Texas Instruments Incorporated
Stall detection in stepper motors using differential back-EMF between rising and falling commutation phase of motor current

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a method includes detecting, by a stall detection sensor in a driver coupled to a stepper motor, a first set of time-off periods in a rising commutation phase of motor current during current regulation. The stall detection sensor further detects a second set of time-off periods in a falling commutation phase of motor current during current regulation. Next, the stall detection sensor compares the first set of time-off periods with the second set of time-off periods and determines whether the stepper motor is stalled based on the comparison of the first set of time-off periods with the second set of time-off periods.