Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for selectively controlling the energization of the windings of a multiwinding motor comprising: a recirculating shift register having at least three stages, each of the stages having first and second stable states with each of the stages controlling the energization of one of the windings of the motor, means for placing at least one of said shift register stages in said first state which corresponds to energization of its associated motor winding and at least one other of the shift register stages in the second state which corresponds to de-energization of its associated motor winding; means for alternately applying first and second control signals to said shift register; first means, responsive to said first control signal, for placing any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a first state in said first state so that two adjacent stages will be in their first state, thus, simultaneously energizing at least two motor windings; and second means responsive to said second control signal for placing any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a second state in said second state so that two adjacent stages will be in their second state and thus at least one less motor winding is energized by the shift register in response to said second signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for selectively controlling the energization of the windings of a multiwinding motor comprising: a recirculating shift register having at least three stages, each of the stages having first and second stable states with each of the stages controlling the energization of one of the windings of the motor, means for placing at least one of said shift register stages in said first state which corresponds to energization of its associated motor winding and at least one other of the shift register stages in the second state which corresponds to de-energization of its associated motor winding; means for alternately applying first and second control signals to said shift register; first means, responsive to said first control signal, for placing any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a first state in said first state so that two adjacent stages will be in their first state, thus, simultaneously energizing at least two motor windings; and second means responsive to said second control signal for placing any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a second state in said second state so that two adjacent stages will be in their second state and thus at least one less motor winding is energized by the shift register in response to said second signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises: means for changing said first direction to a second direction so as to reverse the rotational direction of the motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said shift register stages includes a slave storage memory having a write input and an output, the output of said slave storage memory determining the energizing condition of the motor winding associated with that stage; each of said shift register stages further includes a master storage memory having a write input and an output; and wherein the write input of each of said slave storage memories is selectively connected to the output of a master storage memory of an adjacent stage so that in response to said first means the output of said master storage memory of an adjacent stage, when in said first state, is written into said slave storage memory and in response to said second means the output of said master storage memory when in said second state, is written into said slave storage memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3 which further comprises: means for reversing said first selected direction to a second direction so as to reverse the rotational direction of the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes means for loading each of said master storage memories with the states of their respective slave storage memories in response to said second control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said master storage memories are in the form of R-S flip-flops and said slave storage memories are in the form of R-S flip-flops.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for selectively controlling the energization of the windings of a multiwinding motor by selected signal levels of a shift register having at least three stages, each stage having first and second stable states, comprising the steps of: placing at least one of the shift register stages in a first state corresponding to energization of an associated motor winding and placing at least one other of the shift register states in a second state corresponding to de-energization of an associated winding; alternately applying first and second control signals to said shift register; placing, in response to said first control signal, any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a first state to its first state whereby at least two adjacent stages are in a first state thereby simultaneously energizing at least two motor windings; and placing, in response to said second control signal, any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a second state to its second state whereby at least two adjacent stages are in a second state so that at least one less motor winding is energized by the shift register.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for selectively controlling the energization of the windings of a multiwinding motor by selected signal levels of a shift register having at least three stages, each stage having first and second stable states, comprising the steps of: placing at least one of the shift register stages in a first state corresponding to energization of an associated motor winding and placing at least one other of the shift register states in a second state corresponding to de-energization of an associated winding; alternately applying first and second control signals to said shift register; placing, in response to said first control signal, any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a first state to its first state whereby at least two adjacent stages are in a first state thereby simultaneously energizing at least two motor windings; and placing, in response to said second control signal, any stage adjacent in a first direction to a stage in a second state to its second state whereby at least two adjacent stages are in a second state so that at least one less motor winding is energized by the shift register.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 which further includes the step of changing said first direction to a second direction in response to a directional signal so as to reverse the rotational direction of the motor.