The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 2009
Filed:
May. 02, 2006
George J. Doutney, Sandy Hook, CT (US);
Michael J. Lorello, Guilford, CT (US);
George J. Doutney, Sandy Hook, CT (US);
Michael J. Lorello, Guilford, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and a system are disclosed for preventing stepper motor control signals from being applied to a stepper motor drive circuit in order to stop a stepper motor when an interlock situation is present. A sequence of one or more control signals is generated by a motion control system and passed to one or more interlock logic gates connected in series. The interlock logic gates have an enable signal input which allows the control signals to pass through to the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of '1'. On the other hand, the interlock logic gates will prevent the control signals from reaching the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of '0'. The logic level of the enable input signal may be connected to a switch, relay, or an integrated circuit responsive to an interlock situation such as the opening of an access door.