Stepper Motor Controller With Braking Circuit

An apparatus for controlling a motor having a motor shaft, comprising:

• a driver circuit including
• a first motor controller device configured to receive an enabling signal and to output driver current to the motor in accordance with the enabling signal, and
• a plurality of first output connectors for connecting to the motor;
• a brake circuit including
• a brake logic circuit configured to
• receive as inputs the enabling signal, a brake input signal, and a power supply status signal, and
• output a brake logic signal,
• a second motor controller device, coupled to the brake logic circuit, configured to receive the brake logic signal output by the brake logic circuit and to output braking current to the motor in accordance with said brake logic signal,
• a plurality of second output connectors for connecting to the motor, and
• a plurality of resistors in series with the second output connectors respectively, between the second motor controller device and the second output connectors;
• wherein
• the driver circuit and the brake circuit are connected in parallel and thereby configured for a parallel connection to the motor,
• the braking circuit is effective to prevent movement of the motor shaft in accordance with output of the braking current to the motor, and
• the first motor controller device and the second motor controller device are substantially identical.