Temperature evaluation circuit

An electronic circuit comprising a temperature evaluation circuit, the temperature evaluation circuit comprising:

• a first sensor circuit comprising a first output terminal and configured to sense a first temperature at a first position of the electronic circuit and to generate at the first output terminal a first output current that is dependent on the first temperature;
• a second sensor circuit comprising a second output terminal and configured to sense a second temperature at a second position of the electronic circuit and to generate at the second output terminal a second output current that is dependent on the second temperature;
• and
• an evaluation circuit comprising an input terminal connected to the first output terminal and the second output terminal and configured to provide an evaluation signal that is dependent on a current received at the input terminal, wherein the second sensor circuit further comprises:
• a second temperature sensor configured to provide a second temperature measurement signal that is dependent on a first temperature difference;
• and
• a second current source arrangement configured to receive the second temperature measurement signal and to generate the second output current dependent on the second temperature measurement signal.

An electronic circuit comprising a temperature evaluation circuit, the temperature evaluation circuit comprising:

• a plurality of n sensor circuits, wherein n>1, each sensor circuit comprising an output terminal and configured to sense at least one temperature and to provide an output current that is dependent on the at least one temperature;
• and
• an evaluation circuit comprising an input terminal connected to the output terminals of the plurality of the sensor circuits and configured to provide an evaluation signal that is dependent on a current received at the input terminal, further comprising
• a control circuit configured to generate at least one control signal,
• wherein at least one of the sensor circuits is configured to provide the output current dependent on the at least one temperature as sensed by at least one sensor element and dependent on the at least one control signal.

A method for protecting a first power semiconductor device integrated in a semiconductor body in which a second power semiconductor device is also integrated, the method comprising:

• providing a first temperature signal that is dependent on a temperature of the first power semiconductor device;
• providing a second temperature signal that is dependent on a temperature of the second power semiconductor device;
• forming a weighted sum of at least the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal, so as to form a combined temperature signal, wherein a first weighting factor of the first temperature signal and a second weighting factor of the second temperature signal have opposite signs;
• comparing the combined temperature signal with a threshold value;
• and
• switching off the first power semiconductor device dependent on a comparison result.

An electronic circuit comprising a temperature evaluation circuit, the temperature evaluation circuit comprising:

• a first sensor circuit comprising a first output terminal and configured to sense a first temperature at a first position of the electronic circuit and to generate at the first output terminal a first output current that is dependent on the first temperature;
• a second sensor circuit comprising a second output terminal and configured to sense a second temperature at a second position of the electronic circuit and to generate at the second output terminal a second output current that is dependent on the second temperature;
• and
• an evaluation circuit comprising an input terminal connected to the first output terminal and the second output terminal and configured to provide an evaluation signal that is dependent on a current received at the input terminal, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to provide the evaluation signal dependent on a weighted sum of at least the first output current and the second output current received at the input terminal, wherein a first weighting factor of the first output current and a second weighting factor of the second output current have opposite signs.

An electronic circuit comprising a temperature evaluation circuit, the temperature evaluation circuit comprising:

• an evaluation circuit configured to
• receive a first temperature signal that is dependent on a temperature of a first power semiconductor device,
• receive a second temperature signal that is dependent on a temperature of a second power semiconductor device integrated on a same semiconductor body as the first power semiconductor device, and
• form a weighted sum of at least the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal, so as to form a combined temperature signal, wherein a first weighting factor of the first temperature signal and a second weighting factor of the second temperature signal have opposite signs;
• and
• a comparison circuit configured to compare the combined temperature signal with a threshold value, and switch off the first power semiconductor device dependent on a comparison result.