Electric Machine

Abstract

An electric machine that includes a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor is adapted to rotate relatively to the stator, and wherein the rotor comprises a rotor-switching-device which is arranged at the rotor.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An electric machine, comprising:
 a stator; and   a rotor that is configured to rotate relative to the stator, wherein the rotor comprises a rotor-switching-device that is arranged at the rotor.   
     
     
         13 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the rotor-switching-device comprises at least one switch that is configured to at least one of electrically connect a plurality of rotor-coils and disconnect an electric connection to a power source. 
     
     
         14 . The electric machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotor-switching-device comprises at least one switch that is configured to at least one of electrically connect a plurality of rotor-coils and disconnect an electric connection to a power source. 
     
     
         15 . The electric machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotor comprises an apparatus to at least one of provide and conduct electric. 
     
     
         16 . The electric machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a slip ring and a rotary transformer. 
     
     
         17 . The electric machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotor-switching-device comprises at least one electric inverter. 
     
     
         18 . The electric machine of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one electric inverter comprises at least one of a DC-DC-inverter, a DC-AC-inverter, an AC-AC-inverter, and an AC-DC-inverter. 
     
     
         19 . The electric machine according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a stator-switching-device that comprises at least one switch that is configured to at least one of electrically connect a plurality of stator-coils, and provide an electric connection to a power source.   
     
     
         20 . The electric machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the stator-switching-device is adapted to vary a number of stator-pole-pairs, and wherein the rotor-switching-device is adapted to vary a number of rotor-pole-pairs. 
     
     
         21 . The electric machine according to  claim 20 , wherein the rotor-switching-device and the stator-switching-device are connected by a communication connection. 
     
     
         22 . The electric machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of an AC-power source and a DC-power source. 
     
     
         23 . The electric machine according to  claim 22 , wherein the rotor comprises at least one sensor that is configured to provide information about a status of the rotor, including at least one of rotor position, rotor internal temperature, electric currents in rotor coils, power supply conditions, and vibration levels. 
     
     
         24 . The electric machine according to  claim 23 , wherein the rotor-switching-device comprises a rotor energy-storage-unit. 
     
     
         25 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the rotor comprises an apparatus to at least one of provide and conduct electric. 
     
     
         26 . The electric machine according to  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a slip ring and a rotary transformer. 
     
     
         27 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the rotor-switching-device comprises at least one electric inverter. 
     
     
         28 . The electric machine of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one electric inverter comprises at least one of a DC-DC-inverter, a DC-AC-inverter, an AC-AC-inverter, and an AC-DC-inverter. 
     
     
         29 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a stator-switching-device that comprises at least one switch that is configured to at least one of electrically connect a plurality of stator-coils, and provide an electric connection to a power source.   
     
     
         30 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the stator-switching-device is adapted to vary a number of stator-pole-pairs, and wherein the rotor-switching-device is adapted to vary a number of rotor-pole-pairs. 
     
     
         31 . The electric machine according to  claim 30 , wherein the rotor-switching-device and the stator-switching-device are connected by a communication connection. 
     
     
         32 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the rotor comprises at least one sensor that is configured to provide information about a status of the rotor, including at least one of rotor position, rotor internal temperature, electric currents in rotor coils, power supply conditions, and vibration levels. 
     
     
         33 . The electric machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the rotor-switching-device comprises a rotor energy-storage-unit. 
     
     
         34 . A method to operate an electric machine, comprising the steps of:
 providing a stator; and   providing a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, wherein the rotor comprises a rotor-switching-device that is arranged at the rotor;   providing the stator with AC using a stator-switching device; and   at least one of providing the rotor with AC and DC, and short-circuiting the rotor using the rotor-switching-device.