Semiconductor device for internal combustion engine ignition

A semiconductor device for internal combustion engine ignition, comprising:

• a power semiconductor switching device that switches ON and OFF in accordance with a control signal provided by an external control circuit for causing a spark plug to produce sparks, the power semiconductor switching device including a collector to which a primary winding of an ignition coil is to be connected and a gate to which the control signal is to be inputted;
• an auxiliary voltage circuit that generates and applies an auxiliary voltage responsive to a collector voltage of the power semiconductor switching device to the gate of the power semiconductor switching device;
• and
• a constant current circuit that is interposed between the auxiliary voltage circuit and the gate of the power semiconductor switching device and that limits current flowing through the constant current circuit from the auxiliary voltage circuit to the gate of the power semiconductor switching device so as to regulate the current even if a high-voltage surge originating from an external power source connected to the primary winding is applied to the auxiliary voltage circuit via the primary winding.