Abstract: The invention is an improved performance step motor (10) including a shorted turn mechanism in the nature of a conducting ring (32) or one or more closed loop conductive strands (50) circumferentially disposed about a ring-shaped exposed magnet zone (48) in the rotor assembly (18) of a conventional hybrid synchronous inductor type step motor. The shorted turn device operates to interact with the magnetic fields created in a rotor magnet (40), a first rotor yoke (42) and a second rotor yoke (44) with the induced magnetic field generated in a stator assembly (24) including a plurality of stator pole pieces (62). The insertion of the shorted turn device results in a balancing of the magnetic fields in such a manner that the oscillation time required to bring the motor to stop at a desired position with standard back phase damping techniques or with no additional damping techniques is substantially reduced.

Abstract: Permanent magnets are interposed within the circumferential spaces between the circumferentially spaced pole pieces of the stator of a variable reluctance step motor. The magnets are magnetized in a circumferential direction and serve to increase the dynamic and holding torque characteristics of the motor while providing the motor with detenting torque and while dampening overshoot and oscillation of the rotor of the motor as the rotor arrives at and settles into its detent positions.