Patent ID: 11925119
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Field: Basic communication processes (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 13:
14. An integrated circuit, comprising:
an input port configured to receive an input signal;
a heat source coupled to the input signal, wherein the heat source is configured to provide thermal energy that propagates across a galvanic isolation region of the integrated circuit in response to the input signal;
a thermopile having a thermopile output, wherein the thermopile is configured to provide a primary voltage output signal at the thermopile output responsive to the thermal energy received from the heat source, and the thermopile is comprised of a plurality of thermopile cells, each thermopile cell including:
a p-doped region in a substrate, wherein the p-doped region includes first and second p-type extensions through an oxide layer to a second lateral surface of the oxide layer;
an n-doped region in the substrate, wherein the n-doped region includes first and second n-type extensions through the oxide layer to the second lateral surface of the oxide layer;
a first metallic connection coupled to the first p-type extension, wherein the first metallic connection extends into an intermetal dielectric region;
a second metallic connection coupled to the first n-type extension, wherein the second metallic connection extends into the intermetal dielectric region;
first, second and third lateral interconnects within the intermetal dielectric region and laterally displaced from one another, wherein the first lateral interconnect is coupled to the first and second metallic connections, the second lateral interconnect is coupled to the second p-type extension, and the third lateral interconnect is coupled to the second n-type extension; and

a switch device having a gate input, wherein the gate input is coupled to the thermopile output, and the switch device is configured to turn on or turn off an output port responsive to the primary voltage output signal exceeding a threshold voltage.