A POWER TRANSISTOR DEVICE AND PROTECTION METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

A power transistor device (10, 12) such as e.g. a Power MOS device includes a control line (16) for controlling a device current (Iout) flowing through the device. The device (10, 12) includes a plurality of cells (6) contributing respective fractions of the device current (Iout) with a plurality of control terminals (G) each adapted to control current flow through one of the cells (6). The device includes respective decoupling resistors (18) between the control line (16) and the control terminals (G). Upon failure of one of the cells (6), the other non-failed cells (6) can be rendered non conductive by a switch-off control signal applied via the control line (16).