US3893012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stepping motor drive circuit
Assignee: Qume Corp
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Filing: 1974-07-05
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1994-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A drive circuit for providing high level driving current to the stator coils of a stepping motor during stepping operation and low level holding current to the stator coils during motor detent. The drive circuit comprises a plurality of individual circuits corresponding in number to the number of coils, each circuit including means for supplying high level current through the associated coil in either direction in response to the appearance of a first control signal and for supplying low level current through the associated coil in either direction when the control signal is absent. The direction of current flow in each coil is specified by a different pair of control signals. Each circuit includes means for enabling adjustment of the low level detent current so that the detent torque can be tailored to a given application.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank W Lin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:15
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P8/00; H02P8/14; H02P8/16; H02P8/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for supplying a relatively high voltage and a relatively low voltage to a plurality of associated devices, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a source of relatively high voltage; a source of relatively low voltage; a control signal generator for generating a mode control signal and a plurality of pairs of polarity control signals; and a source selector having a plurality of control signal input terminals individually coupled to different ones of control signals generated by said control signal generator, a pair of voltage input terminals respectively coupled to said source of relatively high voltage and said source of relatively low voltage, and a plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals for alternately coupling said high voltage source and said low voltage source to said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals in response to the receipt of said mode control signal from said control signal generator, the polarity of the voltage present on said output voltage terminals being determined by said polarity control signals coupled to said source selector from said control signal generator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for supplying a relatively high voltage and a relatively low voltage to a plurality of associated devices, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a source of relatively high voltage; a source of relatively low voltage; a control signal generator for generating a mode control signal and a plurality of pairs of polarity control signals; and a source selector having a plurality of control signal input terminals individually coupled to different ones of control signals generated by said control signal generator, a pair of voltage input terminals respectively coupled to said source of relatively high voltage and said source of relatively low voltage, and a plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals for alternately coupling said high voltage source and said low voltage source to said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals in response to the receipt of said mode control signal from said control signal generator, the polarity of the voltage present on said output voltage terminals being determined by said polarity control signals coupled to said source selector from said control signal generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said source selector comprises a plurality of individual drive circuits corresponding in number to said plurality of associated devices, each said drive circuit including first means for coupling said high voltage source to an associated one of said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals when said mode control signal is at a first level and for coupling said low voltage source to said associated one of said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals when said mode control signal is at a second level; and means responsive to said polarity control signals for controlling the polarity of said output voltage present on said one of said plurality of pairs of output voltage terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said drive Circuits each has a symmetric pair of substantially similar branches each including a pair of complementary conductivity type semiconductor devices having a common junction coupled to a different one of said associated pair of voltage output terminals, a first one of said pair of semiconductor devices having an element coupled to said high voltage input terminal and a switching element coupled to a first control gate having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to the mode control signal input terminal and one of an associate pair of said plurality of polarity control signal input terminals, and a uni-directional conducting device coupled between said low voltage input terminal and said output voltage terminal; the other one of said pair of semiconductor devices having a switching element coupled to said high voltage input terminal and a second control gate, said second control gate having at least one input terminal coupled to the other one of said associated pair of polarity control signal input terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein at least one of said drive circuits further includes means coupled between said low voltage input terminal and said uni-directional conducting device for enabling adjustment of the magnitude of the current flowing therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said associated devices comprise a plurality of phase windings of a stepping motor having a rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
A source selector for supplying a relatively high voltage and relatively low voltage of desired polarity to an associated device, said selector comprising: a plurality of polarity control signal input terminals adapted to be coupled to a source of a plurality of pairs of polarity control signals; a mode control signal input terminal adapted to be coupled to a source of a mode control signal; a high voltage input terminal adapted to be coupled to a source of relatively high voltage; a low voltage input terminal adapted to be coupled to a source of relatively low voltage; a plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals for supplying selected sequential output voltages to said associated device; means for alternately coupling said high voltage input terminal and said low voltage input terminal in selective manner to said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals in accordance with the nature of the mode control signal present at said mode control signal input terminal; and means for controlling the polarity of the voltage present on said output voltage terminals in accordance with the nature of the polarity control signals present on the polarity control signal input terminals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
A source selector for supplying a relatively high voltage and relatively low voltage of desired polarity to an associated device, said selector comprising: a plurality of polarity control signal input terminals adapted to be coupled to a source of a plurality of pairs of polarity control signals; a mode control signal input terminal adapted to be coupled to a source of a mode control signal; a high voltage input terminal adapted to be coupled to a source of relatively high voltage; a low voltage input terminal adapted to be coupled to a source of relatively low voltage; a plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals for supplying selected sequential output voltages to said associated device; means for alternately coupling said high voltage input terminal and said low voltage input terminal in selective manner to said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals in accordance with the nature of the mode control signal present at said mode control signal input terminal; and means for controlling the polarity of the voltage present on said output voltage terminals in accordance with the nature of the polarity control signals present on the polarity control signal input terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said source selector comprises a plurality of individual drive circuits corresponding in number to said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals, each said drive circuit including first means for coupling said high voltage input terminal to an associate one of said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals when said mode control signal is at a first level and for coupling said low voltage input terminal to said associated one of said plurality of pairs of voltage output terminals when said mode control signal is at a second level; and means responsive to said polarity control signals for controlling the polarity of the output voltage present on said one of said plurality of pairs of output voltage terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said drive circuits each has a symmetric pair of substantially similar branches, each branch including a pair of complementary conductivity type semiconductor devices having a common junction coupled to a different one of said associated pair of voltage output terminals, a first one of said pair of semiconductor devices having an element coupled to said high voltage input terminal and a switching element coupled to a first control gate having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to said mode control signal input terminal and one of an associated pair oF said plurality of polarity control signal input terminals, and a uni-directional conducting device coupled between said low voltage input terminal and said output voltage terminal, the other one of said pair of semiconductor devices having a switching element coupled to said high voltage input terminal and a second control gate, said second control gate having at least one input terminal coupled to the other one of said associated pair of polarity control signal input terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein at least one of said drive circuits further includes means coupled between said low voltage input terminal and said uni-directional conducting device for enabling adjustment of the magnitude of the current flowing therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said associated device comprises a stepping motor having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |