The Baliga short-circuit improvement concept, or the BaSIC topology, was proposed as an elegant solution to enhance the short-circuit withstand capability of power semiconductor devices across a wide range of voltage and power ratings. The concept employs a non-linear element that is connected in series with the high voltage power device. The resistance of the non-linear element must be designed to increase with increasing current until it limits the magnitude of the current to a value less than the drain saturation current of the high voltage power device. The non-linear element operates within the gate loop of the high voltage power device. Consequently, the highest voltage across it remains below 20 V under all operating modes. This allows creation of non-linear elements with low resistance at the on-state current level because they do not have to be designed to withstand high voltages. The voltage across the non-linear element, called sense voltage, can be used to monitor the magnitude of the current flowing through the high voltage power device. This current sensing is an asset of the BaSIC topology when operating the high voltage device in power circuits.