Circuit for operating a plurality of bi-directional motors

Abstract

The present invention provides a circuit for operating a plurality of bi-directional motors, each motor having a pair of terminals disposed across the motor. The circuit includes a common half bridge for providing one of power and ground to one of the pair of terminals across each motor. A plurality of particular or individual half bridges, one particular half bridge for each motor, provide the other of power and ground to the other of the pair of terminals across each motor. A controller selectively controls the common half bridge and the particular half bridges to supply power in either direction across the pair of terminals of one or more of the motors. In a preferred embodiment, the controller selectively controls the common half bridge and the particular half bridges to independently pulse width modulate power in either direction across the pair of terminals of one or more of the plurality of motors. To simultaneously operate two or more motors in the same direction or opposite directions, the controller selectively controls the common half bridge and the particular half bridges to energize the two or more motors in a sequential or random order.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.