Patent ID: 7675259

Claim:
A controller for a DC motor, comprising: a processor; and a memory, the memory having a data structure stored thereon for execution by the processor, the data structure comprising: a first determining section that determines whether a recording medium is conveyed in a first direction, based on a signal outputted from a detector that detects rotation of a DC motor, the first direction being a direction toward a reference position; a setting section that sets a first current value as a current initially outputted to the DC motor each time the first determining section determines that the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction; a first current outputting section that outputs to the DC motor a current at the first current value set by the setting section, and that subsequently outputs by steps a current gradually higher than the first current value to the DC motor until the first determining section again determines that the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction; a second determining section that determines whether the recording medium is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction after the first current outputting section outputs a current at the first current value to the DC motor; and a first updating section that updates the first current value set by the setting section to a second current value higher than the first current value, when the second determining section determines that the recording medium is conveyed in the second direction.