A valve actuator (10) has a damping circuitry including a capacitive damping circuit (37), which is activated in the event of generator operation of the stepper motor (18). The damping circuitry, together with the motor winding (26), forms a resonance assembly LCR, which has the effect of stabilising and regulating rotational speed. The rotational speed of the stepper motor (18), running in generator operation, is held constant within limits, specifically without the control intervention of control circuitry. Therefore, the damping circuitry can operate even in the currentless state of the control system and is reliable regardless of external current supply. Fast closing is achieved, and excessively long post-running of the motor (18) is reliably prevented.

A trolling motor assembly is provided for attachment to a watercraft. The trolling motor assembly includes a steering assembly having a stepper motor with motor current feedback to prevent stall of the stepper motor during steering of the trolling motor. The stepper motor, which rotates the shaft to which the primary trolling motor is coupled to change the direction of thrust in accordance with a steering command, is dynamically controlled utilizing motor current feedback to change the speed of the stepper motor to adapt to the load conditions on the steering assembly. The feedback control can enable operation of the stepper motor at increased RPMs under relatively low load conditions, while preventing stalls by adjusting the drive signal to decrease the speed of the stepper motor in response to increased loads.

A trolling motor assembly is provided for attachment to a watercraft. The trolling motor assembly includes a steering assembly having a stepper motor with motor current feedback to prevent stall of the stepper motor during steering of the trolling motor. The stepper motor, which rotates the shaft to which the primary trolling motor is coupled to change the direction of thrust in accordance with a steering command, is dynamically controlled utilizing motor current feedback to change the speed of the stepper motor to adapt to the load conditions on the steering assembly. The feedback control can enable operation of the stepper motor at increased RPMs under relatively low load conditions, while preventing stalls by adjusting the drive signal to decrease the speed of the stepper motor in response to increased loads.

An automated luminaire and method are provided. The automated luminaire includes a stepper motor, a mechanism moved by the stepper motor, and a control system coupled to the stepper motor. The control system rotates the stepper motor, senses a current passing through a motor winding of the stepper motor, determines from a calculated characteristic of the sensed current that the mechanism has contacted an end stop, and in response, stores data relating to a current position of the stepper motor in a memory of the control system.

An automated luminaire and method are provided. The automated luminaire includes a stepper motor, a mechanism moved by the stepper motor, and a control system coupled to the stepper motor. The control system rotates the stepper motor, senses a current passing through a motor winding of the stepper motor, determines from a calculated characteristic of the sensed current that the mechanism has contacted an end stop, and in response, stores data relating to a current position of the stepper motor in a memory of the control system.

A power seat system includes: a motor that changes a position of a power seat by performing a rotational operation; a Hall sensor that senses a change in Hall voltage according to the rotation of the motor and outputs a pulse signal; and a motor reverse rotation detection unit that monitors outputs from the motor and the Hall sensor, and detects an occurrence of a reverse pulse according to a motor reverse rotation when a motor current overshooting section and a change in pulse signal value are simultaneously detected in accordance with stop of the motor.

A power seat system includes: a motor that changes a position of a power seat by performing a rotational operation; a Hall sensor that senses a change in Hall voltage according to the rotation of the motor and outputs a pulse signal; and a motor reverse rotation detection unit that monitors outputs from the motor and the Hall sensor, and detects an occurrence of a reverse pulse according to a motor reverse rotation when a motor current overshooting section and a change in pulse signal value are simultaneously detected in accordance with stop of the motor.

An electronic timepiece can prevent overrunning when driving a motor at a high speed. The electronic timepiece has a controller that controls a driver to an on state or an off state according to the current value detected by the current detector; a polarity changer that determines driving one step of the motor ended and changes the polarity of the drive current when the on time or off time is detected to meet a specific condition; and a drive period adjuster that sets the terminal supplying the drive current to the coil to a first state if the remaining drive step count is greater than the remaining count evaluation number, and if the remaining drive step count is less than or equal to the remaining count evaluation number, sets the terminal to a second state in which the brake force applied to the rotor is greater than in the first state.

An electronic timepiece can prevent overrunning when driving a motor at a high speed. The electronic timepiece has a controller that controls a driver to an on state or an off state according to the current value detected by the current detector; a polarity changer that determines driving one step of the motor ended and changes the polarity of the drive current when the on time or off time is detected to meet a specific condition; and a drive period adjuster that sets the terminal supplying the drive current to the coil to a first state if the remaining drive step count is greater than the remaining count evaluation number, and if the remaining drive step count is less than or equal to the remaining count evaluation number, sets the terminal to a second state in which the brake force applied to the rotor is greater than in the first state.

A valve actuator (10) has a damping circuitry including a capacitive damping circuit (37), which is activated in the event of generator operation of the stepper motor (18). The damping circuitry, together with the motor winding (26), forms a resonance assembly LCR, which has the effect of stabilising and regulating rotational speed. The rotational speed of the stepper motor (18), running in generator operation, is held constant within limits, specifically without the control intervention of control circuitry. Therefore, the damping circuitry can operate even in the currentless state of the control system and is reliable regardless of external current supply. Fast closing is achieved, and excessively long post-running of the motor (18) is reliably prevented.