Patent attributes
In one embodiment, an apparatus is constituted with a temperature sensing circuit adapted to be coupled to a current sources circuit, and configured to measure a circuit temperature and to generate a temperature-indicating signal in response to the circuit temperature and an adjustable current output by the current sources circuit; a reference voltage circuit to be coupled the current sources circuit and configured to provide a reference signal in response to a reference current output by the current sources circuit; and a trip generator circuit coupled to the temperature sensing circuit and the reference voltage circuit and configured to generate a trip point signal if a difference between the reference and the temperature-indicating signals indicates that a threshold circuit temperature has been reached or exceeded.