Patent ID: 7116110

Claim:
A method comprising: providing an electronic device with a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a first resistor network, a first group of transistors and a second group of transistors, the first resistor network being electrically disposed between a positive circuit leg and a negative circuit leg and coupled to the first and second groups of transistors at first and second intermediate points, respectively, each of the first and second groups of transistors including a first transistor and a second transistor coupled in series between the positive circuit leg and the negative circuit leg, the first intermediate point being disposed between the first and second transistors of the first group of transistors, the second intermediate point being disposed between the first and second transistors of the second group of transistors, the first resistor network providing a first output having a first voltage associated therewith, the second portion having a second resistor network with a first end, which is coupled to the positive circuit leg, and a second end, which is coupled to the negative circuit leg, the second resistor network providing a second output having a second voltage associated therewith; switching a state of the first one of the first group of transistors and the second one of the second group of transistors, wherein a temperature imbalance on the first one of the first group of transistors and the second one of the second group of transistors causes a leakage current imbalance in the first and second groups of transistors, the leakage currents cooperating to affect the first voltage; and determining if a differential between the first voltage and the second voltage exceeds a first predetermined voltage differential.