Electrostatic Motor Having Unipolar Drive

An electrostatic actuator comprising:

• an electrostatic motor providing a stator with multiple stator electrodes adapted to receive multiple phases of electrostatic power to generate a moving stator electric field vector about an axis and a rotor having multiple rotor electrodes providing a rotor electric field interacting with the moving stator electric field primarily by electrostatic forces rather than magnetic forces;
• and
• an electrostatic drive communicating with the electrostatic motor and providing:
• a set of phase circuits having power input terminals providing a ground conductor and a power conductor, the phase circuits providing:
• (1) solid-state switching devices for synthesizing the phases using power from the power input;
• and
• (2) a control circuit receiving a control signal and controlling the solid-state switching devices according to the control signal;
• wherein the phase circuits each provide phases of alternating current having a single polarity with respect to the ground conductor.