Patent ID: 6246205
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: H02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for driving a plurality of stepping motors, each of the stepping motors having a plurality of exciting coils from a first exciting coil to a last exciting coil, each having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first exciting coil having a first terminal outside the motor, the second end of the last exciting coil having a second terminal outside the motor, and the second end of each of the plurality of exciting coils being connected to the first end of the exciting coil adjacent to it and having a common terminal outside the motor, said apparatus comprising:in each stepping motor, a first and a second switching circuit connected between the first terminal of the first exciting coil and a power supply and between the first terminal and a ground, respectively;a third and a fourth switching circuit connected between each of the common terminal(s) and the power supply and between the each common terminal and the ground, respectively; andin each stepping motor, a fifth and a sixth switching circuit connected between the second terminal of the last exciting coil and the power supply and between the second terminal and the ground, respectively,wherein the first, the second, the fifth and the sixth switching circuits are provided to control the plurality of stepping motors, and the third and the fourth switching circuits are common to the plurality of stepping motors, andwherein the first to sixth switching circuits are controlled so that the plurality of exciting coils in each of the stepping motors are supplied with exciting current in a first direction and a second, opposite direction.