Patent ID: 7545612

Claim:
An apparatus for powering at least one electric motor, said apparatus comprising: at least one driving device for driving the electric motor; a supply path positioned between a supply voltage generator and the at least one driving device; a first circuit inserted in the supply path to enable and prevent the powering of the at least one driving device; a control device powered by a supply voltage, the control device controlling at least the first circuit; and a protection device for protecting against over-voltages, the protection device including: a first protection circuit for detecting when a current flows in the supply path from the at least one driving device to the supply voltage generator; and a second protection circuit for selectively absorbing the current, wherein the second protection circuit includes a transistor having one non-drivable terminal connected to ground and another non-drivable terminal connected to a circuit node of the supply path that is located downstream from the first circuit and upstream from the at least one driving device.