Commutation of split-phase winding brushless DC motor

Claim 2

A brushless DC motor utilizing alternating current which comprises a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being supplied to a respective phase winding group, each said phase winding group being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each said phase winding group comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor comprising means for switching current so as to conduct the alternating current through at least one of said plurality of phase winding subsections said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 3

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each motor operating speed is determined by a current path through at least one of said plurality of phase winding subsections, said current path being different from current paths corresponding to those of said three motor operating speeds other than said motor operating speed corresponding to said current path.

Claim 4

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said means for switching currents comprises at least one half H-bridge switching arrangement.

Claim 5

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of phases of said alternating current are three in number.

Claim 6

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said alternating current is bipolar.

Claim 7

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said alternating current is unipolar.

Claim 8

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a semiconductor switching controller for switching current paths between at least two differing phase winding subsections, and a block commutation controller, said switching controller and said block commutation controller being for operation in coordination to vary motor speed between a first speed of said three motor operating speeds and a second speed of said three motor operating speeds.

Claim 9

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a semiconductor switching controller for switching current paths between at least two differing phase winding subsections, and a linear speed controller, said linear speed controller and said switching controller being for operation in coordination to vary motor speed between a first speed of said three motor operating speeds and a second speed of said three motor operating speeds.

Claim 10

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said first speed and said second speed are greater than one-half of a maximum speed of said brushless DC motor.

Claim 11

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said first speed and said second speed are less than one-half of a maximum speed of said brushless DC motor.

Claim 12

A plurality of phase winding groups for a brushless DC motor which utilizes alternating current comprising a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being supplied by a respective phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor and comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 13

A plurality of phase winding groups for a brushless DC motor which utilizes alternating current comprising a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being supplied by a respective phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor and comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 14

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said plurality of phases of said alternating current are three in number.

Claim 15

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said alternating current is bipolar.

Claim 16

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said alternating current is unipolar.

Claim 17

A brushless DC motor utilizing alternating current which comprises a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being supplied to a respective phase winding group, each said phase winding group being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each said phase winding group comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor comprising means for switching current so as to conduct the alternating current through at least one of said plurality of phase winding subsections, said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 18

A brushless DC motor utilizing alternating current which comprises a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being supplied to a respective phase winding group, each said phase winding group being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each said phase winding group comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor comprising means for switching current so as to conduct the alternating current through at least one of said plurality of phase winding subsections, said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 19

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 15 , wherein each motor operating speed is determined by a current path through at least one of said plurality of phase winding subsections, said current path being different from current paths corresponding to those of said three motor operating speeds other than said motor operating speed corresponding to said current path.

Claim 20

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said means for switching currents comprises at least one half H-bridge switching arrangement.

Claim 21

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said plurality of phases of said alternating current are three in number.

Claim 22

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said alternating current is bipolar.

Claim 23

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said alternating current is unipolar.

Claim 24

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising a semiconductor switching controller for switching current paths between at least two differing phase winding subsections, and a block commutation controller, said switching controller and said block commutation controller being for operation in coordination to vary motor speed between a first speed of said three motor operating speeds and a second speed of said three motor operating speeds.

Claim 25

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising a semiconductor switching controller for switching current paths between at least two differing phase winding subsections, and a linear speed controller, said switching controller and said linear speed controller being for operation in coordination to vary motor speed between a first speed of said three motor operating speeds and a second speed of said three motor operating speeds.

Claim 26

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said first speed and said second speed are greater than one-half of a maximum speed of said brushless DC motor.

Claim 27

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said first speed and said second speed are less than one-half of a maximum speed of said brushless DC motor.

Claim 28

A plurality of phase winding groups for a brushless DC motor which utilizes alternating current comprising a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being supplied by a respective phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor and comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 29

A plurality of phase winding groups for a brushless DC motor which utilizes alternating current comprising a plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current being split into a plurality of subphases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being supplied by a respective phase of said plurality of phases of said alternating current, each phase winding group of said plurality of phase winding groups being wound on a stator of said brushless DC motor and comprising a plurality of phase winding subsections connected in series, each phase winding subsection of said plurality of phase winding subsections being supplied by a subphase of a plurality of said plurality of subphases of said alternating current, said brushless DC motor being operative in three motor operating speeds.

Claim 30

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said plurality of phases of said alternating current are three in number.

Claim 31

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said alternating current is bipolar.

Claim 32

A brushless DC motor as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said alternating current is unipolar.