Control method for stepping motor

Claim 2

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor having a rotor, said method comprising the steps of energizing plural coils in succession to move the stepping motor rotor to a target point, and coupling two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized, to define a closed circuit containing said two coils, said coupling step comprising the step of grounding said two coils.

Claim 3

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor according to claim 1 including the further step of temporarily interrupting the energization of said energized coil.

Claim 4

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor according to claim 1, wherein said coupling step comprises the step of concurrently energizing said two coils.

Claim 5

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor having a rotor, said method comprising the steps of energizing plural coils in succession to move the stepping motor rotor to a target point, coupling two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized to define a closed circuit containing said two coils; and temporarily interrupting the energization of said energized coil.

Claim 6

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor having a rotor, said method comprising the steps of energizing plural coils in succession to move the stepping motor rotor to a target point, coupling two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized to define a closed circuit containing said two coils; and temporarily interrupting the energization of said energized coil.

Claim 7

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor according to claim 4 wherein said coupling step comprises the step of connecting said two coils.

Claim 8

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor according to claim 4, wherein said coupling step comrprises the step of concurrently energizing said two coils.

Claim 9

A control method for controlling the operation of a stepping motor according to claim 4 wherein said coupling step comprises the step of grounding said two coils.

Claim 10

A stepping motor control device comprising: a plurality of separately energizable coils; a movable member arranged for movement in response to sequential energization of said coils; means for energizing said coils sequentially; and means for stopping the motor, including switch means arranged to couple two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized, to define a closed circuit containing said two coils, wherein said coils are connected mutually in parallel across a current supply source, each of said coils having associated therewith respective switch means for sequentially energizing the coils from the source, and wherein said stopping means includes means for operating two of said respective switch means concurrently to define said closed circuit.

Claim 11

A stepping motor control device comprising: a plurality of separately energizable coils; a movable member arranged for movement in response to sequential energization of said coils; means for energizing said coils sequentially; and means for stopping the motor, including switch means arranged to couple two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized, to define a closed circuit containing said two coils, wherein said coils are connected mutually in parallel across a current supply source, each of said coils having associated therewith respective switch means for sequentially energizing the coils from the source, and wherein said stopping means includes means for operating two of said respective switch means concurrently to define said closed circuit.

Claim 12

A stepping motor control device according to claim 8 wherein the two coils connected in said closed circuit are disposed on opposite sides of the coil defining said stop position.

Claim 13

A stepping motor control device according to claim 8 wherein said switching means comprises a transistor.

Claim 14

A stepping motor control device according to claim 8 further including means for temporarily interrupting the energization of said energized coil.

Claim 15

A stepping motor control device according to claim 8 wherein the two coils connected in said closed circuit are disposed on opposite sides of the coil defining the stop position.

Claim 16

A stepping motor control device comprising: a plurality of separately energizable coils; a movable member arranged for movement in response to sequential energization of said coils; means for energizing said coils sequentially; and means for stopping the motor, including switch means arranged to couple two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized, to define a closed circuit containing said two coils, wherein the two coils connected to said closed circuit are disposed on opposite sides of the coil defining said stop position.

Claim 17

A stepping motor control device comprising: a plurality of separately energizable coils; a movable member arranged for movement in response to sequential energization of said coils; means for energizing said coils sequentially; and means for stopping the motor, including switch means arranged to couple two coils to one another, other than a coil being energized, to define a closed circuit containing said two coils, wherein the two coils connected to said closed circuit are disposed on opposite sides of the coil defining said stop position.

Claim 18

A stepping motor control device according to claim 13 wherein said switching means comprises a transistor.

Claim 19

A stepping motor control device according to claim 13, further including means for temporarily interrupting the energization of said energized coil.