Patent ID: 7508295

Claim:
An electric circuit comprising: an electric device having a current terminal path, the electric device being configured to generate a first amount of heat in a functional state and to generate a second amount of heat, which is larger than the first amount of heat, in a defective state; a package comprising a terminal pin extending inside and outside of the package, the package comprising an interior within which the electric device is located and which is configured such that the current terminal path associated with the terminal pin passes partly within the package and partly outside the package via the terminal pin of the package; the terminal pin being thermally coupled to the electric device and comprising, between a first and a second terminal of a fuse thereof that resides outside of the package, fully or partially consisting of an electrically conductive material of the fuse, the electrically conductive material having a melting point selected such that the electrically conductive material melts when the electric device generates the second amount of heat; and wherein the terminal pin is embodied such that the electrically conductive material is removed when it melts, so that a current flow along the current terminal path of the terminal pin is no longer possible.