Patent ID: 6815920
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: H02P

Abstract:
A controller for a motor having N redundant M-phase rotor/stator combinations where N and M are both integers greater than 1, comprising:N driver circuits each having M outputs, wherein each of the M outputs of a respective one of the N driver circuits provides pulse-width modulated (PWM) current pulses to a corresponding phase winding in a respective one of the redundant M-phase rotor/stator combinations; and a control unit operatively coupled to the N driver circuits for providing phase spacing between the N driver circuits whereby current pulses provided by the N driver circuits to a same phase winding in each of the redundant M-phase rotor/stator combinations are offset in phase, wherein the N driver circuits are substantially identical and receive driving pulses from the control unit, and the N driver circuits receive the same driving pulses from the control unit but with different phase delays.