Control device with safety shutdown

A control device for an electrical device such as an electric motor is provided. The control device is designed to, when necessary, bring about a safe, torque-free state of an electric motor, in particular a field-weakened electric motor. The control device includes a safety unit which is designed to generate safety control signals. A driver unit of the control device is designed to generate, irrespective of a state of motor control signals, in the case of a first state pattern of the safety control signals, power semiconductor control signals in such a way that power semiconductors have a non-conductive state, in the case of a second state pattern of the safety control signals to generate the power semiconductor control signals in such a way that a bridge output terminal is electrically connected to a positive intermediate circuit potential, and in the case of a third state pattern of the safety control signals to generate the power semiconductor control signals in such a way that the bridge output terminal is electrically connected to a negative intermediate circuit potential.