Variable reluctance step motor having enhanced holding torque

A variable reluctance stepper motor, comprising:

• a stator comprising an annular outer yoke with a set of circumferentially spaced stator poles extending radially inward from first portions of the outer yoke toward the rotor, and having a set of energizable conductive phase windings around each of the stator poles, wherein second portions of the annular outer yoke at locations circumferentially between the first portions have slots formed in an outer perimeter edge of the yoke with a permanent magnet embedded within each slot such that a magnetic orientation of the respective permanent magnets are circumferentially directed toward the first portions of the annular outer yoke from which the stator poles project, the number of slots and embedded magnets within the slots being equal to the number of stator Doles, adjacent permanent magnets around the yoke circumference have alternating opposed magnetic N-S polarization directions;
• and
• a rotor rotatable relative to the stator, the rotor composed of soft magnetic material and having a set of circumferentially evenly spaced rotor poles extending radially outward toward the stator.