Patent ID: 8716961

Claim:
A method of operating an electrical machine having first and second phase windings, the method comprising: applying positive first current to the first phase winding while the first phase winding's back electromotive force (emf) is positive; applying negative second current to the first phase winding while the first phase winding's back emf is negative; and applying positive third current to the second phase winding while the second phase winding's back emf is positive, wherein: the first current is conducted through a circuit consisting of a battery, the first phase winding, and a first switch that is operating in a conductive state, the second current is conducted through a circuit consisting of a first capacitive storage element, the battery, the first phase winding, and a second switch that is operating in a conductive state, and the third current is conducted through a circuit consisting of the battery, the second phase winding, and a third switch that is operating in a conductive state.