Controller and drive circuit for electric motors
OwnerLudovic Andre Chretien, Michael R. Kollerinventors
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Abstract
A controller for an electric motor including a first winding and a second winding is provided. The controller includes a processor configured to supply two-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor using an inverter with a run capacitor electrically coupled to one phase of the inverter and to the second winding via a switching network, actuate the switching network to electrically decouple the run capacitor from the second winding, and, after actuating the switching network, supply three-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor.
Claims20
A controller for an electric motor including a first winding and a second winding, the controller comprising a processor configured to:
- supply two-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor using an inverter with a run capacitor electrically coupled to one phase of the inverter and to the second winding via a switching network;
- actuate the switching network to electrically decouple the run capacitor from the second winding;
- and
- after actuating the switching network, supply three-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor.
A method for controlling an electric motor including a first winding and a second winding, the method comprising:
- supplying two-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor using an inverter with a run capacitor electrically coupled to one phase of the inverter and to the second winding via a switching network;
- actuating the switching network to electrically decouple the run capacitor from the second winding;
- and
- after actuating the switching network, supplying three-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor.
A drive circuit comprising:
- an electric motor comprising a first winding and a second winding;
- an inverter electrically coupled to the electric motor;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- supply two-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor using the inverter with a run capacitor electrically coupled to one phase of the inverter and to the second winding via a switching network;
- actuate the switching network to electrically decouple the run capacitor from the second winding;
- and
- after actuating the switching network, supply three-phase variable frequency power to the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.