A controller includes: a connection switch that switches a connection state of a winding of a synchronous motor during a rotating operation of the synchronous motor; a current detector that detects a rotary machine current flowing in the synchronous motor; a position/speed estimator that estimates a magnetic pole position and speed of a rotor; a voltage applicator that applies a voltage to the synchronous motor; and a control circuitry that generates a voltage command given to the voltage applicator on the basis of the magnetic pole position and the speed, and outputs a switching operation command for switching the connection state to the connection switch. The control circuitry generates the voltage command to bring the rotary machine current close to zero before the connection state of the winding is switched.

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 electric machine comprising a first and a second three-phase winding and comprising a stator formed of a cylindrical yoke made of a soft ferromagnetic material extended radially by a set of teeth, a portion of the set of teeth bearing the windings, the windings being distinct from one another, the first three-phase winding being connected in a delta configuration, the second three-phase winding being connected in a star configuration.

An air conditioning apparatus includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit includes a compressor that compresses a refrigerant and a motor drive apparatus that drives the compressor. The motor drive apparatus includes an inverter that converts a direct-current voltage into an alternating-current voltage and a motor that operates on the alternating-current voltage from the inverter. The motor includes six stator windings that are each openable at both ends. The motor drive apparatus further includes a connection state switching unit that includes a function of switching a connection state of the six stator windings of the motor among at least four types of connection states.

A wall-mountable load control device may include an illuminated rotary knob for providing a nightlight feature. The load control device may be configured to control an intensity of a lighting load. The load control device may include a yoke adapted to be mounted to an electrical wall box, an enclosure attached to the yoke, a faceplate attached to the yoke and having an opening, a mounting member attached to the yoke, and/or a potentiometer located within the enclosure and having a shaft extending through an opening in the yoke and the opening of the faceplate. The load control device may include a collar attached to the boss of the mounting member and surrounding the shaft of the potentiometer. The mounting member may be configured to conduct light from at least one light source housed within the enclosure to illuminate the faceplate.

A motor driving device is a device for driving a motor including stator windings, includes: a connection switching unit that is connected to the stator windings, includes circuits including semiconductor switches, and switches connection condition of the stator windings to either of first connection condition and second connection condition different from the first connection condition by setting the semiconductor switches to ON or OFF; and an inverter that supplies AC drive voltages to the stator windings.

A driving device includes an inverter to output a voltage to coils, a connection switching unit to switch a connection state of the coils between a Y connection and a delta connection, and a controller. The controller causes the inverter to stop outputting, when the connection state of the coils is the Y connection and a current value of the inverter reaches a first threshold A, or when the connection state of the coils is the delta connection and the current value of the inverter reaches a second threshold B. The first threshold A and the second threshold B satisfy B<√3×A.

A wall-mountable load control device may include an illuminated rotary knob for providing a nightlight feature. The load control device may be configured to control an intensity of a lighting load. The load control device may include a yoke adapted to be mounted to an electrical wall box, an enclosure attached to the yoke, a faceplate attached to the yoke and having an opening, a mounting member attached to the yoke, and/or a potentiometer located within the enclosure and having a shaft extending through an opening in the yoke and the opening of the faceplate. The load control device may include a collar attached to the boss of the mounting member and surrounding the shaft of the potentiometer. The mounting member may be configured to conduct light from at least one light source housed within the enclosure to illuminate the faceplate.

This present disclosure provides a compressor and a refrigeration device having the compressor. The refrigeration device has a coupling assembly and a frequency converter connected to one end of the coupling assembly. The compressor has a first shell and a permanent magnet motor. The permanent magnet motor is set in the first shell and connected to the other end of the coupling assembly. By designing the relevant parameters of the motor of the compressor, the efficiency of the motor and the compressor can be improved.

The technologies described and recited herein pertain to a permanent magnet motor having multiple voltage taps so that the motor may run in multiple configurations, e.g., a low-range and a high-range, and have multiple optimal operating points.