Patent ID: 7321176

Claim:
A multiple phase electric machine comprising: at least three stator segments, each segment having: M stator poles, wherein M is an integer number equal to or greater than 3; a first distance between adjacent stator poles; and at least one stator pole for each phase of the multiple phase electric machine, including a first stator pole electrically connected to a first electric phase of the machine, a second stator pole electrically connected to a second phase of the electrical machine, and a third stator pole electrically connected to a third phase of the electrical machine; a number of rotor segments equal to the number of stator segments, each rotor segment being associated with a unique stator segment and having: N permanent magnet rotor poles, wherein N is an integer number greater or less than M, wherein pairs of successive permanent magnet rotor poles define a magnetic period, and wherein the ratio of M to N/2 is a non integer number; and a second distance between adjacent permanent magnet rotor poles; wherein the second distance is greater or less than the first distance between adjacent stator poles; and the stator segments forming a generally circular stator part and the rotor segments forming a generally circular rotor part wherein the generally circular rotor part is external to the generally circular stator part.