Patent ID: 7164242

Claim:
A variable speed drive comprising: a converter stage to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage, the converter stage being configured to be electrically connectable to an AC power source; a DC link stage to filter and store energy from the converter stage, the DC link stage being electrically connected to the converter stage; an inverter stage comprising a plurality of inverters electrically connected in parallel to the DC link stage, each inverter of the plurality of inverters being configured to convert a DC voltage to an AC voltage to power a corresponding load, each inverter of the plurality of inverters being configured and disposed to receive an individual control signal from a control system that is separate and independent from control signals provided to other inverters of the plurality of inverters, and each inverter of the plurality of inverters being controlled and operated substantially independently of other inverters of the plurality of inverters by the individual control signals received from the control system; and wherein each inverter of the plurality of inverters comprises wire bonds sized to disconnect the inverter from the DC link stage in the event a fault occurs in one of the inverter or the corresponding load powered by the inverter.