Pulsed energy stepping motor power control unit

A power control unit for supplying power to a winding of a stepping motor that is alternately energized and deenergized comprising a capacitor, means adapted to connect the winding across the capacitor to cause the capacitor to supply the power for energizing the winding, a source of D.C. power, and means for receiving power from the source and supplying intermittent pulses of electrical energy to the capacitor from the D.C. power source at a rate that is essentially independent of the motor speed, each pulse being supplied during an essentially fixed time interval, the electrical condition of the capacitor determining the extent of each pulse supplied to the capacitor, the means for receiving and supplying pulses including an inductance means for alternately causing current flow from the power source through the inductance means and a pulse being produced by the energy stored in the inductance means upon the stoppage of current flow from the power source.

The method of supplying energizing power to a winding of a stepping motor from a power source comprising the steps of forming intermittent inductive energy pulses in an inductance by alternate connection and disconnection periods to the power source, directing the inductive energy pulses to a storage means during the period of disconnection, storing the energy pulse in the storage means and energizing the motor windings from the energy stored in the storage means.

A power control circuit for supplying power to the winding of a stepping motor, including a source of D.C. voltage, a capacitor, means for switching the motor winding intermittently across the capacitor, a step-down transformer, a chopper between the D.C. source and the input of the transformer, a rectifier between the output of the transformer and the capacitor, and substantially resistance-free means including rectifier means between said motor winding and said D.C. source for selectively coupling any voltage induced in said motor winding in excess of that of the D.C. source back to said D.C. source.

A power control circuit for supplying power to the winding of a stepping motor, including a source of D.C. voltage, a capacitor, means for switching the motor winding across the capacitor, and means including a chopper and a transformer for coupling the D.C. source to the capacitor, said transformer having a secondary and fly-back winding, rectifier means between the secondary and the capacitor, and a fly-back circuit including said fly-back winding and a rectifier across the D.C. source for limiting the maximum voltage attainable by the capacitor.

Apparatus for supplying power to a winding of a stepping motor including a source of D.C. power, an inductance means, intermittent switching means between said D.C. source and said inductance means for forming intermittent inductive energy pulses, a storage capacitor, means directing the inductive energy pulses to said storage capacitor during periods of disconnection of said inductive pulse forming means, and stepping means for connecting said capacitor across said motor winding intermittently to promote stepping of the motor.