Safety interlock system and method for disrupting stepper motor control signals
US7528567B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02P8/24
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and a system are disclosed for preventing stepper motor control signals from being applied to a stepper motor drive circuit in order to stop a stepper motor when an interlock situation is present. A sequence of one or more control signals is generated by a motion control system and passed to one or more interlock logic gates connected in series. The interlock logic gates have an enable signal input which allows the control signals to pass through to the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of “1”. On the other hand, the interlock logic gates will prevent the control signals from reaching the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of “0”. The logic level of the enable input signal may be connected to a switch, relay, or an integrated circuit responsive to an interlock situation such as the opening of an access door.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.