Patent ID: 8248259

Claim:
A protection circuit, comprising: a detection block configured to compare a first voltage of a monitoring signal with a first reference voltage and for generating a second voltage that increases with time while said first voltage exceeds said first reference voltage, wherein if said second voltage increases to greater than a second reference voltage then an alert signal is generated; a timer coupled to said detection block and configured to generate an enabling signal in response to said alert signal; and a protection enable block coupled to said timer and configured to perform a protection function in response to said enabling signal; wherein if a difference between said monitoring signal and said reference signal exceeds a threshold continuously for a first predetermined duration, wherein said detection block further comprises a capacitor that is charged up to a voltage that is greater than or equal to a reference voltage by a current source while said difference exceeds said threshold continuously for said first predetermined duration, such that achieving said voltage triggers generation of said alert signal.