New single chip high voltage power IC allows low voltage brushless DC motors to interface directly to AC mains

With the advent of the "Green" initiative combined with existing and pending government legislation, manufacturers in consumer, industrial, and appliance industries are now becoming more aware and concerned about the need to make their end products more environmentally safe and more energy efficient. This paper describes an effort by AT&T to develop a single chip power integrated circuit which allows a conventional single phase brushless DC motor to be driven directly off the 110 volt AC main. With this chip, the advantages of low voltage brushless DC motors can now be realized, advantages like improved efficiency, ease of speed control, and long life, while direct two wire interface to the AC main can be maintained to make the conversion from AC motors to brushless DC motors virtually invisible to the user.<>