Patent · US Expired

Stepper motor controllers

US5206571A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 3, 1991
Grant dateApr 27, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 3, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02P8/36
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A driver for a stepper motor including means (Q45, 45, 47, 402) for sampling the current in a motor winding (43) at an instant determined by means (401, 400)for generating a predetermined delay following winding commutation. The sample is compared with winding current by a comparator (403) the output of which is stored at a subsequent instant in a flip-flop (416) to provide an output (42). Current generated within the windings due to rotor motion provide a difference in output when the motor is running or blocked. The invention provides a solution to the problem of motion detection of a stepper motor without recourse to a positional sensor.

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