Abstract: This invention relates to a power semiconductor device with a temperature sensor (32). The power semiconductor device (36), such as a power transistor, comprises a plurality of power device cells (108). The temperature sensor comprises a temperature sensing diode (34) implemented in at least one of the power device cell (108) such that the power device cell and sensing diode have a common conduction region (102), whereby the temperature sensor can directly sense the temperature of the power device cell.

Abstract: A comparator includes a differential stage based upon transistors Q3 and Q4, the differential stage being adapted to receive via a pad an input V.sub.in, being a signal to be compared with a reference input V.sub.ref received via a second pad. The pads constitute respectively the inverting and reference inputs of the comparator. The comparator also includes an output stage being of the form of a flip-flop providing an output Q and a complementary output Q.sup.-. The circuit further includes a first current generator supplying the differential stage and a second current generator connected to a diode and a transistor intermediate the differential stage and the output stage. Current steering of the current generated by second current generator by the transistor and diode path controls the output stage as the state of the differential stage changes. The transistor forms an intermediate stage which is also part of the differential stage regenerative loop.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an inductor having a first terminal connected to a source of DC voltage to be converted. A power transistor is connected to the other terminal of the inductor and controls the passage of current therethrough. A rectifier has an input connected to the inductor and has an output which comprises the output of the converter. A capacitor has a first electrode connected to the output of the rectifier and a second electrode connected to the emitter of the power transistor, the collector of the power transistor being connected to the inductor. A comparator is connected to the power transistor for controlling the operation thereof in accordance with the capacitor voltage so as to produce a desired converter output voltage. The comparator has a first input connected to receive a first reference potential and a second input coupled to the second electrode of the capacitor. The output of the comparator is coupled to the base of the power transistor.