How does an H-Bridge work? (2024)

Direct current (DC) motors are used in all kinds of applications nowadays, from toys to robotics, but have you ever wondered how the speed and direction of the DC motor are controlled? For that, let’s suppose you have a DC motor and a battery. Now, to make the motor spin, you connect the battery's terminals to the DC motor, and the motor spins in a certain direction; reverse the polarity, and the motor spins in the other direction.

How does an H-Bridge work? (1)

Now, what if we wanted to rotate the DC motor in different directions and at different speeds without having to manually swap the terminal wires? This is where the ‘H’ bridge circuit comes into action. This circuit switches the polarity of the voltage applied to the motor terminals as per the inputs we provide.

How does an H-Bridge work? (2)

To understand the H bridge circuit, first, we need to understand the basic construction of this circuit. It has two branches with a total of four switches (S1, S2, S3, and S4), with each branch having two switches in series, and both branches are in a parallel connection. Motor terminals A & B are connected to the midpoints of the branches, with switches on either side of the terminal. The terminals of the motor act as a bridge between the branches and look like an ‘H’, hence the name of the circuit. Switches have only two digital states, ‘0’ and ‘1’, but the four switches together can give us many different combinations for the ‘H’ bridge circuit operation.

Below is a list of the different input combinations for our H-bridge circuit. ‘1’ represents that the switch is ON, and ‘0’ represents that the switch is OFF.

How does an H-Bridge work? (3)

From all the combinations mentioned above, let’s first focus on the inputs which are used to spin the motor in different directions.

case i :

How does an H-Bridge work? (4)

To rotate the motor, we need to establish a current flow through it. The direction of current flow determines the direction in which the motor rotates. So when switches S1 & S4 are closed, terminal A gets connected to VCC and terminal B to GND. This creates a potential difference on the two terminals of the motor, current starts to flow, and our motor rotates in the clockwise direction.

case ii

How does an H-Bridge work? (5)

Now, what if we want to rotate the DC motor in the opposite direction? All we need to do is toggle specific switches such that the polarity on the motor terminals gets reversed. This can be achieved by closing switches S2 and S3, as shown in Figure 4. As the motor terminals experience opposite voltage polarity compared to case i, the motor starts to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. Notice that we can now control the motor direction just by changing switches' positions without modifying the wire connections to the motor.

But wait, why consider these many cases if we just want to control the direction of the motor? Well, the remaining cases are very important when designing a control system for the DC motor, i.e. for position, velocity, torque, etc., which are some very important properties for an automatic system’s tuning and performance. Let’s now move on to other cases important for controlling such properties of a motor.

case iii, iv, v, vi, vii

For these input conditions, at least one of the motor terminals lacks a connection to either VCC or GND, which means there is no path for current to flow, and no magnetic field is induced in the motor. In this case, the motor is in a state called “coasting”; that is, it rotates freely in the direction it’s rotating and comes to rest eventually due to friction or remains steady if it is not rotating. An even simpler explanation for "coasting" would be: cutting off the power to the motor so that it comes to rest automatically in some time due to the resistances that oppose the motor’s motion.

Now we know that coasting ultimately brings the motor to rest, but that still takes a few seconds. What if we want our motor to stop rotating immediately, in less than a second? This is where the next cases are used.

case viii, ix

How does an H-Bridge work? (6)
How does an H-Bridge work? (7)

The above conditions are used for the instantaneous braking of the running motor. It is referred to as “power braking”. Applying the same potential to both the terminals of the motor, it is forced to maintain a potential difference of 0V across its ends, causing short circuit damping to slow down the running motor.

case x, xi

How does an H-Bridge work? (8)
How does an H-Bridge work? (9)

The previously discussed cases were all about the motion of the motor, but cases x and xi can be dangerous for the system. These conditions close the switches in series, causing a short circuit between VCC and GND, which is never a good idea. Hence, these cases should be avoided.

Now that we know about all the conditions of the “H” bridge, we can move forward to controlling the speed of the motor. Suppose we have a DC motor with an operating voltage of 12V, and if we apply a 12V potential difference across its terminals, the motor will spin at its maximum speed. If we change the potential difference to 6V, the motor will spin at half its maximum speed. So we know that to change the speed of the motor, we just need to vary the applied voltage across its terminals. We can achieve this in our H-bridge circuit if we replace the regular switches with electronic switches that can control the output voltage. For instance, if we take MOSFETs as switches, we can control the output voltage by applying a PWM signal to the gate of the MOSFETs, which a microcontroller will generate. Hence, by applying PWM signals of different duty cycles, the output voltages of the MOSFETs can be changed, and we can control the speed of the motor along with the directions.

We hope now you can understand why H-bridge circuits are extremely popular among electronics hobbyists. Their simplicity makes them a good choice for anyone starting with practical electronics. To make things even simpler, we can pair up the switches of our H-bridge motor driver with a microcontroller and can easily control the operation with digital signals.

  • Motor (1)
  • H-Bridge
How does an H-Bridge work? (2024)

FAQs

How does an H-Bridge work? ›

The basic concept of an H-bridge

bridge
In power supply design, a bridge circuit or bridge rectifier is an arrangement of diodes or similar devices used to rectify an electric current, i.e. to convert it from an unknown or alternating polarity to a direct current of known polarity.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bridge_circuit
is fairly simple to grasp. It consists of an arrangement of four switches (usually in the form of MOSFETs). By activating one pair of diagonally-opposed switches, the motor can be driven in one direction (clockwise).

What are the disadvantages of H-bridge? ›

Its main limitation lies in its need for isolated power sources for each level and for each phase, although for VA compensation, capacitors replace the dc supplies, and the necessary capacitor energy is only to replace losses due to inverter losses. ...

How to drive an H-bridge? ›

The basic work principle of the H-bridge is very simple: if Q1 and Q4 are turned on, the left cable of the motor will be connected to the power supply, and the right to the ground. The current flows through the motor (so to say) in the forward direction, and the engine shaft starts rotating.

How do you brake with H-bridge? ›

'brake' Using an H-bridge, you can stop the DC motor at a certain position by applying a 0101 or 1010 signal to the 4 terminals. You can also stop it at a certain position by driving it forward then backward at very high frequency which make the 'juggling' unnoticed and the motor looks like stationary.

How do you connect an H-bridge to a motor? ›

Motor Terminal Connection – the pins 1Y and 2Y (pins 3 and 6) are the two pins that are connected to the terminals of the motor. Pins 3Y and 4Y (pins 11 and 14) are the connections for the motor terminals of the second H-bridge. Be sure to connect the two motors with the same polarity.

Why is a dental bridge not recommended? ›

Dental bridges also have some drawbacks: If decay or trauma results in damage to your abutment teeth, it can weaken your dental bridge. If your abutment teeth aren't strong enough to support your bridge, they can fracture.

Are dental bridges worth it? ›

Cost is a Concern: Dental bridges are often more cost-effective upfront compared to dental implants. Adjacent Teeth are Strong: Bridges rely on the support of adjacent healthy teeth, so if these teeth are strong and in good condition, a bridge may be a viable option.

Does H-bridge control motor speed? ›

The standard H-bridge Circuit for DC motor control. An H-bridge can be a useful circuit for DC motor control, as it controls the direction and speed of a motor by selectively turning a series of these switches on and off.

What are the basics of H-bridge? ›

H-bridge drivers are a long established means for enabling bidirectional motor driving. By using one, rotation of the motor can be driven, and the polarity of the supply to the motor can be swapped in order to change the direction of rotation. It can also take care of braking, when this is required.

Why is it called an H-bridge? ›

The name is derived from its common schematic diagram representation, with four switching elements configured as the branches of a letter "H" and the load connected as the cross-bar.

How to stop a DC motor instantly? ›

Braking dc motors

The lower the armature voltage, the lower the final speed. Dynamic braking. By connecting a power resistor across the dc motor armature, the motor- turned-generator has a load to absorb and dissipate the rotating energy. Thus, the motor stops much quicker than if it coasts to rest.

What is the difference between a full H-bridge and a half H-bridge? ›

A circuit in which two switches are connected in series with a power supply, as in the diagrams, is called a half-bridge circuit, because it is one-half of an H-bridge (full bridge) using four switches. Because one H-bridge is counted as one channel, half of the H-bridge is sometimes called a half channel.

What precautions should you take to prevent the H-bridge from accidentally short circuiting? ›

In a bridge, you should never ever close both Q1 and Q2 (or Q3 and Q4) at the same time. If you did that, you just have created a really low-resistance path between power and GND, effectively short-circuiting your power supply.

Is an H-bridge a relay? ›

A full H bridge uses twice as many mosfets arranged in an H configuration to do the switching, thus doing away with the need for relays. The basic diagram for an H-bridge looks like this, which is the circuit we use in our higher power controllers like the Pro-160 and 4QD series.

Do H bridges need diodes? ›

It depends on the components that make up the H-bridge. If the H-bridge is composed of bi-polar transistors or mosfets without internal diodes then it's quite mandatory to add flyback diodes. For mosfets with internal diodes, for safety and reliability reasons addind flyback diodes isn't a bad idea.

What is the advantage of using H-bridge to move DC motors? ›

The Full-Bridge (H-Bridge) is the most popular driver circuit to control brushed DC motors. The main advantage of a full bridge driver is the ability to change the rotation direction of the motor, without manually reversing the supply wires.

What are 3 disadvantages of a bridge? ›

Bridges can have a negative impact on wildlife and their habitats, and disrupt views and scenic landscapes. Bridge construction and maintenance can be costly, Moreover, bridges can become congested and lead to traffic problems.

What is the side effect of dental bridge? ›

Watch out for signs such as persistent pain around the bridge area, sensitivity to hot or cold foods, swelling or tenderness in the gums, or difficulty in chewing. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's essential to consult your dentist for a thorough examination.

What is the main disadvantage of a suspension bridge? ›

Suspension bridges cannot carry concentrated loads. This can be a major issue in cities with high traffic congestion. These winds cannot resist the swaying forces of the wind. These are also prone to vibrations incited by earthquakes.

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