Patent ID: 7215093

Claim:
A motor drive circuit having a plurality of transistors, comprising: a first transistor; a second transistor whose collector is connected to an emitter of said first transistor in series; a motor connected to a connection point between said first and second transistors; a drive circuit connected to the base of each of said plurality of transistors to control said motor through said plurality of transistors; and a short brake circuit connected to said drive circuit and also to the base of each of said first and second transistors independent of said drive circuit, wherein said short brake circuit includes: a first brake control circuit that outputs a signal to said drive circuit so as to cause said drive circuit to turn off said first transistor and to turn on said second transistor in accordance with a brake operation instruction signal; and a second brake control circuit connected to the base of said first transistor so as to cause said first transistor to be turned off by drawing current from the base of said first transistor in accordance with said brake operation instruction signal independent of said first brake control circuit.