Patent ID: 7026773

Claim:
A multiphase electric motor comprising: a rotor; a stator assembly having a predetermined number of stator core components and electrically energizable core windings associated therewith; a sensible system rotatable in correspondence with the rotation of said rotor, having a reference phase region with a unique reference sensing attribute defining a reference phase and transition regions having a phase commuting attribute corresponding with the transition to each phase in a commutation sequence of phases; a sensor having a single output with a first output characteristic in the presence of said unique reference sensing attribute and a second output characteristic in correspondence with said phase commutating attribute; and a control circuit having an output coupled to effect energization of said core windings, responsive when energized to said sensor first output characteristic to effect excitation of said core windings defining said reference phase and responsive to each said second output characteristic to effect excitation of said core windings defining successive phases in said commutation sequence of phases.