Patent US4414498A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4414498A
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Stepping motor drive circuit
Assignee: ELMONT AG
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Filing: 1981-02-23
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2001-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A bidirectional stepping motor drive circuit receives stepping pulses and a directional control signal. A binary up/down counter counts the stepping pulses in an up or down direction depending on the state of the directional control signal. A BCD to decimal decoder has inputs coupled to the counter and generates selected outputs in response to selected states of the counter. Logic means responds to the selected outputs and generates phase voltage pulses during which current is supplied to the motor coils. A high voltage starting pulse is applied at the beginning of each stepping cycle to establish the coil current.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald A. Gessner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:05
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P8/00; H02P8/14; H02P8/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A circuit for driving the motor coils of a stepping motor capable of bidirectional rotation, comprising: first means for receiving a control signal which when in a first state indicates a first desired direction of rotation and when in a second state indicates a second opposite desired direction of rotation; second means for receiving a plurality of stepping pulses; counting means coupled to said stepping pulses, said counting means incrementing when said control signal is in said first state and decrementing when said control signal is in said second state; third means coupled to said counting means for decoding selected states of said counting means to produce phase voltage output pulses during which coil current is supplied to said motor coils; fourth means coupled to said third means and responsive to said phase voltage output pulses for producing coil current pulses; fifth means for providing a high-voltage starting pulse at the beginning of each phase voltage output pulse to provide a desired coil current; and sixth means for maintaining said desired coil current after termination of said high voltage starting pulse for the remainder of said phase voltage output pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A circuit for driving the motor coils of a stepping motor capable of bidirectional rotation, comprising: first means for receiving a control signal which when in a first state indicates a first desired direction of rotation and when in a second state indicates a second opposite desired direction of rotation; second means for receiving a plurality of stepping pulses; counting means coupled to said stepping pulses, said counting means incrementing when said control signal is in said first state and decrementing when said control signal is in said second state; third means coupled to said counting means for decoding selected states of said counting means to produce phase voltage output pulses during which coil current is supplied to said motor coils; fourth means coupled to said third means and responsive to said phase voltage output pulses for producing coil current pulses; fifth means for providing a high-voltage starting pulse at the beginning of each phase voltage output pulse to provide a desired coil current; and sixth means for maintaining said desired coil current after termination of said high voltage starting pulse for the remainder of said phase voltage output pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said fifth means includes: a source of a first potential; and switching means coupled to said first potential and responsive to said phase voltage output pulse for applying said first potential across said motor coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A circuit according to claim 2 wherein said sixth means includes: a source of a second potential; a reference voltage source; and comparison means having an output coupled to said switching means, a first input coupled to said reference voltage and a second input coupled to a voltage derived from said coil current for disabling said switching means when the derived voltage reaches said reference voltage and for applying said second potential across said motor coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A circuit according to claim 3 wherein said first potential is substantially higher than said second potential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said counting means is a binary up/down counter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit according to claim 5 wherein said up/down counter increments when said stepping pulses are applied to a first input thereof and wherein said up/down counter decrements when said stepping pulses are applied to a second input thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A circuit according to claim 6 wherein said second means comprises: a first NAND gate having a first input coupled to said plurality of stepping pulses, a second input coupled to said control signal and an output coupled to said first input of said up/down counter; and a second NAND gate having a first input coupled to said plurality of stepping pulses, a second input coupled to the complement of said control signal and an output coupled to said second input of said up/down counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A circuit according to claim 5 wherein said third means comprises: decoder means for generating a plurality of outputs, one for each of a plurality of selected states of the counter; and logic means coupled to selected ones of said plurality of outputs for generating said phase voltage output pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A circuit according to claim 8 wherein said decoder means is a BCD-to-decimal decoder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A circuit for providing driving pulses to the motor coils of a stepping motor, comprising; first means for providing a high-voltage starting pulse to provide a desired coil current; and second means for maintaining said coil current for a predetermined period of time after termination of said starting pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A circuit for providing driving pulses to the motor coils of a stepping motor, comprising; first means for providing a high-voltage starting pulse to provide a desired coil current; and second means for maintaining said coil current for a predetermined period of time after termination of said starting pulse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit according to claim 10 further including third means for generating phase control pulses during which said coil current is supplied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A circuit according to claim 11 wherein said first means includes: a source of a first potential; and switching means coupled to said first potential and responsive to said phase control pulses for applying said first potential across said motor coils.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A circuit according to claim 12 wherein said second means includes: a source of a second potential; a reference voltage source; and comparison means having an output coupled to said switch means, a first input coupled to said reference voltage and a second input coupled to a voltage derived from said coil current for disabling said switching means when the derived voltage reaches said reference voltage and for applying said second potential across said motor coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A circuit according to claim 13 wherein said first potential is substantially higher than said second potential.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circuit according to claim 11 wherein said third means comprises: fourth means for receiving a control signal which when in a first state indicates a first desired direction of rotation and when in a second state indicates a second opposite desired direction of rotation; fifth means for receiving a plurality of stepping pulses; counting means coupled to said fifth means for counting said stepping pulses, said counting means incrementing when said control signal is in said first state and decrementing when said control signal is in said second; and sixth means coupled to said counting means for decoding selected states of said counting means to produce said phase control pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit according to claim 15 wherein said counting means is a binary up/down counter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit according to claim 16 wherein said up/down counter increments when said stepping pulses are applied to a first input thereof and wherein said up/down counter decrements when said stepping pulses are applied to a second input thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
A circuit according to claim 17 wherein said fifth means comprises: a first NAND gate having a first input coupled to said plurality of stepping pulses, a second input coupled to said control signal and an output coupled to said first input of said up/down counter; and a second NAND gate having a first input coupled to said plurality of stepping pulses, a second input coupled to the complement of said control signal and an output coupled to said second input of said up/down counter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A circuit according to claim 16 wherein said sixth means comprises: decoder means for generating a plurality of outputs, one for each of a plurality of selected states of the counters; and logic means coupled to selected one of said plurality of outputs for generating said phase control pulses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A circuit according to claim 19 wherein said decoder means is a BCD-to-decimal decoder.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for driving the motor coils of a stepping motor comprising the steps of: applying momentary high-voltage pulses to the motor coils; and switching the high-voltage pulses applied to the motor coils to normal operating voltage pulses.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for driving the motor coils of a stepping motor comprising the steps of: applying momentary high-voltage pulses to the motor coils; and switching the high-voltage pulses applied to the motor coils to normal operating voltage pulses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 including the step of: inhibiting the application of the momentary high-voltage pulses to the motor coils in order to apply normal operating voltage pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3797030A
Cited
US3974434A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |