Patent ID: 7049787

Claim:
A converter circuit with short-circuit protection comprising: a DC voltage circuit, which DC voltage circuit is formed by a DC voltage circuit subsystem, the DC voltage subsystem having a first energy store and a second energy store, which is connected in series with the first energy store; a fuse; and at least one pair of branches provided for each phase and connected in parallel with the DC voltage circuit, each pair of branches having power semiconductor switches, wherein the fuse forms the connection between the first energy store and the second energy store; and a drivable short-circuit element, wherein the drivable short-circuit element is connected in parallel with the DC voltage circuit subsystem, whereby the drivable short-circuit element is driven when a short-circuit current is detected in or on a pair of branches by means of a detection device and the drivable short-circuit element short-circuits the DC voltage circuit by corresponding switching.