Electric motor utilizing a ferrite stator of low coerciveness, ferrite rotor of high coerciveness, and photo-electric commutation

Claim 1

An electric motor which comprises operatively associated stator and rotor elements each having magnetic core means that includes six pole members or a multiple thereof in substantially circularly arranged, regularly spaced relationship, said stator and rotor pole members being in opposed driving relationship for imparting torque to said rotor, said stator element core means being composed of a ferrite material of low coerciveness and having a winding on each of its said pole members, and said rotor element core means comprising a ferrite material of high coerciveness that is permanently magnetized and substantially encapsulated in plastic, and electrical pulse input means electrically connected to said windings and adapted to furnish pulses of alternating electrical polarity to said windings, said pulse input means comprising a light commutator for pulsing said stator windings in synchronism with rotor movement, said light commutator comprising a stationary commutator portion including a generally stationary light source and photoelectric means, and a rotor commutator portion comprising a light chopper operatively disposed between said light source and said photoelectric means, said commutator portions being operatively associated in a mechanically separated, generally frictionless relationship.