Self-starting single-phase brushless DC motor and control therefor

Claim 1

A self-starting brushless DC motor with symmetrical stator and rotor air gap geometry and control arrangement therefor, comprising in combination: a permanent magnet rotor, a multi-pole stator having a single-phase full winding disposed thereon, such full winding comprising two serially connected sections relatively displaced on the stator such that energization of the full winding defines a run mode magnetic field pole substantially midway between similar field poles of adjacent winding sections, a controlled switch element connected across one of the serially connected stator winding sections and selectively actuable to short circuit such section, and a controller effective to energize the full winding with a source of direct current in accordance with the rotary position of the rotor to produce torque for turning the rotor in a desired direction, the controller being further effective when energizing the winding to initiate rotation of the rotor to momentarily actuate said controlled switch element if the rotor is in a null position for which such energization fails to produce sufficient torque for turning the rotor, thereby to momentarily shift the magnetic field pole in proportion to the relative displacement of the stator winding sections, and provide increased torque for successfully initiating turning of the rotor.