Abstract: Improved step motors for providing linear and angular step-wise motion. In certain embodiments the motors utilize a permanent magnet rotor having a multiplicity of equal pitch (equally spaced) permanent magnetic poles of alternating polarity. The stator has a plurality of pole groups, each pole group having a plurality of poles of the same pitch or spacing as the rotor poles, with each stator pole group being displaced with respect to the other stator pole groups, whereby the poles in the pole groups will successively align with the poles in the rotor in a predetermined sequence upon relative rotation between the rotor and stator. Windings are provided on each stator pole group to selectively polarize the stator poles in the respective pole group in alternate polarity to encourage alignment of the nearest rotor poles therewith. All forms of the invention use one or more stator segments, each of substantially less than 360.degree.

Abstract: Improved step motors for providing linear and angular step-wise motion. In certain embodiments the motors utilize a permanent magnet rotor having a multiplicity of equal pitch (equally spaced) permanent magnetic poles of alternating polarity. The stator has a plurality of pole groups, each pole group having a plurality of poles of the same pitch or spacing as the rotor poles, with each stator pole group being displaced with respect to the other stator pole groups, whereby the poles in the pole groups will successively align with the poles in the rotor in a predetermined sequence upon relative rotation between the rotor and stator. Windings are provided on each stator pole group to selectively polarize the stator poles in the respective pole group in alternate polarity to encourage alignment of the nearest rotor poles therewith. Linear and rotary devices are disclosed.