PWM Motor Control for Nail Gun Speed Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power-driven nail guns experience instability in nail firing due to bounce and restabilization of motor rotation speed when using proportional or proportional integral control, resulting in inconsistent kinetic energy delivery and depth penetration in workpieces.

Innovation Solution

A control system and method that utilizes a microcontroller to adjust pulse width modulation (PWM) duty based on battery voltage to maintain a target motor rotation speed, incorporating a coil position detecting circuit and battery voltage detecting circuit to ensure consistent kinetic energy transfer, thereby stabilizing nail firing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If proportional control or proportional integral control is used for constant rotation speed control, then the motor rotation speed can be controlled, but the rotation speed experiences bounce and restabilization, causing inconsistent kinetic energy delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of nail firingVSAvoidmotor rotation speed stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system that continuously monitors motor rotation speed and adjusts PWM duty cycle in real-time. The microcontroller receives feedback from the motor speed sensor and dynamically modifies the driving signal to maintain constant rotation speed, eliminating the bounce and restabilization problems of conventional P or PI control by using adaptive feedback adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameter from fixed PWM duty cycle to dynamically adjustable PWM duty cycle based on real-time motor speed feedback. By continuously adjusting the PWM duty cycle parameter according to actual motor performance and battery voltage conditions, the system maintains optimal rotation speed stability without the oscillation issues of traditional control methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the motor reaches target rotation speed quickly, then the user can fire nails within a short time period, but the rotation speed may not have reached balance, causing excessive or insufficient kinetic energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenail firing speedVSAvoidconsistency of nail depth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a pre-acceleration phase where the motor is brought to near-target speed before the firing trigger is activated. The system pre-charges the flywheel and prepares the impacting mechanism in advance, so that when the user pulls the trigger, the motor is already at or very near its optimal rotation speed, ensuring consistent kinetic energy delivery while maintaining rapid response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a rapid acceleration profile that quickly brings the motor through the transient phase and into steady-state operation. By optimizing the acceleration curve and using high initial PWM duty cycles, the system rushes through the unstable transition period and establishes constant rotation speed before the firing action is required, eliminating the delay between activation and stable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If battery voltage varies, then the motor rotation speed changes, but conventional control does not compensate for voltage changes, affecting kinetic energy consistency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery voltage toleranceVSAvoidkinetic energy consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates battery voltage sensing with feedback control that adjusts PWM duty cycle based on detected voltage levels. When battery voltage drops, the system automatically increases PWM duty to compensate and maintain constant motor rotation speed. This voltage-adaptive feedback mechanism ensures consistent kinetic energy delivery throughout battery discharge cycles, regardless of varying battery conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the PWM duty cycle parameter in response to battery voltage variations. By monitoring battery voltage and adjusting the driving parameter (PWM duty) accordingly, the system compensates for voltage drop effects and maintains stable motor operation and consistent nail firing kinetic energy throughout the battery's operational life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively stabilizes nail firing by quickly reaching and maintaining a constant motor rotation speed, ensuring consistent kinetic energy delivery and improved stability of nail penetration in power-driven nail guns.

Implementation Method 1

a coil position detecting circuit, connected to the motor and the microcontroller, configured to provide the microcontroller with a signal related to rotation speed of the motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a battery voltage detecting circuit, connected between the battery and the microcontroller, configured to detect a voltage of the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical potential measurement: Ohm's Law

Implementation Method 3

a microcontroller, connected to the driving circuit, configured to provide a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the driving circuit for the driving circuit to drive the motor based on the PWM signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse width modulation:

Implementation Method 4

a flywheel rotating along with the motor, an impacting member receiving kinetic energy of the flywheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectKinetic energy transfer: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3766638B1Control system and method for power-driven nail gun
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 BASSO IND CORP
  • EP3766638B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3766638B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3766638B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Provided is a control system and method for a power-driven nail gun (1), which includes a battery (20), a motor (11, 23), a flywheel (12) rotating along with the motor (11, 23), an impacting member (14) receiving kinetic energy of the flywheel (12) and a nail channel (16) providing a channel for a nail to move along therewith when hit by the impacting member (14). The method includes utilizing a microcontroller (22) to provide a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for a driving circuit (14) to drive the motor (11, 23) based on the PWM signal; and in response to reaching a target rotation speed by the motor (11, 23), utilizing the microcontroller (22) to output a corresponding PWM duty to the driving circuit (14) based on the voltage of the battery (20), to make the motor (11, 23) maintain at the target rotation speed. The nails obtain stable and consistent kinetic energy and stability of nail firing is effectively improved.