Patent ID: 6144246
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G01K,H01L,H03K,Y10S

Abstract:
A circuit sensor configuration for sensing when a critical temperature of a component has been exceeded, comprising:a sense transistor for sensing a temperature of the component, said sense transistor having a temperature-dependent current/voltage characteristic and being in thermal contact with the component, said sense transistor having a base and a collector;a measurement transistor in thermal contact with the component and symmetrically disposed with respect to said sense transistor, said measurement transistor having a base and a collector, said measurement transistor and said sense transistor being of identical construction;a current source connected in series with said sense transistor; anda circuit device connected to said sense transistor for compensating for parasitic leakage currents at said sense transistor, said circuit device including a first current mirror connected between said base of said sense transistor and said base of said measurement transistor and a first supply potential, said circuit device further including a second current mirror connected between said collector of said sense transistor and said collector of said measurement transistor and a second supply potential;wherein said sense transistor includes a base-emitter path and a voltage divider connected to the base-emitter path of said sense transistor.