Patent ID: 8780516

Claim:
A system, comprising: a first circuit portion, the first circuit portion comprising a power semiconductor device and a series combination of a first zener diode and a second zener diode, wherein the power semiconductor device comprises a first node, a second node and a third node, and wherein a proximal end of the series combination of the first zener diode and the second zener diode is directly connected to the first node and a distal end of the series combination of the first zener diode and the second zener diode is directly connected to the second node of the power semiconductor device; and a second circuit portion comprising a first resistor, a capacitor, and at least one of a diode or a transistor, wherein the first resistor is connected in parallel with the capacitor to form a sub-circuit, and the sub-circuit is connected to the one of a diode or a transistor, the second circuit portion connected in parallel with the first zener diode of the first circuit portion to clamp a peak voltage between the first node and the third node of the power semiconductor device.