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DC Brushless Motors Theory


- the product concept

- the commutation of phase currents

Principles of Operation


The commutation of brushless motors


The angular rotor position can be known by:

- Using a position sensor (Hall sensor, optical encoder, resolver)

- Electronically analysing the back-EMF of a non-energised winding. This is called sensorless commutation.

Use of Hall sensors

In general, BLDC motor have three phase windings. The easiest way is to power two of them at a time, using Hall sensors to know the rotor position. A simple logic allows for optimal energising of the phases as a function of rotor position, just like the commutator and brushes are doing in the conventional DC motor.

Use of an encoder or resolver


Use of Back-EMF analysis


The functioning of a sensorless motor is easy to understand. In all motors, the relation of back-EMF and torque versus rotor position is the same. Zero crossing of the voltage induced in the non-energised winding corresponds to the position of maximum torque generated by the two energized phases. This point of zero crossing therefore allows to determine the moment when the following commutation should take place depending on motor speed. This time interval is in fact equivalent to the time the motor takes to move from the position of the preceding commutation to the back-EMF zero crossing position. Electronic circuits designed for this commutation function allow for easy operation of sensorless motors.

As the back-EMF information is necessary to know the rotor position, sensorless commutation doesn’t work with the motor at stall. The only way of starting is to pilot it at low speed like a stepper in open loop.


- For commutation, position sensors are necessary when operating in incremental mode

- Sensorless commutation is recommended only for applications running at constant speed and load.

Operating principle of BLDC motors:

It follows the same equations as the DC motor using mechanical commutation except that parameters like iron losses and losses in the drive circuit are no longer negligible in applications where efficiency is of prime importance.

Iron losses

brushless dc motor

Losses in the electronics

The current and voltage required by the motor and the drive circuit to operate at the desired speed and torque depend also on the drive circuit.

As an example, a driver bridge in bipolar technique will reduce the voltage available at the motor terminals by about 1.7V, and the total current must include the consumption of the circuitry.