Multispeed alternating current motor

Abstract

A system is for a machine having an alternating current (AC) power source with a first side and a second side, one or more windings, an AC polarity detector, a Hall effect device, two or more pairs of power switches, and a motor controller. The motor controller determines which of the power switches to open or close to obtain a direction of current flow through the one or more windings based on signals from the AC polarity detector and the Hall effect device.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A circuit for a machine having alternating current (AC) power source having a first side (L 1 ) and second side (L 2 ), the circuit comprising:
 a winding with a start side and an end side;   a first power switch connected between the first side and the winding start side;   a second power switch connected between the second side and the winding start side;   a third power switch connected between the first side and the winding end side;   a fourth power switch connected between the second side and the winding end side; and   a motor controller configured to:
 receive a signal from an AC polarity detector and another signal from a Hall effect device and determine which of the power switches to open or close to obtain a proper direction of current flow through the winding based on the signal and the other signal. 
   
     
     
         34 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein:
 the AC polarity detector outputs a polarity signal as the signal; 
 the Hall effect device outputs a Hall effect signal as the other signal; 
 the signals received by the motor controller from the AC polarity detector and the Hall effect device include the polarity signal and the Hall effect signal; and 
 based on a value of the polarity signal and a value of Hall effect signal received by the motor controller, the motor controller is configured to:
 close the first power switch and the fourth power switch and open the second power switch and the third power switch; or 
 close the second power switch and the third power switch and open the first power switch and the fourth power switch. 
 
 
     
     
         35 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein:
 the AC polarity detector outputs a polarity signal, the polarity signal having a high value or a low value; 
 the Hall effect device outputs a Hall effect signal, the Hall effect signal having a high value or a low value; and 
 the motor controller is configured to:
 receive the polarity signal and the Hall effect signal; 
 when the Hall effect signal is high and the AC polarity detection signal is high, open the second power switch and the third power switch and close the first power switch and the fourth power switch; 
 when the Hall effect signal is high and the AC polarity detection signal is low, open the first power switch and the fourth power switch and close the second power switch and the third power switch; 
 when the Hall effect signal is low and the AC polarity detection signal is high, open the first power switch and the fourth power switch and close the second power switch and the third power switch; and 
 when the Hall effect signal is low and the AC polarity detection signal is low, open the second power switch and the third power switch and close the first power switch and the fourth power switch. 
 
 
     
     
         36 . The circuit of  claim 33  further comprising a direct current (DC) power supply to receive alternating current (AC) power transferred from the AC power source, convert the AC power to DC power, and transfer the DC power to one or more components of the circuit. 
     
     
         37 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein each power switch includes four diodes configured as a full wave bridge rectifier. 
     
     
         38 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein the motor controller includes at least one of a processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array signal (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), gate logic, and transistor logic. 
     
     
         39 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein each power switch includes a MOSFET. 
     
     
         40 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein each power switch includes a high speed SSR and a plurality of diodes configured as a full wave bridge rectifier. 
     
     
         41 . The circuit of  claim 33  wherein the machine includes a motor.