Patent ID: 7102324
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: H02P

Abstract:
1. A controller for an electric machine, the controller comprising: a switch coupled to the electric machine, having a plurality of power inputs, and operable to selectively couple one of the power inputs to the electric machine; a first voltage input coupled to one of the power inputs of the switch, configured to receive a first voltage, and operable to provide the first voltage to the switch; an inverter coupled to a second voltage input and a second power input of the switch, and configured to be activated by a second voltage received at the second voltage input, to frequency-regulate the second voltage to generate a frequency-regulated voltage, and to provide the frequency-regulated voltage to the switch; a module coupled to the first and second voltage inputs to receive the first and second voltages, and configured to generate different signals representing the receipt of the first and second voltages; and a micro-controller coupled to the module to receive the different signals, and configured to generate a soft control signal based on the different signals and to selectively control the coupling of one of the first voltage and the frequency regulated voltage to the electric machine with the soft control signal applied to the switch.