Patent ID: 8604726

Claim:
A method of operating an electronically commutated motor ( 10 ) that comprises: a rotor ( 12 ); a stator ( 14 ) having a multi-strand winding arrangement ( 16 ) for whose energization a power stage ( 18 ) is provided; a first lead ( 30 ) and a second lead ( 32 ) for connecting power stage ( 18 ) of said motor to a voltage source ( 24 ), and a first controller ( 23 ) controlling power applied to said power stage ( 18 ), said method comprising the steps of: A) sensing a first signal (U_ 34 ; U_ 38 ) which, during operation, characterizes a current (I_IN; I_IN′; I_M; I_M′) flowing through at least one of said first and second leads ( 30 ; 32 ); B) as a function of the first signal (U_ 34 ; U_ 38 ), ascertaining a first value (I_ave_i) which characterizes an average value of the current (I_IN; I_IN′; I_M; I_M′) flowing through at least one of the leads ( 30 ; 32 ); C) in the first controller, generating a first control signal (TV), based upon the first value (I_ave_i) applied to an input of said controller as an actual value, and a second value (I_ave_s) applied to an input of said controller as a target value; D) generating ( 280 ) at least one clocked signal (PWM; PWM*; PWM**) as a function of the first control signal (TV), and E) applying said at least one clocked signal to the power stage ( 18 ), in order to influence the first value (I_ave_i) and to thereby reduce fluctuations of said average value of the current flowing through at least one of the leads.