Patent ID: 6118246
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: H02P

Abstract:
A motor control circuit for a redundant stepper motor comprising:a set of primary motor windings;a primary voltage source;a first set of power switches connecting said primary voltage source to said primary motor windings, each switch in said first set of power switches being connected to a respective primary motor winding in said set of primary motor windings;a first switch driver connected to said first set of power switches;a set of redundant motor windings;a redundant voltage source;a second set of power switches connecting said redundant voltage source to said set of redundant motor windings, each switch in said second set of power switches being connected to a respective redundant motor winding in said set of redundant motor windings;a second switch driver connected to said second set of power switches;a step command source connected to said first and second switch drivers; anda first routing switch for controlling the delivery of step commands from said step command source to said first switch driver;a second routing switch for controlling the delivery of step commands from said step command source to said second switch driver; anda phase synchronizer connected to said first switch driver and said second switch driver for controlling simultaneous operation of said primary and redundant motor windings.