MOSFET with temperature protection

摘要

A MOSFET protection circuit includes a switch element which is thermally coupled to the MOSFET and switches the MOSFET off by establishing a connection between the gate and source electrodes thereof when a critical temperature is reached. The switch element also generates a temperature-dependent signal which controls a voltage reducing element connected between the gate and source electrodes of the MOSFET. The voltage reducing element is activated at a temperature which is lower than the critical temperature so that the gate-source voltage of the MOSFET and the current flowing therethrough is reduced as a result at the second temperature. The temperature rise is thereby slowed.