Three-phase to single-phase converter module for electrically commutated motors

A method of operating a converter module to convert three-phase electrical power to single-phase electrical power to power a single-phase electrically commutated motor (ECM), said method comprising:

• receiving a three-phase power signal at three-phase terminals of the converter module;
• rectifying the three-phase power signal to a direct current (DC) power signal using a full-wave bridge rectifier;
• and
• supplying the DC power signal to a rectifier stage of the single-phase ECM to power the ECM.

An electrically commutated motor (ECM), comprising:

• a stator comprising windings;
• a rotor electromagnetically coupled to said stator and configured to rotate relative thereto;
• a rectifier circuit configured to rectify a low-quality direct current (DC) power signal to a high-quality DC power signal;
• a DC filter capacitor coupled to said rectifier circuit and configured to smooth-filter the high-quality DC power signal;
• a motor controller coupled to said DC filter capacitor and configured to:
• receive the high-quality DC power signal;
• invert the high-quality DC power signal to an AC power signal;
• and
• energize said windings of said stator using the AC power signal to control operation of the ECM;
• first housing within which said stator, said rotor, said rectifier circuit, said DC filter capacitor, and said motor controller are disposed;
• and
• a second housing disposed external to said first housing, said second housing configured to contain a converter module, said converter module comprising:
• a full-wave bridge rectifier configured to be electrically coupled to a three-phase power source from which a three-phase power signal is provided, and further configured to rectify the three-phase power signal to the low-quality DC power signal that is supplied to an input of said rectifier circuit.