Control system for a stepping motor

Claim 2

A control method for a stepping motor comprising: driving said stepping motor during a first time duration; subsequently, during a second time duration, driving said stepping motor in a one phase-on mode and flowing a loop current to a coil of the phase which was not concerned in the driving of said stepping motor in each excitation interval of the one phase-on mode, thereby obtaining a braking force; and bringing said motor to an objective position in a third time duration.

Claim 3

A control method according to claim 1, wherein said stepping motor is bipolarly driven.

Claim 4

A control method according to claim 1, wherein said loop current flows by short-circuiting the opposite ends of said coil.

Claim 5

A control method according to claim 1, wherein said loop current flows by grounding the opposite ends of said coil.

Claim 6

A stepping motor driving apparatus comprising: drive means for flowing an electric current to coils of one or more phases of said stepping motor in succession during a first time duration; and control means for driving said stepper motor during a second time duration in a one phase-on mode and forming a closed loop by the coil of the phase to which the electric current was not flowed by said drive means in each excitation interval of said one phase-on mode, said control means being constructed and arranged to bring said motor to an objective position during a third time duration.

Claim 7

A stepping motor driving apparatus comprising: drive means for flowing an electric current to coils of one or more phases of said stepping motor in succession during a first time duration; and control means for driving said stepper motor during a second time duration in a one phase-on mode and forming a closed loop by the coil of the phase to which the electric current was not flowed by said drive means in each excitation interval of said one phase-on mode, said control means being constructed and arranged to bring said motor to an objective position during a third time duration.

Claim 8

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means comprises a CPU and a switching transistor.

Claim 9

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a read only memory connected to said control means to define said second time duration.

Claim 10

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said closed loop is a loop including a grounded level.

Claim 11

A stepping motor driving apparatus comprising: first switch means for flowing an electric current to a coil of said stepping motor or inhibiting the same; second switch means for forming a closed loop current path including said coil of said stepping motor; and control means for ON/OFF--controlling said first switch means during an acceleration time duration of said stepping motor; for ON/OFF--controlling said first switch means and said second switch means in a time duration following said acceleration time duration such that said motor is driven in a one phase-on mode and a closed loop in formed by the coil of a phase to which electric current is not flowed via said first switch means in each excitation interval of said one phase-on mode; and for ON/OFF--controlling said first switch means during a subsequent time duration to bring said motor to an objective position.

Claim 12

A stepping motor driving apparatus comprising: first switch means for flowing an electric current to a coil of said stepping motor or inhibiting the same; second switch means for forming a closed loop current path including said coil of said stepping motor; and control means for ON/OFF--controlling said first switch means during an acceleration time duration of said stepping motor; for ON/OFF--controlling said first switch means and said second switch means in a time duration following said acceleration time duration such that said motor is driven in a one phase-on mode and a closed loop in formed by the coil of a phase to which electric current is not flowed via said first switch means in each excitation interval of said one phase-on mode; and for ON/OFF--controlling said first switch means during a subsequent time duration to bring said motor to an objective position.

Claim 13

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein two of said first switch means are provided to flow an electric current to a coil in forward and reverse directions.

Claim 14

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said first switch means is a switching transistor.

Claim 15

A stepping motor driving apparatus comprising: first switch means provided at opposite ends of a coil of said stepping motor to control the application of a voltage to said coil; second switch means provided at the opposite ends of said coil to enable an electric current to be flowed to said coil by the voltage applied to the coil of said stepping motor; and control means for controlling said first switch means and said second switch means so as to form a closed loop by said second switch means and said coil during one phase-on stepper motor excitation intervals in which driving current is not flowed to said coil, said control means being constructed and arranged to control said switch means to subsequently bring said motor to an objective position.

Claim 16

A stepping motor driving apparatus comprising: first switch means provided at opposite ends of a coil of said stepping motor to control the application of a voltage to said coil; second switch means provided at the opposite ends of said coil to enable an electric current to be flowed to said coil by the voltage applied to the coil of said stepping motor; and control means for controlling said first switch means and said second switch means so as to form a closed loop by said second switch means and said coil during one phase-on stepper motor excitation intervals in which driving current is not flowed to said coil, said control means being constructed and arranged to control said switch means to subsequently bring said motor to an objective position.

Claim 17

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first switch means and said second switch means include switching transistors.

Claim 18

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first switch means is provided between a power source and said coil, and said second switch means is provided between said coil and ground.

Claim 19

A stepping motor driving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein two of said first and second switch means each are provided for a coil of said stepping motor, and said first switch means and said second switch means are controlled by signals from two output terminals of said control means.

Claim 20

A control method for stepping motor according to claim 1 wherein said driving of said stepping motor during a first time duration is carried out in at least a two phase-on mode.