Patent ID: 7215525

Claim:
An overheat protector for an electric apparatus having current control means for controlling current flow in the apparatus, the overheat protector comprising: (a) a Schottky barrier diode for sensing the temperature of a preselected point on the electric apparatus by providing reverse current having a magnitude indicative of the temperature of the preselected point; (b) voltage application means for applying a reverse voltage to the Schottky barrier diode; (c) reverse current detect means connected to the Schottky barrier diode for providing an output indicative of the temperature of the preselected point on the electric apparatus on the basis of the magnitude of the reverse current of the Schottky barrier diode; and (d) overheat protect means connected to the reverse current detect means for setting the current control means of the electric apparatus out of operation when the temperature of the preselected point on the electric apparatus exceeds a predetermined limit, wherein the overheat protect means further holds the setting of the current control means.