CONTROL OF ELECTRIC MOTORS

A control system for a multiphase electric motor comprises processing means arranged to determine a pattern of PWM voltage waveforms to be applied to respective phases of the motor, the processing means assigning different PWM patterns for use with different motor positions. In use for a given rotational position of the motor the processing means is normally adapted to apply PWM waveforms according to the assigned PWM pattern unless a different PWM pattern is currently in use at that time, except that in the event that the demanded voltage waveforms cannot be achieved with the current PWM pattern the processing means is adapted to force the PWM pattern to change. Upon the rotor moving into a different position associated with a different assigned pattern the processing means forces the PWM pattern to change to the assigned PWM pattern.