Method and apparatus for commutating a three-phase variable reluctance motor

A system for commutating a three-phase variable reluctance motor comprising:

• a power source;
• a position sensor adapted to generate a plurality of variable inductance values corresponding to relative motor torque rankings at absolute angular positions of the motor;
• an inductance to digital converter in electrical communication with said position sensor and said power source for generating a sequence of digital values from said inductance values, said sequence of digital values indicating which phase of the motor to apply electrical power to so as to commutate the motor to provide optimum torque;
• and
• steering logic responsive to said sequence of digital values to generate output signals having values corresponding to the phase of the motor indicated, wherein said steering logic includes means responsive to an externally generated signal to commutate said motor, in the alternative, to produce a positive motor torque and a negative motor torque.