Patents by Inventor Thomas Horning

Thomas Horning has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4214194
    Abstract: A method for driving stepping motors, typically used in digital hard copy printers, can be employed wherein the phased stator coils of the stepping motor are energized in an overlapping relationship. In addition, the voltage or current applied to the stator coils in a stepping motor may be driven in a pulsed manner such that certain portions of the energized duration are characterized by a higher driving current or voltage. By virtue of the simultaneous activation of the adjacent phases of the stator coils, quasi-equilibrium positions may be created between the equilibrium positions in a stepping motor with the result that a smoother and more uniform angular accelerations and decelerations can be obtained. Circuitry conducive to a digital application to practice the method of the present invention employs a multiple bit shift register driven by a decoder and which in turn drives a plurality of operational amplifiers. Another operational amplifier coupled to the decoder provides a controlled current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Data Products Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Horning