Patent ID: 6903526

Claim:
An electronically commutated DC motor that comprises: a stator comprising at least one stator winding ( 22 , 24 , 26 ; 142 ); a rotor ( 28 ; 132 ) electromagnetically interacting with the stator; a positive DC voltage line ( 76 ; 150 ) and a negative DC voltage line ( 78 ; 152 ) for supplying power to the motor ( 20 ); a full bridge circuit ( 74 ; 148 ) for controlling the current in the at least one stator winding ( 22 , 24 , 26 ; 142 ), which full bridge circuit ( 74 ; 148 ) comprises a plurality of bridge arms that each comprise an upper bridge transistor ( 66 , 80 , 86 ; 60 ′; 156 , 158 ) for controlling the current from the positive DC voltage line ( 76 ; 150 ) to an associated terminal ( 68 ; 144 , 146 ) of that stator winding ( 22 , 24 , 26 ; 142 ) as well as a lower bridge transistor ( 70 , 84 , 90 ; 70 ′; 160 , 162 ) for controlling the current from the relevant terminal ( 68 ; 144 , 146 ) of the stator winding ( 22 , 24 , 26 ; 142 ) to the negative DC voltage line ( 78 ; 152 ); an arrangement ( 134 ) for generating a plurality of rotor position signals (H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ; A, B); and an arrangement for controlling a predetermined bridge transistor by logical combination of rotor position signals associated therewith, there being provided, for logical combination of those rotor position signals, a control transistor ( 60 ; 94 ; 168 ) to the base of which a first rotor position signal (H 1 ; A) is applied and to whose emitter a second rotor position signal (H 2 ; B) is applied, and whose collector signal serves to control the current in an associated stator winding ( 22 , 24 , 26 ; 142 ).