METHOD FOR OPERATING A LINEAR MOTOR

To control movement of a transport unit of a linear motor, a quality functional J(SG) with quality terms JTk(SG) is used as a function of manipulated variables (SG) of active drive coils. The quality functional J(SG) controlling movement of the transport unit along the stator is optimized with regard to the manipulated variable (SG) to determine optimal manipulated variables (SGopt) for the relevant time step of the control of movement, active drive coils are energized according to the determined optimal manipulated variables (SGopt), and at least two movement phases are provided during the movement of the transport unit along the stator. In the at least two movement phases, different quality functionals J(SG) are used for determining the optimal manipulated variables (SGopt), the different quality functionals J(SG) differing by the number k of the quality terms JTk(SG) used and/or by the quality terms JTk(SG) and/or by the weighting Factors kk.