Patent ID: 7148736

Claim:
A power switch, comprising: a controllable transistor having a load path and a control electrode; a first limiting transistor for limiting a voltage drop across said load path of said first transistor, said first limiting transistor having a load path connected in series with said load path of said controllable transistor, and having a control electrode; at least one second limiting transistor having a load path connected in series with said load path of said first limiting transistor; a first auxiliary transistor having a load path connected between said control electrode of said first limiting transistor and a reference node, and having a control electrode connected between said controllable transistor and said first limiting transistor; at least one second auxiliary transistor having a load path connected between said control electrode of said first limiting transistor and said control electrode of said second limiting transistor; and a control electrode connected between said load paths of said first and second limiting transistors.