NOVELTY - The circuit (1) has a limiting path (2) coupled between power terminals (25, 26) of a semiconductor transistor (15), where the second power terminal is coupled to a semiconductor transistor control terminal (27). A voltage source (7) supplies control voltage to a control terminal (9) of a limiting transistor (5), where the control voltage corresponds to critical voltage for voltage between the power terminals of the semiconductor transistor. The limiting transistor is switched to conductive state when the critical voltage is exceeded at a power terminal of the limiting transistor.    USE - Limiting circuit i.e. active clamp, for a semiconductor transistor i.e. IGBT, used in inverters or battery direct inverter systems in electrical drive systems of motor vehicles e.g. watercrafts or hybrid vehicles. Can also be used for MOSFET (all claimed), junction FET (JFET) or bipolar junction transistor (BJT).    ADVANTAGE - The critical voltage across the limiting transistor can be very accurately set, so as to enable safety margin for dielectric resistance to be selected as a lower value, and semiconductor surface area on transistor chips can be eliminated, so as to reduce manufacturing cost of the circuit. The dielectric strength of the semiconductor transistor is higher than dielectric strength of nominal voltage between the power terminals so as to reduce risk of damage to the semiconductor transistors.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The power terminals are a drain terminal and a source terminal. The limiting transistor is a MOSFET, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a junction gate FET or a bipolar junction transistor. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:    (1) a method for limiting a voltage across a semiconductor transistor    (2) a circuit device.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic circuit diagram of a limiting circuit for a semiconductor transistor.    Limiting circuit (1)    Limiting path (2)    Limiting transistor (5)    Voltage source (7)    Control terminal (9)    Semiconductor transistor (15)    Power terminals (25, 26)    Semiconductor transistor control terminal (27)