Patent ID: 7471055

Claim:
A controller for controlling a motor, wherein the motor includes a predetermined number of phase windings, the controller comprising: a drive assembly in electrical communication with a power supply and the motor, wherein the drive assembly is configured to receive a voltage output of the power supply and provide a pulse-width-modulated input voltage to the motor, wherein the drive assembly comprises a plurality of half-bridge assemblies at least one of which is configured to electrically connect to each phase winding of the motor, at least one half-bridge assembly comprising: a first arrangement; a first diode electrically connected in parallel with the first arrangement; a second arrangement electrically connected in series with the first arrangement; and a second diode electrically connected in parallel with the second arrangement, wherein each arrangement includes a base switching element electrically connected in series with a supplemental switching element, and wherein the at least one half-bridge assembly is configured to electrically connect to a respective phase winding of the motor at a node electrically connected in series with and between the first and second diodes; and a processing element in electrical communication with the drive assembly and the motor, wherein the processing element is configured to control operation of the drive assembly.