A device has a plurality of power converter groups and a control system. A power converter group has a group of power converters and is coupled between an input voltage source and a group of windings of a motor generator. The control system is configured to control currents of the windings such that the number of poles of and the number of phases in a pair of poles of the motor/generator are dynamically adjusted, and the number of poles and the strength of a magnetic field of the motor generator are controlled to reduce a power loss. The motor/generator has an air gap and a stator with a plurality of slots, where the windings are installed in. The windings are configured such that the number of poles and the number of phases in a pair of poles of the motor/generator can be dynamically adjusted.

A device has a plurality of power converter groups and a control system. A power converter group has a group of power converters and is coupled between an input voltage source and a group of windings of a motor generator. The control system is configured to control currents of the windings such that the number of poles of and the number of phases in a pair of poles of the motor/generator are dynamically adjusted, and the number of poles and the strength of a magnetic field of the motor generator are controlled to reduce a power loss. The motor/generator has an air gap and a stator with a plurality of slots, where the windings are installed in. The windings are configured such that the number of poles and the number of phases in a pair of poles of the motor/generator can be dynamically adjusted.

An actuator including a motor with a configurable topology and a switching array operably coupled to the motor. The switching array is adapted to configure the topology of the motor. The switching array may include a first set of switches for configuring the topology of the motor to a Y-configuration or a -configuration and a second set of switches for configuring the topology of the motor to eliminate one or more stator poles of the motor. The switching array may further include a third set of switches for configuring the topology of the motor to activate a number of windings on each of a plurality of stator poles of the motor.

A reconfigurable electric motor (or machine) that may be reconfigured to improve performance given particular motor conditions. The motor is part of a motor system including a stator, a rotor, a microinverter network including a plurality of microinverters, and a motor controller including processing circuitry. The motor controller controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with a first configuration of a plurality of motor configurations. The motor controller determines, based on determined motor conditions, to reconfigure the motor from the first configuration to a second configuration, where the first configuration has a first pole count that is different than a second pole count of the second configuration. The motor controller further controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with the second configuration.

A reconfigurable electric motor (or machine) that may be reconfigured to improve performance given particular motor conditions. The motor is part of a motor system including a stator, a rotor, a microinverter network including a plurality of microinverters, and a motor controller including processing circuitry. The motor controller controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with a first configuration of a plurality of motor configurations. The motor controller determines, based on determined motor conditions, to reconfigure the motor from the first configuration to a second configuration, where the first configuration has a first pole count that is different than a second pole count of the second configuration. The motor controller further controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with the second configuration.

Electric motors having variable poles are disclosed herein. In one aspect, an electric motor includes a stator including a plurality of magnetic conductive wires. The magnetic conductive wires are configured to form a plurality of poles. The electric motor further includes a rotor configured to rotate in response to a magnetic field generated by the poles of the stator and an electronic control module electrically coupled to the magnetic conductive wires. The electronic control module is configured to adjust a configuration of the poles of the stator.

Electric motors having variable poles are disclosed herein. In one aspect, an electric motor includes a stator including a plurality of magnetic conductive wires. The magnetic conductive wires are configured to form a plurality of poles. The electric motor further includes a rotor configured to rotate in response to a magnetic field generated by the poles of the stator and an electronic control module electrically coupled to the magnetic conductive wires. The electronic control module is configured to adjust a configuration of the poles of the stator.

An electrical induction motor includes a plurality of windings, and a plurality of contactors. Each of the plurality of contactors is configured to be selectively opened or closed in a circuit including the plurality of windings to selectively connect the windings together in a star configuration wherein current flowing through the windings results in the generation of 2N magnetic poles, with N equal to the number of phases of the motor. Each of the plurality of contactors is also configured to be selectively opened or closed in the circuit including the plurality of windings to selectively connect the windings together in a mesh configuration wherein current flowing through the windings results in the generation of two magnetic poles.

An electrical induction motor includes a plurality of windings, and a plurality of contactors. Each of the plurality of contactors is configured to be selectively opened or closed in a circuit including the plurality of windings to selectively connect the windings together in a star configuration wherein current flowing through the windings results in the generation of 2N magnetic poles, with N equal to the number of phases of the motor. Each of the plurality of contactors is also configured to be selectively opened or closed in the circuit including the plurality of windings to selectively connect the windings together in a mesh configuration wherein current flowing through the windings results in the generation of two magnetic poles.

In a three-phase induction motor, each of coils of three phases has a first coil unit and a second coil unit placed in 180-degree symmetry, each of the coil units has a first coil and a second coil, the first coil is formed by winding a winding once in an electrical angle range of 180 degrees during a two-pole operation, the second coil is formed by winding the winding twice in a range of a center third when the first coil is equally divided into three parts in a circumferential direction, in such a manner that a current flows in a direction opposite to a direction of current flowing in the first coil.