the chip are located a second distance (11) substantially greater than the first distance from the first area. The functional circuit (7) dissipates power in the first area, causing a temperature in the hot spot to rise to approximately a first temperature T3 and causing the temperature of the first and second transistors to be a second temperature T2 and causing the temperature of the third and fourth transistors to be a third temperature T1. The first, second, third and fourth transistors are operated to in effect extrapolate between the second T2 and third T1 temperatures to produce a current (IOUT) proportional to the difference between the second T2 and third T1 temperature, and hence representative of the first temperature T3. At least a portion of the functional circuit turned off to reduce the temperature of the first region has a value that exceeds a predetermined maximum value.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3622849 (1971-11-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 4207481 (1980-06-01), Dobkin
patent: 4741476 (1988-05-01), Russo et al.
patent: 4924112 (1990-05-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4952865 (1990-08-01), Pataut et al.
patent: 4990864 (1991-02-01), Kwan
patent: 5039878 (1991-08-01), Armstrong et al.
patent: 5206778 (1993-04-01), Flynn et al.
patent: 5255149 (1993-10-01), Matsuo
patent: 5267118 (1993-11-01), Marshall et al.
patent: 5291607 (1994-03-01), Ristic et al.
patent: 5444219 (1995-08-01), Kelly
patent: 5471173 (1995-11-01), Moore et al.
patent: 5519354 (1996-05-01), Andy
patent: 5563760 (1996-10-01), Lowis et al.
patent: 5585995 (1996-12-01), Baurand et al.
Burr-Brown Corporation
Leja Ronald W.
LandOfFree
Thermal shutdown circuit and method for sensing thermal gradient does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Thermal shutdown circuit and method for sensing thermal gradient, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thermal shutdown circuit and method for sensing thermal gradient will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2427832