Patent ID: 6160367
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: H02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for use with a DC power supply and for use in driving a motor having a three-phase stator winding and a rotor, said apparatus comprising:a DC/AC converter having switching devices and being operable to convert an output from the DC power supply into an alternating current by a switching operation of the switching devices and operable to output the alternating current to the motor;a position detector operable to detect a position of the rotor of the motor after a specified time elapses after a start of rotation of the rotor;a controller operable to control the switching operation of said DC/AC converter to change conduction phases of the three-phase stator winding of the motor, wherein said controller is operable to supply electric current to a first conduction phase of the three-phase stator winding to position the rotor at a specified position, turn off the electric current to the first conduction phase of the three-phase stator winding, supply current to a second conduction phase of the three-phase stator winding, and change conduction phases of the three-phase stator winding based on the position of the rotor detected by said position detector after the specified time elapses after the start of rotation of the rotor.