Patent ID: 8018186

Claim:
An electronic system for controlling a fan motor, the electronic system comprising: a drive circuit connected to a first voltage source via a first connection to provide a drive current to one or more stator coils of the fan motor for causing rotation of a rotor of the fan motor, the drive current being provided to the stator coils in accordance with first control signals; a microcontroller connected to the first voltage source via a second connection to receive power therefrom, the microcontroller connected to the drive circuit being configured to produce the first control signals to the drive circuit and to monitor a voltage level of the first voltage source via a third connection; and a second voltage source connected to the first voltage source and having stored therein an amount of energy, the second voltage source being coupled to the microcontroller to provide power thereto when the voltage level of the first voltage source is smaller than a predetermined level, the amount of energy being sufficient to operate the microcontroller for a period of time to produce second control signals to the drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit discharges energy stored in the one or more stator coils to an electrical ground in accordance with the second control signal thereby causing cessation of rotation of the rotor of the fan motor.