Patent · US Expired

Electrophotographic printer with media motion motor control

US5185627A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
5References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1991
Grant dateFeb 9, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/00459
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electrophotographic printer 10 having a control system 51 for controlling a stepper motor 50. The control system 51 includes a motor speed drive circuit 52, a microprocessor 54, and a clock 58. The motor speed drive circuit 52 has a programmable driver 56 and a logic circuit 60. The microprocessor 54 outputs a speed change value each time a change in the stepper motor is desired. The programmable driver 56 stores the speed change value and incrementally counts down from the speed change value to zero in synchronization with a clock pulse from the clock 58. Upon reaching zero, the programmable divider 56 outputs a speed command signal to the logic circuit 60, which in turn outputs drive signal to control the operation of the stepper motor 50. The microprocessor 54 only outputs a new speed change value when a change in stepper motor operation is desired. If no change is desired, the programmable divider 56 uses the last input speed value to control the stepper motor. As a result, the microprocessor 54 does not constantly interact with the stepper motor 50, and is therefore free to perform other processing tasks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.