Patent ID: 8084821

Claim:
A system comprising: a power metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor for switching a load; and a protection circuit for sensing an overload condition of the power MOS transistor; wherein the power MOS transistor comprises: a first MOS transistor having a first gate, a first source, and a first drain; a second MOS transistor having a second gate, a second source, and a second drain, the second drain coupled to the first drain, the second MOS transistor having an active area smaller than an active area of the first MOS transistor; and a first source contact adjacent the second MOS transistor, the first source contact coupled to the first source and the second source; wherein the protection circuit applies a first voltage to the first gate and the second gate to turn on the first MOS transistor and the second MOS transistor in response to an input signal and applies a second voltage to the second gate to turn off the second MOS transistor in response to an overload condition.