The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1996
Alessio Pennisi, Milan, IT;
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A bandgap type, thermal protection circuit for an integrated circuit does not require the use of a comparator and a voltage divider of the bandgap voltage. By contrast, the simplified thermal protection circuit of the invention utilizes a first transistor for mirroring the current flowing through the bandgap circuit through a second transistor that is functionally connected between the output node and ground. The control terminal of the second transistor is connected to a temperature dependent voltage derived from the bandgap circuit. The crossing point between the characteristic of such a temperature dependent voltage and of the VBE characteristic of the second transistor versus temperature determine the required transition on the output node.