Stepper motor controller

• US 8,994,316 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Asensio, Rafael Cobas, Motte, Marco Antonio Santacruz
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/503,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20130112133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 318/628.5, 318/568.12, 318/562, 318/685, 318/696, 318/139, 318/34, 463/6
• US Class Current: 318/696
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 8/40 Special adaptations for controlling two or more stepping motors

Abstract

A method for controlling multiple stepper motors with a single micro-controller output set uses a demultiplexer to split a single micro-controller output set into individual control signals for a plurality of stepper motors.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of stepper motors comprising:

receiving a multiplexed signal originating from a single set of microcontroller outputs, wherein the multiplexed control signal includes at least a first portion simultaneously communicating a single instruction for multiple stepper motors;

demultiplexing the multiplexed control signal;

deriving a plurality of stepper motor control signals, corresponding to a plurality of stepper motors, from the demultiplexed control signal; and

transmitting each of the plurality of stepper motor control signals to a corresponding stepper motor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a demultiplexer control signal originating from the micro-controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the demultiplexing of the multiplexed control signal further comprising utilizing information contained in the demultiplexer control signal to demultiplex the multiplexed signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexed signal is a pulse width modulated signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexed signal passes through a pulse width modulator prior to the step of receiving a multiplexed signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plural stepper motor control signals comprise at least two distinct stepper motor control signals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitting of each of the plurality of stepper motor control signals comprises transmitting a distinct stepper motor control signal to each of the plural stepper motors.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plural of stepper motors controls at least one gauge in a vehicle.

9. An apparatus for controlling a plurality of stepper motors comprising:

a micro-controller including at least one set of micro-controller output pins, wherein the micro-controller is operable to output a multiplexed control signal from a single set of the at least one set micro-controller output pins, and wherein the multiplexed control signal includes at least a first portion simultaneously communicating a single instruction for multiple stepper motors; and

a demultiplexer communicatively coupled to a single set of micro-controller output pins of the micro-controller and communicatively coupled to the plurality of stepper motors.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a pulse width modulator arranged between the micro-controller and a demultiplexer input.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the micro-controller comprises a demultiplexer control output, and the demultiplexer comprises a demultiplexer control input.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a control signal connection between the demultiplexer control output and the demultiplexer control input.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the demultiplexer comprises a number of outputs at least equal to a number of the plural of stepper motors.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plural stepper motors comprise at least one stepper motor controlling a gauge.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plural stepper motors is connected to a respective gauge.

16. An instrument cluster assembly comprising:

a micro-controller including at least one set of micro-controller output pins, wherein the micro-controller is operable to output a multiplexed control signal from a single set of the at least one set micro-controller output pins, and wherein the multiplexed control signal includes at least a first portion simultaneously communicating a single instruction for multiple stepper motors;

a demultiplexer communicatively coupled to the single set of micro-controller output pins of the microcontroller and communicatively coupled to a plurality of gauges;

each of the plural gauges comprising at least one stepper motor; and

each of the stepper motors configured to be controlled by the micro-controller.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a pulse width modulator located between the micro-controller and a demultiplexer input.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the micro-controller comprises a demultiplexer control output, and the demultiplexer comprises a demultiplexer control input.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the demultiplexer comprises a number of outputs at least equal to the number of the plural gauges.

20. The device of claim 16, further comprising a control signal connection between the demultiplexer control output and the demultiplexer control input.