Hybrid permanent magnet/synchronous machines

A rotor for use in an electrical machine, said rotor having an axis of rotation and comprising:

• a plurality of axially-extending pole pieces having an inner rotor portion;
• a plurality of rotor coils, one of said plurality of rotor coils magnetically coupled with one of said plurality of axially-extending pole pieces which when energized magnetizes said one of said plurality of axially-extending pole pieces such that each adjacent one of said plurality of axially-extending pole piece has an opposite magnetic polarity;
• a plurality of permanent magnets having a first set of permanent magnets and a second set of permanent magnets;
• one of said first set of permanent magnets disposed between a first adjacent pair of said plurality of axially-extending pole pieces and having a first radially-inward surface, a first radially-outward surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein said first side surface is adjacent to one of said first adjacent pair of pole pieces and extends the length of one of said first adjacent pair of pole pieces, wherein said second surface is adjacent to the other of said first adjacent pair of pole pieces and extends the length of other of said first adjacent pair of pole pieces;
• one of said second set of permanent magnets disposed between a second adjacent pair of said plurality of axially-extending pole pieces and having a second radially-inward surface, a second radially-outward surface, a third side surface and a fourth side surface, wherein said third side surface is adjacent to one of said second adjacent pair of axially-extending pole pieces and extends the length of one of said second adjacent pair of axially-extending pole pieces, wherein said fourth surface is adjacent to the other of said second adjacent pair of axially-extending pole pieces and extends the length of said other of said second adjacent pair of axially-extending pieces;
• wherein said other of said first adjacent pair of said plurality of axially-extending pole pieces and said other of said second adjacent pair of said plurality of axially-extending pole pieces have the same magnetic polarity;
• and
• wherein said first radially-outward surface and said first side surface have a north magnetic polarity and wherein said second radially-outward surface and said fourth side surface have a south magnetic polarity.