Apparatus for driving motor of air conditioner and method for driving the same

An apparatus for driving a motor for use in an air conditioner comprising:

• a motor;
• an inverter that includes a plurality of switching elements, outputs AC power having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined magnitude by a switching operation of the switching elements, and drives the motor;
• and
• a controller configured to drive the motor in response to a predetermined speed command, sequentially detect first and second mechanical angles in response to the speed command or a reference speed being spaced apart from the speed command by a predetermined range, calculate a maximum speed mechanical angle corresponding to a maximum speed ripple of the motor on the basis of the detected first and second mechanical angles, and compensate for load torque of the motor on the basis of the calculated the maximum speed mechanical angle.