Patent ID: 7205731

Claim:
A motor control device for controlling an electric motor installed in a vehicle, the motor having a field winding, the motor control device comprising: a battery charged by power at a first voltage, an inverter capable-of supplying the power charged in the battery to the motor, the inverter comprising a voltage increasing circuit capable of increasing the first voltage from the battery, an inverter circuit capable of supplying the increased voltage, and a connection part between the voltage increasing circuit and the inverter circuit, wherein the connection part is connected to the field winding to allow passage of an exciting current from the connection part to the field winding, an excitation control circuit which allows or disallows supply of the exciting current to the field winding, a sensor which detects the state of the vehicle, and a controller which controls the inverter to supply power to the motor so as to start the motor, wherein the controller is programmed to: determine whether or not to start the motor based on a signal from the sensor, when the motor is to be started, allow supply of exciting current by the excitation control circuit and control the voltage increasing circuit so that the first voltage is increased to a second voltage higher than the first voltage.