Overvoltage protection for a converter

A motor module for an electric motor having at least one motor phase, comprising:

• a converter comprising an electrical intermediate circuit and a plurality of half bridges connected in parallel in the intermediate circuit, each of the half bridges having a first power switch on a high-potential side and a second power switch on a low-potential side connected in series with the first power switch, and a phase connection connected to the series connection between the first and second power switch, and
• a protection logic configured to detect an intermediate circuit voltage and to switch on the first power switch or the second power switch so as to short-circuit the at least one motor phase or each motor phase when the intermediate circuit voltage exceeds a predetermined maximum value.

A method for protecting a converter driving an electric motor with at least one motor phase against overvoltage, wherein the converter comprises a converter with an electrical intermediate circuit and a plurality of half bridges connected in parallel in the intermediate circuit, each of the half bridges having a first power switch on a high-potential side and a second power switch on a low-potential side connected in series with the first power switch, and a phase connection connected to the series connection between the first and second power switch, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting an intermediate circuit voltage, and
• short-circuiting the at least one motor phase or each motor phase by switching on all first power switches or all second power switches when the detected intermediate circuit voltage exceeds a predetermined maximum value.