Abstract: An inverter for an electric machine is specified that includes a plurality of switching elements, in particular six, which are positioned in a bridge circuit and produce a connection between the electric machine and a battery. The switching elements built into the low-side branch of the inverter are ones that are conductive without a control voltage present, i.e., normally-on switching elements. That ensures that if the supply voltage is absent and the electric machine is rotating the windings of the electric machine are short circuited and no overvoltages are able to occur. In normal operation the inverter is operated like a conventional inverter, by clocked actuation, but with reversed actuation of the control electrodes, i.e., with control voltage for non-conductive time phases and without control voltage in conductive phases.

Abstract: An inverter for an electric machine is specified that includes a plurality of switching elements, in particular six, which are positioned in a bridge circuit and produce a connection between the electric machine and a battery. The switching elements built into the low-side branch of the inverter are ones that are conductive without a control voltage present, i.e., normally-on switching elements. That ensures that if the supply voltage is absent and the electric machine is rotating the windings of the electric machine are short circuited and no overvoltages are able to occur. In normal operation the inverter is operated like a conventional inverter, by clocked actuation, but with reversed actuation of the control electrodes, i.e., with control voltage for non-conductive time phases and without control voltage in conductive phases.