Method and System for Controlling a Fuser Assembly

A method of controlling a brushless dc motor in an apparatus, comprising:

• storing, in memory, a lookup table having table entries that define extrapolated motor positions;
• and
• controlling the motor using time-based commutation according to the table entries of the lookup table and without using positional feedback from the motor, the controlling including:
• sequentially selecting the table entries in the lookup table to generate one or more drive signals for the motor;
• and
• supplying the one or more drive signals to the motor to cause current flowing through windings thereof to follow a substantially sinusoidal waveform during the time-based commutation.

A motor control circuit for controlling a brushless dc motor, comprising:

• a controller coupled to the motor for controlling the motor using time-based commutation based on a stored commutation table having entries that define extrapolated motor positions;
• and
• a sensing arrangement associated with the motor and coupled to the controller, the sensing arrangement for sensing motor position and providing the sensed motor position to the controller;
• wherein the controller detects a stall condition of the motor during the time-based commutation by comparing the sensed motor position with an expected motor position determined based on the stored commutation table.