This paper uses the qualitative theory of differential equations to analyse/design the dynamic behaviour of control systems. In particular, the Poincaré compactification and the Poincaré--Hopf theorem are used for analysing the local dynamics near the finite and infinite equilibrium points. As an application, a large signal characterisation of a Boost type power converter in closed loop, including its equilibrium/bifurcation points and its global dynamics, which depends upon the value of the load resistance, is studied.