Base-to-emitter voltage temperature compensation for transistor included in sensor excitation circuit

Abstract

A sensor excitation circuit includes a voltage driver circuit and a short-circuit protection circuit. The voltage driver circuit selectively conducts electrical current via a driver output in response to a first operating voltage exceeding a driver voltage threshold (V1be). The short-circuit protection circuit includes a protection semiconductor switching device and a temperature compensation circuit. The protection semiconductor switching device limits the electrical current through the voltage driver circuit in response to switching on when a second operating voltage exceeds a protection voltage threshold (V2be). The temperature compensation circuit is connected to the protection semiconductor switching device, and is configured to limit a variation of the protection threshold voltage (V2be) in response to exposing the protection semiconductor switching device to different temperatures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.