Patent ID: 8288908

Claim:
A reconfigurable brushless AC electric motor, operating in both asynchronous and synchronous modes, the motor comprising: a stator receiving an AC power signal and generating a rotating stator magnetic field; a rotating motor shaft; a rotor rotating with the motor shaft, the rotor comprising: inductive elements for cooperation with the rotating stator magnetic field providing the asynchronous mode of operation for motor startup; pole pieces fixed to the rotor; and at least one moveable magnetic circuit element residing inside the rotor and in cooperation with the pole pieces and having a first position resulting in a misalignment of the permanent magnets with the pole pieces creating a radially collapsed magnetic field to allow the inductive motor startup and rotatable with respect to the rotor to a second position resulting in a alignment of the permanent magnets with the pole pieces creating a radially expanded magnetic field for cooperation with the rotating stator magnetic field for efficient synchronous operation.