A driver device supplies an output current to each coil in a stepping motor to rotate a rotor. After the polarity and magnitude of the output current for each coil have reached the target polarity and magnitude, during control for keeping the polarity and magnitude of the output current for each coil at the target polarity and magnitude, occurrence of a particular current waveform in the output current due to a back-electromotive force resulting from the rotation of the rotor is detected so that, if a particular current waveform is detected, a predetermined detection signal is transmitted to an external device.

The disclosure relates to a drug delivery device having a drive unit includes a stator comprising a plurality of coils consecutively arranged in an axial direction, and an armature axially movable within the stator, the armature including a number of magnets and pole shoes consecutively arranged in the axial direction. A respective pole shoe is arranged between respectively neighbouring magnets. At least one axial end of the armature comprises a terminal pole shoe.

The disclosure relates to a drug delivery device having a drive unit includes a stator comprising a plurality of coils consecutively arranged in an axial direction, and an armature axially movable within the stator, the armature including a number of magnets and pole shoes consecutively arranged in the axial direction. A respective pole shoe is arranged between respectively neighbouring magnets. At least one axial end of the armature comprises a terminal pole shoe.

A device and method for controlling operation of an ambulatory infusion device drive. The drive may have a spindle drive with a stepper motor, a drive member operatively coupled to a rotary encoder, and a driver controller that executes several steps, including actuating the stepper motor to execute a requested number of steps in a current drive control sequence, receiving a drive member position that indicates an actual position of a drive member following the actuation, computing an executed steps number from the drive member position, computing a missed steps number for the current drive control sequence, which is the difference between the requested number of steps and the executed steps number, determining when the ambulatory infusion device drive is blocked based on a statistical evaluation of a time-distribution of the missed steps number over a history of drive control sequences, and generating a blockage alarm signal.

A device and method for controlling operation of an ambulatory infusion device drive. The drive may have a spindle drive with a stepper motor, a drive member operatively coupled to a rotary encoder, and a driver controller that executes several steps, including actuating the stepper motor to execute a requested number of steps in a current drive control sequence, receiving a drive member position that indicates an actual position of a drive member following the actuation, computing an executed steps number from the drive member position, computing a missed steps number for the current drive control sequence, which is the difference between the requested number of steps and the executed steps number, determining when the ambulatory infusion device drive is blocked based on a statistical evaluation of a time-distribution of the missed steps number over a history of drive control sequences, and generating a blockage alarm signal.

Provided is a drive circuit for a two-coil stepper motor, including a rotor that is magnetized to an N-pole and an S-pole, first, second, and third stator magnetic-pole portions, a coil A, and a coil B. The drive circuit includes a drive pulse generation circuit configured to output a drive pulse (SP) for driving the coil A and the coil B, a detection pulse generation circuit configured to output a detection pulse (CP) to the coil A and the coil B in order to detect counter-electromotive currents generated in the coil A and the coil B along with a movement of the rotor after the rotor is driven based on the drive pulse, and a detection circuit configured to receive a detection signal (CS) generated based on the detection pulse as input, to thereby detect the movement of the rotor. At least one of the detection pulse to the coil A or the detection pulse to the coil B is output.

Provided is a drive circuit for a two-coil stepper motor, including a rotor that is magnetized to an N-pole and an S-pole, first, second, and third stator magnetic-pole portions, a coil A, and a coil B. The drive circuit includes a drive pulse generation circuit configured to output a drive pulse (SP) for driving the coil A and the coil B, a detection pulse generation circuit configured to output a detection pulse (CP) to the coil A and the coil B in order to detect counter-electromotive currents generated in the coil A and the coil B along with a movement of the rotor after the rotor is driven based on the drive pulse, and a detection circuit configured to receive a detection signal (CS) generated based on the detection pulse as input, to thereby detect the movement of the rotor. At least one of the detection pulse to the coil A or the detection pulse to the coil B is output.

A controller is provided for driving a stepper motor with a magnetic rotor and at least one coil. The controller has a power stage for supplying the at least one coil with current, at least one analog Hall sensor for providing a signal as a function of the position of the magnetic rotor with respect to the Hall sensor, and a feedback line connecting the Hall sensor with the power stage to feed the signal of the Hall sensor back to the power stage.

A controller is provided for driving a stepper motor with a magnetic rotor and at least one coil. The controller has a power stage for supplying the at least one coil with current, at least one analog Hall sensor for providing a signal as a function of the position of the magnetic rotor with respect to the Hall sensor, and a feedback line connecting the Hall sensor with the power stage to feed the signal of the Hall sensor back to the power stage.

Excitation position is changed in accordance with an external clock. The state of a full bridge circuit including four transistors connected to a coil of a stepping motor, is controlled in accordance with the excitation position. At the time of transition from the excitation position at which coil current that flows in the coil is nonzero to the excitation position at which the coil current is zero, a switch is made to (i) the inverse state where the on or off state of each of the four transistors before the transition is inverted, and then a switch is made to (ii) the off state where all the four transistors are off.