Difference Between Bipolar Drives and Unipolar Drives for Stepper Motors

Working on a motorized development requires some knowledge about motors and controllers.

This article is focused on the stepper motors which is a type of brushless DC motor with a high number of poles. This technology is generally driven in open loop without any feedback sensor, meaning the current is typically applied on the phases without knowing the rotor position. The rotor moves to be aligned with the stator magnetic flux, then the current can be supplied to the next phase.

We will consider two ways to supply current in the coil: bipolar way and unipolar way. In this article, we will explain the differences of bipolar and unipolar motors and driving methods. We will show the advantages and limits of both technologies.

Let’s take an example of a four step, permanent magnet stepper motor (see figure 1). The rotor is made with a one pole pair magnet, and the stator is composed of two phases, Phase A and Phase B.

In unipolar: the current always flows in the same direction. Each coil is dedicated to one current direction, meaning either the coil A+ or the coil A- is powered. The coils A+ and A- are never powered together.

In bipolar: the current can flow in both directions in all coils. The phases A+ and A- are powered together.

A bipolar motor requires one coil minimum per phase and unipolar motor requires two coils minimum per phase. Let’s review both options in more detail.

MOTOR CONSTRUCTION

UNIPOLAR

In the unipolar configuration, each motor phase is composed of two coil windings. With a two-phase motor composed of phases A and B, the motor has four coil windings (see figure 2).

Phase A is composed of A+, A-

Phase B is composed of B+, B-

For each coil, the current can only flow in one single direction. That’s why we call it unipolar.

In the case of the voltage drive, the control system is very easy because there is one transistor (switch) per coil. When the transistor is closed, the coil is powered. To commute, the transistors are alternatively closed and opened.

The transistors Q1 and Q2 cannot be closed at the same time. To power phase A, we close either transistor Q1 or Q2, depending on the current direction we want to work (see figure 3).

With the unipolar control, only half of the phase is powered at a time meaning the current uses only half of the copper volume. Typically, with voltage drive serial resistances are applied to decrease electrical time constant (see more details below).

BIPOLAR

Bipolar motors need only one coil winding per phase. We call it bipolar because the current can go in both directions per coil. For control, eight transistors with two H-bridges are required (see figure 4).

To do the commutation, the transistors are alternatively closed and opened as shown below (see figure 5).

The advantage of a bipolar drive is that all the copper per phase is used.

Such bipolar drives are used either in voltage drive or in current source. In case of current source, usually current in each phase is controlled with a pulse width modulation (PWM).

ADVANTAGES AND LIMITS

VOLTAGE DRIVE

In case of voltage drive, controlling unipolar motors is very easy as it requires a simple electronic with four transistors. This is a very cost-effective solution. Engineers used to be interested in this type of solution many years ago when the electronic components were more expensive than today.

Bipolar motors can be driven with a voltage-drive; it requires 2H bridges.

CURRENT DRIVE

For current drive, we recommend choosing a bipolar mode. Working in current drive with unipolar technology requires a more complex electronic solution for lower motor performances than with a bipolar driver.

CAUTION TO TAKE WITH A VOLTAGE DRIVE

Due to the inductance effect, the current needs some time to rise in the coil. Either with unipolar or bipolar, you can add a serial resistance to decrease the electrical time constant (L/R).

By adding an external resistance, the current is decreasing (i= U/(R+r)). In summary, with the additional resistance for the same power supplied, we will have:

At low speed, a lower torque. The current is lower due to the joule power dissipated in the external resistance, as the torque is proportional to the current, the motor will deliver less torque.

At high speed, a higher torque. Even if some joule power is dissipated in the external resistance, the motor will be able to deliver more torque thanks to the lower electrical time constant allowing the current to rise quicker in the coil.

Note: If we increase the supply voltage, we can compensate for the lower current, but the overall energy efficiency will be decreased. The torque is improved at high speed and maintained same at low speed.

HOLDING TORQUE

Holding torque is the maximum torque that the motor can hold at stall. Holding torque is proportional to the torque constant and the current in the phase.

Generating higher torque can be done by increasing the number of coil turns or by increasing the current flow.

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