A new function to idle the motor after stepping

A new function that allow setting the idle option to power down all the motor coils after stepping, in order to reduce power and heat. That also allows manual rotation of the motor.

Author: fduraibi

src/Stepper.cpp

@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ Stepper::Stepper(int number_of_steps, int motor_pin_1, int motor_pin_2)
   this->direction = 0;      // motor direction
   this->last_step_time = 0; // timestamp in us of the last step taken
   this->number_of_steps = number_of_steps; // total number of steps for this motor
+  this->idle = false;       // Power down all coils after done stepping
 
   // Arduino pins for the motor control connection:
   this->motor_pin_1 = motor_pin_1;
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ Stepper::Stepper(int number_of_steps, int motor_pin_1, int motor_pin_2,
   this->direction = 0;      // motor direction
   this->last_step_time = 0; // timestamp in us of the last step taken
   this->number_of_steps = number_of_steps; // total number of steps for this motor
+  this->idle = false;       // Power down all coils after done stepping
 
   // Arduino pins for the motor control connection:
   this->motor_pin_1 = motor_pin_1;
@@ -150,6 +152,7 @@ Stepper::Stepper(int number_of_steps, int motor_pin_1, int motor_pin_2,
   this->direction = 0;      // motor direction
   this->last_step_time = 0; // timestamp in us of the last step taken
   this->number_of_steps = number_of_steps; // total number of steps for this motor
+  this->idle = false;       // Power down all coils after done stepping
 
   // Arduino pins for the motor control connection:
   this->motor_pin_1 = motor_pin_1;
@@ -226,6 +229,21 @@ void Stepper::step(int steps_to_move)
       yield();
     }
   }
+  // If ideling is enabled then power down all coils
+  if (this->idle == true)
+  {
+    digitalWrite(motor_pin_1, LOW);
+    digitalWrite(motor_pin_2, LOW);
+    if (this->pin_count == 4)
+    {
+      digitalWrite(motor_pin_1, LOW);
+      digitalWrite(motor_pin_2, LOW);
+      digitalWrite(motor_pin_3, LOW);
+      digitalWrite(motor_pin_4, LOW);
+    }
+    if (this->pin_count == 5)
+      digitalWrite(motor_pin_5, LOW);
+  }
 }
 
 /*
@@ -358,6 +376,15 @@ void Stepper::stepMotor(int thisStep)
   }
 }
 
+/*
+ * Allow powering down all coils after stepping, 
+ * to reduce heat, power and allow manuall rotation.
+ */
+void Stepper::idelAfterStep(bool idle)
+{
+  this->idle = idle;
+}
+
 /*
   version() returns the version of the library:
 */