Abstract: A method for high speed switching comprises receiving voltage inputs at a bridge rectifier, receiving a logic input signal at an optical isolator and generating an output signal from the optical isolator based on the logic input signal, and driving a gate of a field effect transistor (FET) via the output signal of the optical isolator, wherein a source of the FET is connected to a negative output of the bridge rectifier and a drain of the FET is connected to a positive output of the bridge rectifier through a load. The method further includes limiting current flowing to the gate of the FET through first and second resistors and first and second diodes connecting the voltage inputs to the gate of the FET and limiting voltage to the gate of the FET below a maximum voltage rating of the FET by a Zener diode connected to the gate of the FET.

Abstract: A method is for a circuit for a motor comprising first and second phase windings. The method comprises receiving alternating current (AC) power from the first and second phase windings at a direct current (DC) power supply and converting the AC power to DC power and receiving AC power from the first and second phase windings by at least one power switch between the first and second phase windings and switching the AC power by the at least one power switch. The method includes preventing the DC power supply from collapsing, by a first component connected to the DC power supply, when the at least one power switch is on during a first portion of an AC cycle and preventing the DC power supply from collapsing, by a second component connected to the DC power supply, when the at least one power switch is on during a second portion of the AC cycle.

Abstract: Exchangeable stator components are selected and exchangeable rotor components are selected to transform a motor from one motor class to another motor class. A motor comprises three stator rings, three rotor rings, a first input, and a second input. The first input comprises two exchangeable stator components selected from a stator component group consisting of a stator spacer ring and an axially magnetized stator magnet ring. The second input comprises two exchangeable rotor components selected from a rotor component group consisting of a rotor spacer ring and an axially magnetized rotor magnet ring.

Abstract: A circuit includes first and second phase windings, a direct current (DC) power supply to convert alternating current (AC) power to DC power, at least one power switch between the first and second phase windings, and a controller to control the at least one power switch. The circuit also includes a component to prevent the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch is on during a first portion of a cycle and a second component to prevent the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch is on during a second portion of the cycle.

Abstract: A rotor for a machine has a plurality of rotor segments, each rotor segment forming at least one rotor pole and having a plurality of permanent magnets interior to the rotor and at least one saturatable bridge section for each permanent magnet in the rotor segment, each saturatable bridge section comprising a protrusion between air regions separating a north pole and a south pole of the permanent magnet to cause a portion of magnetic flux from the permanent magnet to traverse the saturatable bridge and cause a majority of the permanent magnet flux through an air gap of a rotor-stator interface between the rotor and a stator of the machine and through a stator pole.

Abstract: A rotor for a machine includes a plurality of rotor segments, each rotor segment forming a rotor pole and having two permanent magnets interior to the rotor to direct magnetic flux from the permanent magnets through one rotor pole of one rotor segment, through an air gap of a rotor-stator interface between the rotor and the stator, and through a stator pole, wherein at least one rotor segment comprises a saturatable bridge section comprising a structural arch to cause permanent magnet flux from at least one rotor permanent magnet to traverse through an air region of the rotor to core material of the rotor.

Abstract: A parallel magnetic circuit motor includes a rotor without magnets and a stator with magnets. The stator has stator poles with windings. The windings are energized on a first plurality of stator poles with current in a same first direction and the windings are energized on a second plurality of stator poles with current in a same second direction opposite the same first direction.

Abstract: A method is for a machine having an alternating current (AC) power source with a first side (L1) and a second side (L2), two or more pairs of power switches, and one or more windings. The method comprises closing one pair of power switches by a control circuit to cause current to flow from a first side of the AC power source, through the one or more windings, and to the second side of the AC power source and closing another pair of power switches by the control circuit to cause current to flow from the second side of the AC power source, through the one or more windings, and to the first side of the AC power source.

Abstract: A method for high speed switching comprises receiving voltage inputs at a bridge rectifier, receiving a logic input signal at an optical isolator and generating an output signal from the optical isolator based on the logic input signal, and driving a gate of a field effect transistor (FET) via the output signal of the optical isolator, wherein a source of the FET is connected to a negative output of the bridge rectifier and a drain of the FET is connected to a positive output of the bridge rectifier through a load. The method further includes limiting current flowing to the gate of the FET through first and second resistors and first and second diodes connecting the voltage inputs to the gate of the FET and limiting voltage to the gate of the FET below a maximum voltage rating of the FET by a Zener diode connected to the gate of the FET.

Abstract: Exchangeable stator components are selected and exchangeable rotor components are selected to transform a motor from one motor class to another motor class. A motor comprises three stator rings, three rotor rings, a first input, and a second input. The first input comprises two exchangeable stator components selected from a stator component group consisting of a stator spacer ring and an axially magnetized stator magnet ring. The second input comprises two exchangeable rotor components selected from a rotor component group consisting of a rotor spacer ring and an axially magnetized rotor magnet ring.

Abstract: A multispeed alternating current (AC) machine circuit is for an AC power source having a first side and a second side. The AC machine circuit includes two or more pairs of power switches, one or more windings, and a control circuit to close one pair of power switches to cause current to flow from a first side of the AC power source, through the one or more windings, to the second side of the AC power source and to close the other pair of power switches to cause current to flow from the second side of the AC power source, through the one or more windings, to the first side of the AC power source.

Abstract: A circuit includes first and second phase windings, a direct current (DC) power supply to convert alternating current (AC) power to DC power, at least one power switch between the first and second phase windings, and a controller to control the at least one power switch. The circuit also includes a component to prevent the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch is on during a first portion of a cycle and a second component to prevent the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch is on during a second portion of the cycle.

Abstract: An actuator has a first stator with four first poles, a second stator with four second poles aligned with the four first poles, a permanent magnet between the first stator and the second stator, four armatures positioned at terminal ends of the aligned four first poles and four second poles, and coils wrapped around the first stator and the second stator. A controller selectively applies current to the coils to migrate flux created by the permanent magnet through selective poles of the first stator and the second stator to selectively alter air gap sizes associated with the four armatures.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a bridge rectifier to receive voltage inputs and an optical isolator to receive a logic input signal and generate an output signal based on the logic input signal. The high speed switching circuit also includes a field effect transistor (FET) with a source connected to a negative output of the bridge rectifier, a drain connected to a positive output of the bridge rectifier through a load, and a gate driven by the output signal of the optical isolator. First and second resistors connect the voltage inputs to the gate of the FET through first and second diodes. The first and second resistors and the first and second diodes limit current flowing to the gate of the FET. A Zener diode connected to the gate of the FET limits voltage to the gate of the FET below a maximum voltage rating of the FET.

Abstract: A parallel magnetic circuit motor includes a rotor without magnets and a stator with magnets. The rotor, stator and windings are configured to produce unidirectional current and torque with electrically independent phases.

Abstract: An actuator includes a first stator with four first poles and a second stator with four second poles aligned with the four first poles. A permanent magnet is attached to the first stator and the second stator. Four moving armatures are positioned at terminal ends of the four first poles and the four second poles. Coils are wrapped around the first stator and the second stator. A controller selectively applies current to the coils to migrate flux created by the permanent magnet through selective poles of the first stator and the second stator and thereby alter the size of air gaps associated with the four moving armatures.

Abstract: A circuit includes motor phase windings that are divided, a direct current (DC) power supply between the divided motor phase windings, a power switch circuit comprising at least one power switch, the at least one power switch being between the divided motor phase windings. The circuit also includes a first non-collapsing DC power supply component to prevent the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch is on during a first portion of a cycle and a second non-collapsing DC power supply component to prevent the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch is on during a second portion of the cycle.

Abstract: Exchangeable stator components are selected and exchangeable rotor components are selected to transform a motor from one motor class to another motor class. A motor comprises at least two stator rings, at least two outer rotor rings, a first input, and a second input. The first input comprises at least one exchangeable stator component selected from a stator component group consisting of a stator spacer ring and an axially magnetized stator magnet ring. The second input comprises at least one exchangeable rotor component from a rotor component group consisting of a rotor spacer ring and an axially magnetized rotor magnet ring.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a bridge rectifier to receive voltage inputs and an optical isolator to receive a logic input signal and generate an output signal based on the logic input signal. The high speed switching circuit also includes a field effect transistor (FET) with a source connected to a negative output of the bridge rectifier, a drain connected to a positive output of the bridge rectifier through a load, and a gate driven by the output signal of the optical isolator. First and second resistors connect the voltage inputs to the gate of the FET through first and second diodes. The first and second resistors and the first and second diodes limit current flowing to the gate of the FET. A Zener diode connected to the gate of the FET limits voltage to the gate of the FET below a maximum voltage rating of the FET.

Abstract: A multispeed alternating current (AC) machine circuit is for an AC power source having a first side and a second side. The AC machine circuit includes two or more pairs of power switches, one or more windings, and a control circuit to close one pair of power switches to cause current to flow from a first side of the AC power source, through the one or more windings, to the second side of the AC power source and to close the other pair of power switches to cause current to flow from the second side of the AC power source, through the one or more windings, to the first side of the AC power source.