Circuit for driving motor coils in stepping motors
AssigneeTimex Group B.V.
InventorsGerhard Stotz, Helmut Zachmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit for selectively driving n motor coils associated with a plurality of stepping motors, wherein only (n+1) motor coil drivers are needed. A timepiece that utilizes such a circuit is also provided.
Claims17
A circuit for selectively driving n motor coils, wherein each of the n motor coils includes a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein all of the second terminals are coupled to a common line, the circuit comprising:
- (n+1) outputs, wherein n of the outputs are individually coupled to a respective first terminal of the n motor coils, and the (n+1)th of which is coupled to the common line;
- and
- 2n inputs, n of which are each associated with a respective first input control line for a respective motor coil, and n of which are each associated with a respective second input control line for the respective motor coil;
- wherein a magnetic field can be generated within each of the n motor coils in response to control signals on each of its associated first and second input control lines.
A timepiece comprising a circuit for selectively driving n motor coils, wherein each of the n motor coils includes a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein all of the second terminals are coupled to a common line, the circuit comprising:
- (n+1) motor coil drivers, each of which include an input and an output, wherein the output of n motor coil drivers are individually coupled to a respective first terminal of the n motor coils, the (n+1)th of which is coupled to the common line;
- a logic stage comprising 2n inputs, n of which are each associated with a respective first input control line for each respective motor coil, and n of which are each associated with a respective second input control line for each respective motor coil, the logic stage for providing individual control of the generation of magnetic fields in one or more of the n motor coils;
- wherein a magnetic field can be generated within each of the n motor coils in response to control signals on the first and second input control lines of each respective motor coil.
A circuit for selectively driving n motor coils in response to first and second input control signals, wherein each of the n motor coils includes a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein all of the second terminals are coupled to a common line, the circuit comprising:
- (n+1) motor coil drivers, each of which include an input and an output, wherein the output of n motor coil drivers are individually coupled to a respective first terminal of the n motor coils, the (n+1)th of which is coupled to the common line;
- an address decoder for selectively permitting the generation of a magnetic field within each of the n motor coils by controlling the signal on the first terminal of each of the respective n motor coils;
- and
- a logic stage comprising:
- a plurality of substages, each substage comprising:
- a plurality of inputs coupled to the first input control line, the second input control line and an address line input of the address decoder;
- and
- an output that is coupled to a respective input of one of the n motor coil drivers;
- and
- wherein the input of the (n+1)th motor driver coil is coupled to the second input control line.
A circuit for selectively driving n motor coils, wherein each of the n motor coils includes a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein all of the second terminals are coupled to a common line, the circuit comprising:
- (n+1) motor coil drivers, each of which include an input and an output, wherein the output of n motor coil drivers are individually coupled to a respective first terminal of the n motor coils, the (n+1)th of which is coupled to the common line.
- a microcontroller including (n+1) outputs, n of which are individually coupled to the respective input of the n motor driver coils, and the (n+1)th of which is coupled to the input of the (n+1)th motor driver coil;
- and
- wherein a magnetic field can be generated within each of the n motor coils in response to signals on its respective first and second terminals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.