Abstract:
A microelectronic device includes a first circuit (21, 22, 25) and a second circuit (23), coupled to the first circuit (21, 22, 25) for selectively preventing operation of the first circuit (21, 22, 25) when a device temperature (T) is higher than a temperature threshold (T SD ). The second circuit is provided with a temperature responsive element (28), thermally coupled to the first circuit (21, 22, 25) for providing a shutdown signal (I SD ) correlated to the device temperature (T). The temperature responsive element (28; 105) includes a reverse-biased junction element (30) and the shutdown signal (I SD ) is correlated to a reverse leakage current (I R ) of the reverse-biased junction element (30).
Abstract:
A microelectronic device includes a first circuit (21, 22, 25) and a second circuit (23), coupled to the first circuit (21, 22, 25) for selectively preventing operation of the first circuit (21, 22, 25) when a device temperature (T) is higher than a temperature threshold (T SD ). The second circuit is provided with a temperature responsive element (28), thermally coupled to the first circuit (21, 22, 25) for providing a shutdown signal (I SD ) correlated to the device temperature (T). The temperature responsive element (28; 105) includes a reverse-biased junction element (30) and the shutdown signal (I SD ) is correlated to a reverse leakage current (I R ) of the reverse-biased junction element (30).