A stepper motor driver with brake drive, a drive device and an automation device are disclosed. The stepper motor driver comprises a microprocessor (1) embedded with a communication protocol, an external interface unit (3) mutually connected to the microprocessor (1) and a communication interface circuit (2); the microprocessor (1) is also connected to a drive control circuit (4) and a brake device (5), and the brake device (5) is mutually connected to the external interface unit (3); the microprocessor (1) is also mutually connected to a power supply circuit (13) that provides a stable power supply voltage. The stepper motor driver has such advantages as simple structure, high capacity to resist interference, high effectiveness, low cost, and ease in maintenance.

A stepper motor driver with brake drive, a drive device and an automation device are disclosed. The stepper motor driver comprises a microprocessor (1) embedded with a communication protocol, an external interface unit (3) mutually connected to the microprocessor (1) and a communication interface circuit (2); the microprocessor (1) is also connected to a drive control circuit (4) and a brake device (5), and the brake device (5) is mutually connected to the external interface unit (3); the microprocessor (1) is also mutually connected to a power supply circuit (13) that provides a stable power supply voltage. The stepper motor driver has such advantages as simple structure, high capacity to resist interference, high effectiveness, low cost, and ease in maintenance.

A motor drive device of an embodiment includes a first drive circuit, a second drive circuit, a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit, a third detection circuit, a fourth detection circuit, and an output circuit. The first drive circuit drives a first phase of a motor. The second drive circuit drives a second phase of the motor. The first detection circuit detects a first anomaly of the first phase. The second detection circuit detects the first anomaly of the second phase. The third detection circuit detects a second anomaly of the first phase. The fourth detection circuit detects the second anomaly of the second phase. The output circuit outputs an occurred anomaly as a flag signal based on results of detection by the first to fourth detection circuits.

A movement includes a driver having ON and OFF states, and outputting a drive signal to a coil of a motor, a lower limit detector detecting that a current flowing through the coil is less than a lower limit, a drive controller bringing the driver into the ON state based on a result of the lower limit detector, and bringing the driver into the OFF state based on an elapsed time from the ON state, a polarity switcher switching a polarity of the drive signal when an elapsed time from the OFF state of the driver satisfies a switching condition, and a drive stopper stopping driving of the driver when the OFF time satisfies a stopping condition.

A textile machine and associated method are provided for operating the textile machine that includes a plurality of workstations, wherein each workstation includes at least one stepper motor configured to drive an element at the workstation. The method includes measuring a load variable, for example a load angle, of the stepper motor and detecting an approach of the element to an end position based on changes to the load variable.

An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a printing engine to form an image, a step motor to drive the printing engine, a driving circuit to provide a constant current to the step motor and sense a voltage corresponding to a magnitude of the constant current provided to the step motor, and a processor to calculate a temperature of the step motor based on the voltage sensed by the driving circuit during an excitation period of the step motor and control an operation of the image forming apparatus based on the calculated temperature.

An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a printing engine to form an image, a step motor to drive the printing engine, a driving circuit to provide a constant current to the step motor and sense a voltage corresponding to a magnitude of the constant current provided to the step motor, and a processor to calculate a temperature of the step motor based on the voltage sensed by the driving circuit during an excitation period of the step motor and control an operation of the image forming apparatus based on the calculated temperature.

A method for determining an interrupted motor phase of an electric motor having at least three windings by means of a control unit is disclosed, wherein voltages induced in the windings are determined on outer conductors of the electric motor by means of at least one measuring unit, wherein the measuring unit is connected to at least one outer conductor of the electric motor via at least one resistor, the induced voltages of the outer conductors of the electric motor are compared with one another, and an interrupted motor phase is registered if the induced voltage differs or if a frequency of the induced voltage differs. A control unit, a computer program and a machine-readable storage medium are also disclosed.

A method for determining an interrupted motor phase of an electric motor having at least three windings by means of a control unit is disclosed, wherein voltages induced in the windings are determined on outer conductors of the electric motor by means of at least one measuring unit, wherein the measuring unit is connected to at least one outer conductor of the electric motor via at least one resistor, the induced voltages of the outer conductors of the electric motor are compared with one another, and an interrupted motor phase is registered if the induced voltage differs or if a frequency of the induced voltage differs. A control unit, a computer program and a machine-readable storage medium are also disclosed.

In an inductive load control device, an energization controller controls an operation of an H-bridge circuit to switch from an energized state to a regenerative state when a load current value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value at a time after a mask time has elapsed from a start time of a reference cycle, and a short-circuit determination processor determines whether the short-circuit abnormality has occurred based on whether the load current value is equal to or greater than a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value. The short-circuit determination processor further determines whether the short-circuit abnormality has occurred based on the regenerative current value in the regenerative state when the load current value does not reach the second threshold value within the mask time.