A device for driving a plurality of motors and an electric apparatus includes a first and a second capacitor, an inverter connected to a DC terminal, a multi-phase motor connected to the inverter, a single-phase motor serially connected with the multi-phase motor, and a controller configured to control the inverter. For starting the single phase motor during operation of the multi-phase motor, the controller is configured to perform, during an alignment period, an alignment of a rotor of the single-phase motor and perform, during a voltage compensation period, a voltage compensation for compensating a voltage change of a DC terminal neutral point between the first capacitor and the second capacitor based on the alignment of the rotor of the single-phase motor.

An apparatus includes a first inverter configured to drive a first motor having a plurality of phases, the first inverter comprising a plurality of inverter legs, each of which is coupled to a corresponding phase of the first motor, a second inverter configured to drive a second motor having a plurality of phases, the second inverter comprising a plurality of inverter legs, each of which is coupled to a corresponding phase of the second motor, and a first current sensor configured to sense currents flowing in the first inverter and the second inverter, wherein the first current sensor is shared by at least by two inverter legs.

An apparatus includes a first inverter configured to drive a first motor having a plurality of phases, the first inverter comprising a plurality of inverter legs, each of which is coupled to a corresponding phase of the first motor, a second inverter configured to drive a second motor having a plurality of phases, the second inverter comprising a plurality of inverter legs, each of which is coupled to a corresponding phase of the second motor, and a first current sensor configured to sense currents flowing in the first inverter and the second inverter, wherein the first current sensor is shared by at least by two inverter legs.

A motor driving device controls a three-phase motor and a single-phase motor to operate in parallel. The motor driving device includes a dc terminal in which an upper and a lower DC-link capacitor are located. The motor driving device also includes a neutral terminal disposed between the upper and lower DC-link capacitors. The motor driving device includes an inverter that includes three pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements. Two pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs are connected to an a-phase terminal and a b-phase terminal of the three-phase motor, respectively. The other pair of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs is connected to a first terminal of the single-phase motor. The neutral terminal is connected to a second terminal of the single-phase motor. A c-phase terminal of the three-phase motor is connected to the single-phase motor.

A motor driving device controls a three-phase motor and a single-phase motor to operate in parallel. The motor driving device includes a dc terminal in which an upper and a lower DC-link capacitor are located. The motor driving device also includes a neutral terminal disposed between the upper and lower DC-link capacitors. The motor driving device includes an inverter that includes three pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements. Two pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs are connected to an a-phase terminal and a b-phase terminal of the three-phase motor, respectively. The other pair of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs is connected to a first terminal of the single-phase motor. The neutral terminal is connected to a second terminal of the single-phase motor. A c-phase terminal of the three-phase motor is connected to the single-phase motor.

An inverter assembly for an electric vehicle. The inverter assembly includes three inverters driving at least one wheel of the vehicle. Each inverter has a different phases angle relative to the other inverters in order to minimize current ripple and reduce the capacitor size to allow a smaller package for the inverter assembly.

An inverter assembly for an electric vehicle. The inverter assembly includes three inverters driving at least one wheel of the vehicle. Each inverter has a different phases angle relative to the other inverters in order to minimize current ripple and reduce the capacitor size to allow a smaller package for the inverter assembly.

A motor driving device controls a three-phase motor and a single-phase motor to operate in parallel. The motor driving device includes a dc terminal in which an upper and a lower DC-link capacitor are located. The motor driving device also includes a neutral terminal disposed between the upper and lower DC-link capacitors. The motor driving device includes an inverter that includes three pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements. Two pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs are connected to a-phase terminal and b-phase terminal of the three-phase motor, respectively. The other pair of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs is connected to a first terminal of the single-phase motor. The neutral terminal is connected to c-phase terminal of the three-phase motor and a second terminal of the single-phase motor.

A motor driving device controls a three-phase motor and a single-phase motor to operate in parallel. The motor driving device includes a dc terminal in which an upper and a lower DC-link capacitor are located. The motor driving device also includes a neutral terminal disposed between the upper and lower DC-link capacitors. The motor driving device includes an inverter that includes three pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements. Two pairs of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs are connected to a-phase terminal and b-phase terminal of the three-phase motor, respectively. The other pair of upper switching elements and lower switching elements among three pairs is connected to a first terminal of the single-phase motor. The neutral terminal is connected to c-phase terminal of the three-phase motor and a second terminal of the single-phase motor.

Disclosed herein is a washing machine. The washing machine includes a housing provided with an inlet for laundry disposed on a front surface thereof, a water tub provided inside of the housing and configured to store water, a drum rotatably provided inside of the water tub, a pulsator provided inside of the drum and configured to be rotated independently of the drum, a motor provided with a stator, and a first and second rotor connected to the drum and the pulsator, respectively, and at least one processor configured to apply a q-axis current to the stator to rotate the second rotor and configured to apply a d-axis current to the stator to rotate the first rotor based on a phase difference between the first rotor and the second rotor.