Patent ID: 7482659

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of switching elements formed therein, the switching elements having a common structure comprising a semiconductor region, the semiconductor region of the common structure being identical among the switching elements and the switching elements being partitioned into at least two groups; a main electrode connected to the semiconductor regions of the switching elements belonging to one group of the switching elements and to be connected to a reference potential; a sensor electrode connected to the semiconductor regions of the switching elements belonging to the other group of the switching elements and to be connected to the reference potential via a current detector; and a protective device comprising a plurality of diodes, connected in series so that current flow directions of the diodes, are opposite, formed between the main electrode and the sensor electrode, wherein the protective device electrically connects the main electrode and the sensor electrode when a potential difference between the main electrode and the sensor electrode exceeds a breakdown voltage of at least one of the diodes in the protective device.