Stepping motor drive device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017366124-A1
Application number	US-201715468268-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2017
Priority date	Jun 21, 2016
Publication date	Dec 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A stepping motor drive device which drives a stepping motor comprises a generation module configured to generate a current value waveform for rotating the stepping motor at a unit of a predetermined step angle; a drive module configured to excite the stepping motor using the current value waveform to rotate the stepping motor; and a control module configured to decrease a current value at a balance angle at which the stepping motor is stabilized at the time of non-excitation in the current value waveform of one rotation generated by the generation module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A stepping motor drive device which drives a stepping motor, comprising:
a generation module configured to generate a current value waveform for rotating the stepping motor at a unit of a predetermined step angle; a drive module configured to excite the stepping motor using the current value waveform to rotate the stepping motor; and a control module configured to decrease a current value at a balance angle at which the stepping motor is stabilized at the time of non-excitation in the current value waveform of one rotation generated by the generation module.

2 . The stepping motor drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control module sets an angle corresponding to a setting position of a stator comprised in the stepping motor to the balance angle.

3 . The stepping motor drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control module decreases the current value within a range of a step angle located before and after the balance angle.

4 . The stepping motor drive device according to claim 2 , wherein
the control module decreases the current value within a range of a step angle located before and after the balance angle.

5 . The stepping motor drive device according to claim 3 , wherein
the control module changes a section length for decreasing the current value according to a rotation speed of the stepping motor.

6 . The stepping motor drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control module decreases the current value in the vicinity of the balance angle when rotating the stepping motor in a low speed area.

7 . The stepping motor drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the low speed area has a rotational speed of 200 pps or less.

8 . A printer comprising the stepping motor drive device according to claim 1 .

9 . The printer according to claim 8 , wherein the printer is a thermal printer.

10 . A stepping motor method for driving a stepping motor, comprising:
generating a current value waveform for rotating the stepping motor at a unit of a predetermined step angle; exciting the stepping motor using the current value waveform to rotate the stepping motor; and decreasing the current value at a balance angle at which the stepping motor is stabilized at the time of non-excitation in the current value waveform of one rotation.

11 . The stepping motor method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
setting an angle corresponding to a setting position of a stator to the balance angle.

12 . The stepping motor method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
decreasing the current value within a range of a step angle located before and after the balance angle.

13 . The stepping motor method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
decreasing the current value within a range of a step angle located before and after the balance angle.

14 . The stepping motor method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
changing a section length for decreasing the current value according to a rotation speed of the stepping motor.

15 . The stepping motor method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
decreases the current value in the vicinity of the balance angle when rotating the stepping motor in a low speed area.

16 . The stepping motor method according to claim 10 , wherein
the low speed area has a rotational speed of 200 pps or less.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Tsuchimoto Hiroshi

Classifications

• B41J2/32

  using thermal heads · CPC title

• H02P8/12

  Control or stabilisation of current · CPC title

• H02P8/18 Primary

  Shaping of pulses, e.g. to reduce torque ripple {(Reducing overshoot H02P8/32 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B41J11/04

  Roller platens · CPC title

• B41J11/425

  for a variable printing material feed amount · CPC title