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US 2013/0076291 A1Published application
Redundant interface for a stepper motor
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsJeffry K. Kamenetz, Dana N. Switzer, William Betterini, John M. O'Neil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-channel stepper motor controller has at least a first and second stepper motor control channel. Each of the control channels has a solid state switching circuit operable to connect the control channel to a stepper motor.
Claims21
A multi-channel stepper motor controller comprising:
- a first stepper motor control channel;
- a second stepper motor control channel;
- and
- each of said first stepper motor control channel and said second stepper motor control channel comprise a solid state switching circuit operable to connect a corresponding stepper motor control channel to a stepper motor.
1 more element
A method of controlling a stepper motor comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a connection between a first stepper motor control channel and a stepper motor using a solid state switching circuit in said first stepper motor control channel;
- and
- maintaining a disconnection between a second stepper motor control channel and the stepper motor using a solid state switching circuit in said second stepper motor control channel.
A method of controlling a stepper motor comprising the steps of:
- detecting a current passing from a stepper motor return to ground using a single current sensor;
- and
- providing a controller signal to a stepper motor based on said current passing from a stepper motor return to ground.
A method for detecting a fault within a stepper motor control channel comprising the steps of:
- detecting an increase in a Pulse Width Modulation duty cycle when said stepper motor control channel is connected to a stepper motor, and thereby detecting a presence of an open circuit fault within said stepper motor control channel;
- and
- initiating a predetermined response action in response to a detected open circuit fault.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.