Abstract: The invention provides an integrated circuit die containing a metal heater resistor. In an embodiment of the invention, the metal heater resistor is disposed around the periphery of the die, with one end of the metal heater resistor connected to a first bond pad, and the other end of the heater resistor connected to a second bond pad. In alternative embodiments, metal-to-substrate contacts disposed along the heater resistor between the first and second ends provide improved thermal contact between the heater resistor and the die substrate. In other alternative embodiments, the metal heater resistor is disposed around the periphery of a circuit whose temperature coefficient is to be measured, such as a voltage reference circuit that is included as part of a larger integrated circuit containing other circuitry.

Abstract: The self-protecting load driver circuit includes an output transistor having an emitter coupled to a current sensor and a collector adapted to be coupled to the electrical load. A comparator senses the magnitude of a current sensor signal and applies trigger signals to a time delay circuit which is connected between the output of the comparator and the control terminal of a control circuit for the protected transistor. The rise time of the voltage across the current sensor depends on the inductance, for instance, of the load. The time delay circuit enables the control circuit to disable the output transistor for a predetermined time duration in response to the threshold voltage of the comparator being exceeded by the sensor voltage. At other times, the protected transistor is saturated by the control circuit so that power is delivered to the load.