Abstract: A position sensor includes a first part having several electrically conductive elements, a second part having an electrical conductor, and holding device holding the first part and the second part together with the conductive elements and the conductor being spaced apart and permitting relative movement between the conductive elements and the conductor. Included is a signal generator for generating and supplying different electrical signals to one of the first part and the second part for reception in a contactless manner by the other of the first part and the second part with a magnitude that is dependent upon the relative position between the conductive elements and the conductor. There is also a signal detector connected to the other of the first part and the second part for differentiating the electrical signals received thereby to determine the relative position between the conductive elements and the conductor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a two-phase stepping motor to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes in which output of the motor behaves differently upon encountering obstacle, comprises the steps of: generating an electrical driving current comprising a repeating series of a positive active driving region, a first inactive driving region, a negative active driving region and a second inactive driving region; determining one of the duration of the active driving regions and the duration of the inactive driving regions relative to the other of the durations to thereby cause the motor to operate in a corresponding mode of the operating modes; and applying the driving current to the motor.

Abstract: A position sensor comprises a first part having several electrically conductive elements, a second part having an electrical conductor, and holding means holding the first part and the second part together with the conductive elements and the conductor being spaced apart and permitting relative movement between the conductive elements and the conductor. Included is a signal generator for generating and supplying different electrical signals to one of the first part and the second part for reception in a contactless manner by the other of the first part and the second part with a magnitude that is dependent upon the relative position between the conductive elements and the conductor. There is also a signal detector connected to the other of the first part and the second part for differentiating the electrical signals received thereby to determine the relative position between the conductive elements and the conductor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a two-phase stepping motor to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes in which output of the motor behaves differently upon encountering obstacle, comprises the steps of: generating an electrical driving current comprising a repeating series of a positive active driving region, a first inactive driving region, a negative active driving region and a second inactive driving region; determining one of the duration of the active driving regions and the duration of the inactive driving regions relative to the other of the durations to thereby cause the motor to operate in a corresponding mode of the operating modes; and applying the driving current to the motor.