Patent attributes
Control apparatus includes an inverter having a plurality of switches arranged to generate a plurality of different voltage phases, and a switch arrangement having a rectifier arranged to be coupled to the respective plurality of coil windings. The rectifier is arranged to rectify an alternating current flowing in respective coil windings and provide the rectified AC current to a DC output, and a switch is coupled across the DC output. The switch is operable to electrically isolate the plurality of coil windings from each other. A controller is arranged to operate the switch to electrically isolate the plurality of coil windings upon a failure of an inverter switch or upon detection of a current flow in the inverter or the switch that is greater than a predetermined threshold.
