Stepper Motor Drive Circuit Boost Capacitor Torque Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated banking machines face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption, particularly with stepper motor drives that experience torque loss and inefficiency due to high stator inductance, leading to motor stall and energy loss.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a bipolar stepper motor drive circuit with a boost capacitor and blocking diode to convert stored energy into a virtual high voltage source, enhancing the discharging and charging processes, and using a unipolar stepper motor drive circuit with a boost capacitor to improve energy utilization and reduce torque loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional stepper motor drive circuits are used with high stator inductance, then motor torque is maintained at low speeds, but energy loss increases and motor stall occurs at higher speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor operation stabilityVSAvoidenergy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of high stator inductance (which causes energy loss and motor stall at higher speeds) into a beneficial effect by using the stored magnetic energy in the inductor to generate negative torque that assists in reversing current direction. The boost capacitor captures and releases energy to enhance this effect, transforming what was previously a source of energy loss into a mechanism that reduces overall energy consumption and prevents motor stall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Force

If high stator inductance is used in stepper motor drives, then torque is maintained at low speeds, but the charging and discharging processes become slower, reducing motor performance at varying speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor torqueVSAvoidmotor speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a boost capacitor as an intermediary energy storage device between the power supply and the stepper motor drive circuit. This capacitor acts as a mediator that can rapidly charge and discharge to provide the high currents needed for fast magnetic field changes, thereby enabling the motor to respond quickly to speed changes while maintaining torque. The intermediary capacitor decouples the contradiction between maintaining high inductance for torque and enabling fast switching for speed performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If the stator inductor discharges slowly, then energy is conserved in the circuit, but torque loss occurs and motor performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy conservationVSAvoidtorque
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic switching of the H-bridge circuit to actively control the charging and discharging cycles of the stator inductor and boost capacitor. By using complementary switch pairs (Q1-Q4) that alternately conduct, the system creates periodic action that forces the inductor to charge and discharge in controlled cycles. This periodic switching ensures that energy is not passively lost but is actively transferred between the inductor and capacitor, maintaining both energy conservation and sufficient torque production through controlled magnetic field changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This approach improves the efficiency of stepper motor operation by accelerating both discharging and charging processes, reducing torque loss, and maintaining motor performance across varying speeds, thereby enhancing power conservation in automated banking machines.

Implementation Method 1

The automated banking machine includes a bipolar stepper motor drive circuit with a boost capacitor and blocking diode to convert stored energy into a virtual high voltage source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The implementation of a bipolar stepper motor drive circuit with a boost capacitor and blocking diode to convert stored energy into a virtual high voltage source, enhancing the discharging and charging processes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

using a unipolar stepper motor drive circuit with a boost capacitor to improve energy utilization and reduce torque loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2929515B1Power management for an automated banking system
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 DIEBOLD NIXDORF INCORPORATED
  • EP2929515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2929515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2929515B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to included devices to avoid exceeding power supply capacity.