The disclosure relates to a drive assembly for an electric vehicle and to operation of a drive assembly. The drive assembly can comprise an electric drive machine with three phase strands. The drive assembly can comprise a switching means being configured for selectively switching the three phase strands in a delta configuration or in a star configuration. The drive assembly can also comprise a battery unit, wherein the battery unit comprises a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of cell-level control units. Each of the cell-level control units can be electrically connected to an associated battery cell out of the plurality of battery cells, or to an associated group of battery cells out of the plurality of battery cells, and each of the cell-level control units can comprise a cell-level inverter unit.

The present disclosure relates to a motor driving apparatus and an air conditioner including the same. The motor driving apparatus and the air conditioner including the same according to an embodiment of the present disclosure include: a switching device disposed between an inverter and a motor; and a controller, which in response to windings of the motor being switched from a first connection to a second connection, controls an operating frequency of the motor to be less than or equal to a first frequency, and in response to the windings of the motor being switched from the second connection to the first connection, controls an operating frequency of the motor to be less than or equal to a second frequency which is less than the first frequency. Accordingly, burnout of the switching device for switching connection of the motor windings may be prevented.

A motor driving device and an air conditioner having the same of the present disclosure limits the switching of a winding switching device when there is a possibility that the winding switching device is deteriorated, in order to increase the life of winding switching device of a motor and prevent malfunction.

A motor-driving apparatus for driving a motor having a plurality of windings respectively corresponding to a plurality of phases is provided. The motor-driving apparatus includes a first inverter having a plurality of first switching devices and connected to first ends of the plurality of windings and a second inverter having a plurality of second switching devices and connected to second ends of the plurality of windings. A third switching device is configured to selectively connect and disconnect points at which a number of turns of each of the windings is divided in a preset ratio. A controller is configured to adjust an on/off state of the first to third switching devices based on required output of the motor.

A motor-driving apparatus for driving a motor having a plurality of windings respectively corresponding to a plurality of phases is provided. The motor-driving apparatus includes a first inverter having a plurality of first switching devices and connected to first ends of the plurality of windings and a second inverter having a plurality of second switching devices and connected to second ends of the plurality of windings. A third switching device is configured to selectively connect and disconnect points at which a number of turns of each of the windings is divided in a preset ratio. A controller is configured to adjust an on/off state of the first to third switching devices based on required output of the motor.

An inverter for driving a motor that has a switchable connection of windings and drives a load element having a periodically varying load torque is provided. The inverter is controlled so that an output torque of the motor follows the periodic variation of the load torque. The inverter is controlled so that a current flowing through the motor is zero during a period including a minimum torque phase at which the load torque is at or near a minimum value. The connection is switched while the current flowing through the motor is zero. It is possible to switch the connection of the windings while the motor is rotating, and avoid an increase in apparatus size.

An air-conditioning apparatus including a compressor incorporating an electric motor; a temperature sensor configured to detect indoor temperature; a drive circuit configured to drive the electric motor; a connection switching device configured to switch connection of stator windings of the electric motor between a first connection state and a second connection state higher in line-to-line voltage than the first connection state; and a controller configured to enter thermo-off when the indoor temperature reaches a target temperature or a correction temperature set based on the target temperature and cause the connection switching device to switch connection, the thermo-off being entered by stopping the compressor via the drive circuit. When a thermo-off count reaches a reference count with the electric motor being in the first connection state, the controller causes the connection switching device to switch connection from the first connection state to the second connection state.

A driving device drives a motor having coils. The driving device includes a connection switching unit to switch a connection state of the coils, a temperature sensor to detect a room temperature, and a controller to switch the connection state of the coils based on a detected temperature by the temperature sensor.

An air conditioner includes a signal receiving unit to receive an operation instruction signal, a compressor including a motor including coils, an inverter connected to the coils, a connection switching unit to switch a connection state of the coils between a first connection state and a second connection state, and a controller to control the inverter and the connection switching unit. When the signal receiving unit receives an operation stop signal, the connection switching unit switches the connection state of the coils from the first connection state to the second connection state.

An electric-motor driving device includes an inverter connected to terminals connected to windings of an electric motor including the windings, the inverter applying an alternating-current voltage to the electric motor, a switching unit connected to the terminals and capable of switching a connection state between the terminals, a detecting unit that detects at least one of a voltage and an electric current of the inverter, and a control unit that determines on the basis of a detection value detected by the detecting unit that an abnormality occurs in the switching unit and controls the inverter to short-circuit at least two of the terminals.