PULSE MOTOR AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract: A pulse motor comprises primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) having a plurality of magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and a secondary side magnetic member (1) provided rotatably in the primary side magnetic flux generator (2), characterized in the primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) generating a magnetic flux passing through a magnetic flux path formed by at least two of the magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and the secondary side magnetic member (1) to produce attraction force between the magnetic pole (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and the secondary side magnetic member (1) for thereby moving relatively to each other the primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) and the secondary side magnetic member (1), the magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) having coils (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) respectively provided therebetween and semihard magnetic members (15, 16) provided over tip ends thereof forming a magnetic flux path among a plurality of the magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b), the semihard magnetic members (15, 16) being magnetized by a magnetic flux produced in the magnetic flux path every time the magnetic flux is produced, the semihard magnetic members (15, 16) producing a magnetic flux directed in the opposite direction to that of a residual magnetic flux formed beteen each of the magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and the secondary side magnetic member (1) when the primary side magnetic flux generator means (2) stops the generation of the magnetic flux, for thereby cancelling the residual magnetic flux. A driving method of the described pulse motor. A driving method of a pulse motor including a stator (K′), a movable member (1′), and a plurality of main coils (A′, B′) wound around the movable member (1′) for relatively moving the stator (K′) and the movable member (1′) by allowing the main coils (A′, B′) to be excited in succession, the driving method comprising the steps of providing auxiliary coils (a 1PR, b′)in the vicinity of the respective main coils (A′, B′) and exciting the auxiliary coils (a′, b′) after the main coils (A′, B′) have been excited so as to generate a magnetic flux oppositely to a magnetic flux produced by the main coils (A′, B′).

Description: The present invention relates to pulse motors such as rotary pulse motors and linear pulse motors (EP-A-0 093 912). Pulse motors such as linear pulse motors, rotary pulse motors, and stepping motors, etc., are adapted in general to move a primary side magnetic flux generating unit or a secondary side magnetic member by making use of a pulse current supplied to the primary side magnetic flux generating unit, and are capable of precisely controlling the amount of movement thereof (or the amount of rotation). They have therefore been profitably employed for various kinds of precision apparatuses. These pulse motors however suffer from some problems. Thereamong, accuracy of stopping a movable member of a pulse motor in place is particularly severe in various applications. In the following, general arrangement of a pulse motor will first be described, prior to the discussion of these problems. Referring hereto Fig. 5, Illustrating a linear pulse motor as an exemplary prior pulse motor, the numeral 1 is a secondary side scale (secondary side magnetic member) and the numeral 2 is a movable member (primary side magnetic flux generating unit) placed on the secondary side scale 1. The secondary side scale 1 described above has a comb-shaped tooth part 1a formed on the upper surface thereof in a prescribed pitch (distance between the centers of teeth adjacent to each other) and guide rails 1b are respectively mounted on both sides of the scale 1. The movable member 2 described above consists of iron cores 3, 4, side plates 5, 6 for fixing widthwise these iron cores 3, 4, magnets 7, 8 fixedly mounted on the upper parts of the iron cores 3, 4, coils 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, respectively mounted on respective magnetic poles 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b of the iron cores 3, 4, shafts 10, 11 mounted on the lower ends of the side plates 5, 6, and bearings 12... mounted on both ends of these shafts 10, 11. Pole teeth 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b are respectively formed on the lower ends of the magnetic poles 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b in the same pitch as that of the tooth part 1a. These pole teeth 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b are opposed to the tooth part la of the scale 1 respectively differing in 1/4 pitch from each other. For example, when the pole tooth 14b agrees with the tooth part 1a, the pole tooth 13a is displaced to the right side in the figure by 1/4 pitch with respect to be tooth part 1a, and likewise the pole tooth 14a by 2/4 pitch and the pole tooth 13b by 3/4 pitch. In succession, operation of this linear pulse motor will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In the figure, the arrow M shows a magnetic flux from the magnets 7, 8. The figure shows a state of the linear pulse motor wherein pulse current conduction to the coils 9a, 9b is finished (a magnetic flux is produced in the direction of the arrow P), and a pulse current is conducted through the coils 9c, 9d to generate a magnetic flux shown by the arrow Q. In this situation, the magnetic flux Q is directed in the opposite direction to that of the magnetic flux M from the magnets 7, 8 on the magnetic pole 4a side to cancel magnetic force of the latter, while it is directed in the same direction as that of the magnetic flux M on the magnetic pole 4b side to enhance the latter. Thus, attraction force is produced between the tooth part 1a of the scale 1 and the pole tooth 14b of the magnetic pole 4b displaced to the right by 1/4 pitch with respect to the tooth part 1a to cause them to accord with each other, whereby the entire of the movable member 2 is advanced by 1/4 pitch in the F direction (the figure illustrates a state of the movable member after movement thereof). In succession, conducting a pulse current through the coils 9a, 9b after stopping the current conduction to the coils 9c, 9d to generate a magnetic flux in the opposite direction to that of the arrow P, this magnetic flux allows its magnetic force to cancel that of the magnetic flux M on the magnetic pole 3b side while allowing the same magnetic force to enhance the latter magnetic force on the magnetic pole 3a side. Hereby, attraction force is produced between the pole tooth 13a of the magnetic pole 3a and the tooth part 1a of the scale 1 to permit the movable member 2 to again advance in the F direction by 1/4 pitch. The movable member 2 can be driven to an arbitrary position and stopped at that position by properly altering the direction of the current flow supplied to the respective coils 9a to 9d, and the order thereof in the same manner as the above procedure. Furthermore, also to a rotary type stepping motor, substantially the same principle as in the above linear pulse motor can be applied, and hence the description thereof will here be omitted. Hereupon, such a prior pulse motor encounters the following problems upon effecting accurate positioning control. This problem will be described with reference to Fig. 6 again. This figure illustrates as described previously the state of the pulse motor wherein after pulse conduction to the coils 9a, 9b (the magnetic flux P is generated) is finished, a pulse current is conducted through the coils 9c, 9d to generate a magnetic flux Q. The magnetic flux P ought to completely disappear in essence in the above situation since the current conduction to the coils 9a, 9b has already been finished. However, the corresponding portions of the iron core 3 and the scale 1 are slightly magnetized by the magnetic flux P generated by the coils 9a, 9b, and hence a weak magnetic flux is left behind as shown by the chain line in the figure (residual magnetic flux) therearound. This residual magnetic flux cancels the magnetic flux M on the magnetic pole 13a side while strengthening the magnetic flux M on the magnetic pole 13b side, whereby it produces attraction force between the pole tooth 13b of the magnetic pole 3b and the tooth part 1a of the scale 1. This attraction force finally acts to pull the movable member 2 to the right. Accordingly, when the movable member 2 is contrived to stop at a prescribed position, the movable member 2 is obliged to stop at a position where the pulling attraction force to the left produced between the pole tooth 14b and the tooth part 1a is adapted to balance the above-mentioned pulling attraction force to the left. Thus, the stop position of the movable member is shifted as shown by H in the figure. It is called as hysterisis defined that logging of changes in the magnetization of a substance behind changes in the magnetic field as the magnetic field is varied. Such hysteresis is produced at all times when the movable member 2 stops to result in the inaccurate stop positioning of the movable member 2. Such a problem of hysteresis is also encountered by other types of pulse motors such as a stepping motor, etc. Furthermore, it is also possible as means of eliminating such hysteresis to form the iron cores 3, 4 with a high-quality magnetic member and magnetically anneal it with scrupulous care, but this method is highly costly in manufacture thereof and it, even if executed, can not prevent finally such a residual magnetic flux from being produced to some degree. In succession, another problem encountered by such a pulse motor will be described. Fig. 7 (a) is a schematic illustrating the arrangement of a prior linear pulse motor. As shown in the figure, a movable member I ′ consists of exciting coils A′, B′, cores C′, D′, and a permanent magnet E. Symbols P1 to P4 denote magnetic poles. K′ is a stator having teeth 1′, 2′... formed in an equal pitch on the upper surface thereof. Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a driving circuit for driving the coils A′, B′ described above. In the figure, designated at 1a′, 1b′, 2a′, 2b′, 3a′, 3b′, 4a′, 4b′ are respectively transistors. When moving the movable member 1 ′ in the direction of the arrow Y1′ of Fig. 7 in the linear pulse motor arranged as such, the transistors 1a′, 1b′... are driven in the following order: 1a′, 1b′ → 3a′, 3b′ → 2a′, 2b′ → 4a′, 4b′ → 1a′, 1b′ → .... When the transistors 1a′, 1b′ are switched on, a current is forced to flow through the coil A′ in the direction of A1′ →A2′ whereby the movable member I ′ is moved in the direction of the arrow Y1′ and is stopped while allowing the magnetic pole P1′ to face a tooth 1′ for example, as shown in Fig. 7(a). When in succession the transistors 1a′, 1b′ are switched off with the transistors 3a′, 3b′ being switched on, a current is conducted in the direction of from B1′ to B2′ through the coil B′, whereby the movable member I ′ is further moved in the direction of the arrow Y1′ by 1/4 pitch and stopped with its state where the magnetic pole P2′ faces to the tooth 4′ as shown in Fig. 7 (b). The same operation with thereafter be repeataed. Furthermore, when the movable member I ′ is moved in the direction of the arrow Y2, the transistors 1a, 1b are driven in the following order: 4a′, 4b′ → 2a′, 2b′ → 3a′, 3b′ → 1a′, 1b′ → 4a′, 4b′ → .... Hereupon, application of such a linear pulse motor for example to driving of a magnetic head of a floppy disk drive requires positioning accuracy of the order of micrometer. However, a prior linear pulse motor of the type described above produces a hysteresis phenomenon because of the cores C′, D′ having the residual magnetism, in which the movable member I ′, as subjected to reciprocation, is obliged to stop at different positions when it goes ahead and back. In the following, the hysteresis will be described with reference to Fig. 10. As shown in the figure, the movable member I ′, when for example moving from a state shown in Fig. 7 (a) to one shown in Fig. 7 (b), does actually not stop in the latter state, but stops displaced by Δx′ in the Y2′ direction as shown in Fig. 10. The reason is first in single phase excitation that the core C′ is obliged to have residual magnetism r′ (Fig. 10) even when the current conduction through the coil A′ is cut off, which residual magnetism r′ produces unbalance between thrust force by the magnetic pole P1′ and that by the magnetic pole P3′, which unbalance then causes the movable member I ′ to be subjected to force in the arrow Y2′ direction. Likewise, when the movable member I ′ moves in the arrow Y2′ direction, it stops displaced by Δx′ shown in the same figure in the arrow Y1′ direction. Namely, it has its different stop positions in going ahead and back. In addition, in two phase excitation, residual magnetism r′ is left behind when the current flowing through the coil A′ is reversed, which residual flux r′ provides back magnetomotive force acting against magnetomotive force providing thrust force after the inversion to cause unbalanced thrust forces between the magnetic forces. Prior linear pulse motors encounter the displacement2Δx′ of several µm due to the hysteresis of several micrometers, and hence suffer from accuracy when highly accurate positioning is desired as in cases wherein in particular a magnetic head in a floppy disk drive is driven. Furthermore, a magnetic material reduced in residual magnetism may be employed for the cores C′, D′ in order to remove the hysteresis described above, but the material is highly expensive and is incapable of completely eliminating such hysteresis. Moreover, it may also be considered to magnetically anneal the cores C', D', but its execution requires much labor. From EP-A-0 093 912 there is known a linear motor having means for compensating residual magnetic flux. Said means comprise coils 60 and 62 for reducing hysteresis effects. Since it is necessary to apply current to said coils 60 and 62, there is needed a respective circuit for controlling said current. In view of the drawbacks of the prior techniques, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pulse motor capable of accurate positioning control with a simple structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pulse motor capable of substantially eliminating the hysteresis described above without modification of a motor structure. To achieve the above objects there is provided a pulse motor according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are claimed in the subclaims. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example. Fig. 1 is a side view partly fractured illustrating a first embodiment of a linear pulse motor and a driving method of a linear pulse motor according to the invention; Fig. 2 (a), (b) are schematics illustrating the operation of the linear pulse motor of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of a pulse motor and a driving method of a pulse motor according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a third embodiment of a pulse motor and a driving method of a pulse motor according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view fractured in part illustrating a prior linear pulse motor; Fig. 6 is a schematical view illustrating problems of a prior pulse motor; Fig. 7 (a), (b), are views illustrating the structure of another prior linear pulse motor and a view illustrating the same but with a movable member moved by 1/4 pitch, respectively; Fig. 8 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a driving circuit for the coils A′, B′; Fig. 9 (a), (b) are respectively views illustrating current waveforms in prior single-phase excitation; Fig. 9 (c), (d) are respectively views illustrating current waveforms in prior two-phase excitatoin; and Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a positioning error in a prior art. In the following, respective embodiments of driving methods of a pulse motor according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view fractured in part illustrating a first embodiment of a driving method of a linear pulse motor according to the invention. The same symbols shall be applied to the same portions as those of the prior pulse motor described above, and the description thereof will be omitted. A plate-shaped semihard magnetic member 15 is provided between the tip ends of respective magnetic poles 3a, 3b, of an iron core 3 (constructing the same magnetic path) so as to make contact with the sides of these tip end parts, and bonded to the end surfaces of respective coils 9a, 9b. In addition, the same semihard magnetic member 16 is provided between the tip ends of respective magnetic poles 4a, 4b (constructing the same magnetic path) of an iron core 4. These semihard magnetic members 15, 16 have higher coercive force than either of the iron cores 3, 4 and the scale 1 , and is formed with any of materials having lower coersive force than that of typical rigid magnetic materials. For these materials, there are considered various types of hysteresis materials semihard magnetic materials which have been applied to many fields until now, including high-carbon steel slightly reduced in coercive force, SK materials, magnetic stainless, and tungsten steel, etc. The semihard magnetic member 15, 16 are more separated from the tooth part 1a than the lower ends of the pole teeth 13a to 14b of the respective magnetic poles 3a to 4b are. Operation of these semihard magnetic members 15, 16 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 (A), (B). Fig. 2 (a) shows a state where a pulse current is allowed to flow through the coils 9c, 9d to generate a magnetic flux R in a magnetic flux path formed by the magnetic poles 4a, 4b and the scale 1. This magnetic flux R extends in part from the magnetic pole 4b directly to the magnetic pole 4a through the semihard magnetic member 16 to magnetize the semihard magnetic member 16 in the direction shown by the arrow in the same figure. The remaining part of the magnetic flux R passes through the interior of the scale 1 via the tooth part 1a as in prior cases. The magnetic flux passing through the interior of the scale 1 as such is directed in the same direction as that of the magnetic flux M from the magnets 7, 8 on the side of the magnetic pole 4b, whereby they are enhanced with each other to produce attraction force between the pole tooth 14b of the magnetic pole 4b and the tooth part 1a for thereby permitting the movable member 2 to be moved by 1/4 pitch in the direction of the arrow F (the figure shows a state after it is moved). In succession, when the current conduction to the coils 9c, 9d is stopped, a residual magnetic flux R1 is produced in the iron core 4 and the scale 1. The direction of this residual magnetic flux R1 is the same as that of the magnetic flux R produced by the coils 9c, 9d (magnetic pole 4b → scale tooth part 1a → magnetic pole 4a). On the other hand, the semihard magnetic member 16 has been yet magnetized and hence has the magnetic flux R2 therein. Part of the magnetic flux R2 extends in the interior of the iron core 4 in the same direction as that of the residual magnetic flux R1, while the remainder thereof extends through the path: magnetic pole 4a → tooth part 1a → magnetic pole 4b. Namely, the magnetic flux R2 is directed oppositely to the aforementioned residual magnetic flux R1 and thus it serves to cancel the residual magnetic flux R1 between each of the magnetic poles 4a, 4b and the tooth part 1a. Thus, the residual magnetic flux R1 can be completely cancelled out by properly setting the succeptibility and coercive force of the semihard magnetic member 16 for thereby making the density of the residual magnetic flux R1 equal to that of the magnetic flux R2 which passes between the magnetic poles 4a, 4b and the scale tooth part 1a. In addition, the semihard magnetic member 15 also serves as in the above described member 16. As a result, residual magnetic fluxed formed between all the magnetic poles 4a to 4d and the scale 1 can be cancelled out. According to the linear pulse motor arranged as described above, the residual magnetic fluxes formed between the magnetic poles and scale 1 can be cancelled out by the magnetic flux produced by the semihard magnetic members 15, 16 as soon as the pulse conduction to the coils is finished. Accordingly, in pulse conduction thereafter, only attraction force produced by this pulse conduction is applied to the movable member 2 , and thus it is possible to greatly improve the accuracy of the stop position of the movable member 2 without causing any hysteresis in the step position thereof. Moreover, a second embodiment of the driving method of a pulse motor according to the invention will be described. This is also applicable, without being limited to linear pulse motors of the type described above, to a rotary type stepping motor as shown in Fig. 3 (flat view). This stepping motor includes a cylindrical stator 17 (primary side magnetic flux generator unit) having eight magnetic poles 17a to 17b projecting to the inner periphery side and a cylindrial rotor (secondary side magnetic member) 18 rotatably provided in the interior of the stator 17, wherein a pulse current is successively supplied to coils 17a to 17h mounted on the respective magnetic poles 17a to 17h to generate a magnetic flux along a magnetic flux path formed between adjacent magnetic poles for thereby rotating stepwise the rotor 18. Rectangular semihard magnetic members 20 ... are provided on the tip ends of the above magneitc poles 17a to 17h between the adjacent magnetic poles. The material quality of these semihard magnetic member 20... is selected to be equal to that of the aforementioned first embodiment. It is also possible in this stepping motor to sharply improve the accuracy of the stop position of the rotor by cancelling out the residual magnetic fluxes formed between the respective magnetic poles 17a to 17h and the rotor 18 by making use of the magnetic fluxes produced by the semihard magnetic members 20.... In addition, a microminiature linear pulse motor being a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In the figure, designated at 21 is a stator (primary side magnetic flux generator unit) and 22 is a movable member (secondary sicde magnetic member). The stator 21 includes coils 23a, 23b provided on both sides the motor, yokes 24a to 24d connected to these coils, and magnetic poles 25a to 25d each provided on the tip ends of these yokes 24a to 24d, and serves to move the movable member 22 step by step by supplying a pulse current to the coils 23a, 23b in the prescribed order. Plate-shaped semihard magnetic members 26, 26 are respectively mounted between the magnetic poles 25a and 25c and between the magnetic poles 25b and 25d, each of couples of these magnetic poles forming the same magnetic flux path, to thereby enable the residual magnetic flux formed between each of the magnetic poles 25a to 25d and the movable member 22 to be cancelled out in the same manner as in the aforementioned first and second embodiments for improving the accuracy of the stop position of the movable member 22. According to the invention, as described above, the semihard magnetic member is provided between the tip ends of magnetic poles constructing the same magnetic path among a plurality of the magnetic poles of the primary side magnetic flux generator unit, and is adapted to be magnetized every time a magnetic flux is generated in the magnetic path. Thus, a residual magnetic flux generated between each of the magnetic poles and the secondary side magnetic member can be cancelled out by a magnetic flux produced by the above magnetized semihard magnetic member, the latter magnetic flux being directed in the opposite direction to that of the above residual magnetic flux. Therefore, any hysteresis can be prevented from being produced owing to the residual magnetic flux described above when the movable member (rotor) is stopped, for thereby greatly improving the accuracy of stop positioning control. Although certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it should be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: A pulse motor comprising: (a) a primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) having a plurality of magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b); and (b) a secondary side magnetic member (1) cooperating with said primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2), said primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) generating a magnetic flux passing through a magnetic flux path formed by at least two neighbouring ones (4a, 4b) of said magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and said secondary side magnetic member (1) to produce attraction force between said neighbouring magnetic poles (4a, 4b) and said secondary side magnetic member (1) for thereby moving any of said primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) and said secondary side magnetic member (1), said magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) having coils (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) respectively provided therebetween, and (c) means for compensating residual magnetic flux, characterized in that said compensating means comprises semihard magnetic member (15, 16) provided over tip ends of said neighbouring magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) so as to bridge same, forming a magnetic flux path among a plurality of said magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b); said semihard magnetic member (15, 16) is magnetized by a magnetic flux produced in said magnetic flux path every time said magnetic flux is produced; said semihard magnetic member (15, 16) produces a magnetic flux directed in the opposite direction to that of a residual magnetic flux formed between each of said magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and the secondary side magnetic member (1) when said primary side magnetic flux generator unit (2) stops the generation of the magnetic flux, for thereby cancelling said residual magnetic flux. The pulse motor according to claim 1, characterized in that said pulse motor is a stepping motor. The pulse motor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said semihard magnetic member (15, 16) is bonded to end surfaces of coils (9) wound around iron cores (3, 4) so as to make close contact with the side surfaces of the tip end parts of the magnetic poles (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b). The pulse motor according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that said semihard magnetic member (15, 16) comprises a material such as various types of hysteresis materials and semihard magnetic materials, high-carbon steel materials, SK material, magnetic stainless, and tungsten steel.

Inventors: MAEDA, MINORU C/O ISE FACTORY, MARUYAMA, TOSHIKI C/O ISE FACTORY, NAKAGAWA, HIROSHI C/O ISE FACTORY
Applicants: SHINKO ELECTRIC CO. LTD.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H02K37
IPC codes: H02K41, H02K37, H02P8