Patents Assigned to IMS Inc.
  • Thermally efficient motor housing assembly
    Patent number: 7242593
    Abstract: A thermally efficient motor housing assembly including a plurality of transistors and a printed wire board (pwb) for controlling a stepper motor and also including a plunger array and a spring array along with a combined heat sink and pwb enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: IMS Inc.
    Inventor: David Coutu
  • Method to prevent midrange resonance during operation of a multi-phase step motor
    Patent number: 7154245
    Abstract: The frequency of the pulse width modulator within a step motor control circuit is increased above a base frequency under defined conditions to enable more accurate construction of the phase current waveform for preventing mid-range resonance. The PWM frequency is stepped between frequencies by a fixed amount above the base frequency, to prevent the excitation of system harmonics and prevent step motor operational instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: IMS Inc.
    Inventors: David Coutu, Robert A. Fournier
  • Multi-functional electric stepper motor assembly having increased motor torque
    Patent number: 6967425
    Abstract: An electric stepper motor having increased motor torque includes a thru-hole, a rotor and a stator. The thru-hole allows use with a chamber and provides transport of hardware and elements into the chamber. A first and second pair of rotor cups separated by a non-magnetic spacer disc provide increased motor torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: IMS Inc.
    Inventor: Allen Bennett
  • Method and apparatus for independently controlling each phase of a multi-phase step motor
    Patent number: 6879128
    Abstract: The current in each phase of a multi-phase step motor is monitored and the excess phase current above the set point current, as required on a cycle-by-cycle PWM basis, is reduced thereby bringing each phase current down to the set point. The PWM frequency is automatically adjusted to maintain a minimum number of PWM edges within a portion of the current waveform. A maximum charge/discharge time is specified as a percentage of the PWM period. These provide an accurate independent current control within each phase of a multiphase step motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: IMS Inc.
    Inventors: David Coutu, Robert A. Fournier
  • Method and apparatus for improved low current accuracy in multi-phase step motors
    Patent number: 6867566
    Abstract: The sense signal, which is used to indicate that the motor phase current in a stepper motor is at the set point, is marked both before and after each pulse width modulator edge thereby reducing susceptibility to commutation noise from any phase. A mask time is created for a period before and after a PWM edge. The phase current is balanced during this mask time by removing and replacing the phase current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: IMS Inc.
    Inventors: David Coutu, Robert A. Fournier
  • Electric stepper motor having a cylindrical magnetic rotor with a pair of cups made of magnetic material
    Patent number: 6002186
    Abstract: An electric stepper motor includes a thru-hole, a rotor and a stator. The rotor consists of a pair of hollow magnetic metal flange-shaped laminations arranged within a hollow magnetic sleeve. The motor can be field-converted from rotary to lineal translation by attachment of a threaded nut to the motor shaft mounting face. The thru-hole allows use with a chamber and provides transport of hardware and elements into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: IMS Inc.
    Inventors: David Coutu, Allen Bennett