Abstract: Power semiconductor devices having discontinuous emitter regions therein include a semiconductor substrate containing therein a collector region of second conductivity type, a buffer region of first conductivity type which forms a first P-N junction with the collector region and a drift region of first conductivity type which forms a non-rectifying junction with the buffer region. A base region of second conductivity type is also provided in the drift region and forms a second P-N junction therewith. In addition, a base contact region of second conductivity type is provided in the base region of second conductivity type. The base contact region typically has a much higher second conductivity type doping concentration therein than the base region. A preferred emitter region is also provided in the substrate. This preferred emitter region comprises an emitter contact region which is entirely surrounded in the substrate by the highly doped base contact region and a carrier emitting region.