Power module

A power module wherein a package houses therein:

• a current input terminal and a current output terminal;
• a power semiconductor device used for a switching purpose to conduct/interrupt a current, which flows from the current input terminal to the current output terminal, according to a switching signal;
• a resistor for detecting an operation state of the power semiconductor device;
• and
• a switch for a current-interrupting purpose that is connected in series to the power semiconductor device,
• wherein the power semiconductor device, the switch and the resistor are in series connected between the current input terminal and the current output terminal,
• one end of the power semiconductor device is connected to the current input terminal, and the other end of the power semiconductor device is connected to the switch at a connection point for connecting the power semiconductor device and the switch to each other,
• one end of the switch is connected to the connection point and the other point of the switch is connected to one end of the resistor,
• the other end of the resistor is connected to the current output terminal, and
• the switch is configured to, in response to a control signal generated on a basis of a voltage between the one end of the switch and the other end of the resistor, go into a conduction state so as to conduct a current flowing in the power semiconductor device during a normal operation of the power semiconductor device and to go into an interruption state so as to interrupt the current flowing in the power semiconductor device when a short-circuit failure has occurred in the power semiconductor device.