Abstract: In order to restrain increase in rotor temperature and reduction in field magnetic flux in an AC power generator, advanced-phase currents are supplied to stator windings of a stator via semiconductor switching devices by controlling the semiconductor switching devices during the power generating operation of the power generator. By this control, the advanced-phase currents will increase the field magnetic flux and, accordingly, increases in generated voltage. By reducing a field current to a field winding of a rotor by an amount corresponding to the increase in the power generation output, the temperature increase in the field winding can be reduced.

Abstract: Reverse current is supplied from a battery to armature coils of a three-phase synchronous power generator, via semiconductor switching devices of a three-phase full-wave rectifier, by controlling the switches. By this control, the reverse current will reduce waveform distortion of armature current of each phase so as to reduce the electromagnetic force pulsation and, therefore, reduce vibration or noise.

Abstract: Leading current or lagging current of an alternator is supplied by a simple structure including short-circuit switch elements. The short-circuit switch elements are connected across output terminals of the alternator three-phase armature windings, and are turned on and off at fixed timings to supply a suitable amount of the leading current to armature windings regardless of the rotational speed. Thus, the leading current can be supplied without phase-leading-capacitors so that the apparatus can be made compact, lightweight and powerful. Even if any of the short-circuit switch elements can not turn off, the battery discharge can be prevented.

Abstract: A power-generating voltage outputted from a vehicle synchronous power generator is adjusted to a first voltage for charging a battery under the control of a field current. Further, a leading phase current that leads a phase voltage is supplied to each of multiple armature windings and the field current is supplied to the field winding, whereby the power-generating voltage can be adjusted to a second voltage higher than the first power-generating voltage. Owing to the above construction, a voltage higher than the normal voltage can be generated by supplying each leading phase current from the vehicle synchronous power generator; hence power can be supplied to a high-voltage load based on the generated high voltage.

Abstract: An output controlling apparatus for a vehicle generator includes MOSFETs for full-wave rectification of a voltage output by the generator, a MOSFET for turning the flow of a field current on and off and a voltage controller for controlling the MOSFETs to sustain the voltage of a battery at a fixed value. In this configuration, the thermal resistance between the MOSFETs is set at a value smaller than the thermal resistance between the voltage controller and the MOSFETs. In addition, the MOSFETs are fixed on a common good heat conductive substrate to reduce the thermal resistance between the MOSFETs. In this way, the accuracy of the voltage controller is prevented from deteriorating and, at the same time, the maximum temperature of the MOSFETs can be reduced.

Abstract: An alternating current generator for motor vehicles having an extremely small power loss and which can be simply cooled includes a power converter having at least either high side semiconductor power elements or low side semiconductor elements. The high side power elements connect an output terminal of the armature coil to a high potential terminal of the battery; the low side semiconductor power elements connect an output terminal of the armature coil to a low potential terminal of the battery. The power converter converts the alternating current generated voltage of the armature coil into a direct current voltage to supply electricity to the battery. An exciting current controller includes a switching transistor for controlling an exciting current to a field coil. The semiconductor power elements in the power converter and/or the switching transistor in the exciting current controller are/is formed of SiC material, which is a compound of Si and C, having a resistivity smaller than that of pure Si.

Abstract: A power converter for an AC generator for motor vehicles for converting a generated voltage of the AC generator driven by an engine into a DC voltage to feed to a battery includes at least either high-side MOS power transistors for connecting an output end of an armature coil which generates the generated voltage of the AC generator with a high potential end of a battery or low-side MOS power transistors for connecting the output end of the armature coil with a low potential end of the battery. The MOS power transistors each has a source region, a well region and a drain region. A high resistance connected with either a parasitic diode on the side connected with the source generated between the source region and well region or a parasitic diode on the side connected with the drain generated between the drain region and well region in parallel is formed in the MOS power transistors.

Abstract: An electric power generating device including an induction type electric rotating machine rotating in interlock with an engine comprises an inverter connected at the AC side to and end of an armature winding and at the DC side to an electric power storing device, a detecting means for detecting the quantity of state related to the electric power generating voltage of the induction type electric rotating machine excluding the measured RPM of the induction type electric rotating machine but including the electric power storing voltage of the electric power storing device, and an electric power generation controlling means for maintaining the electric power storing voltage within the preset range by controlling the frequency of the controlling voltage of the inverter based on the quantity of state related to the electric power generating voltage.

Abstract: A vehicular generator motor performing generator operation and motor operation is disclosed. The generator motor comprises an AC-DC converter means and a switching means. The converter means is composed of a plurality of MOSFETs and connected between each armature coil and a vehicular storage battery. Alternating current produced across the coils is converted into a direct current for charging the battery by the AC-DC converter means in generator operation mode. In motor operation mode, the DC output from the battery is converted into an alternating current for setting up a rotating magnetic field by the converter means, and the battery output is fed to the armature coils. The mode of operation of the MOSFETs is switched between these two modes by the switching means. The rotating field produces a certain phase difference with the magnetic field developed by the rotating magnetic poles. The MOSFETs are made of SiC having a smaller resistivity than that of Si.

Abstract: A press machine having side frames which are effectively reinforced so as to appreciably reduce the noise generated during operation of the machine and improve the working accuracy of the machine without installing any special device on the outside thereof, significantly increasing the weight of the entire press machine, or obstructing a space between the side frames of the press machine. The side frames of the press machine are C-shaped in side view and are reinforced by at least one reinforcing member fixedly secured to each of the side frames at at least one predetermined place. The reinforcing members function to suppress the deformation of the opening of the C-shaped side frames to reduce noise and improve accuracy. The reinforcing members convert the vibrational energy of the side frames into heat energy which is then absorbed into the side frames.

Abstract: A press machine having side frames which are effectively reinforced so as to appreciably reduce the noise generated during operation of the machine and improve the working accuracy of the machine without installing any special device on the outside thereof or significantly increasing the weight of the entire press machine. The side frames of the press machine which are C-shaped in side view, are reinforced by at least one reinforcing member fixedly secured to each of the side frames at at least one predetermined place. The reinforcing members function to suppress the deformation of the opening of the C-shaped side frames to reduce noise and improve accuracy.

Abstract: A battery condition detecting apparatus includes a current detecting apparatus, a voltage detector and a current accumulator of a battery. The battery condition detecting apparatus detects a first battery capacity when an engine is started based on the battery voltage and battery current when the starter is started; determines an initial capacity of the battery based on the first battery capacity; adds to this initial capacity, a battery current accumulated value which has been accumulated by the battery current accumulator after determining the first battery capacity, whereby a second battery capacity is detected after the engine has been started; and further comparing the presently detected first battery capacity with the second battery capacity just before this first battery capacity is detected, thereby setting the smaller capacity as the initial value.

Abstract: A battery condition detection apparatus comprises at least the first two of a battery discharge current detector, a battery terminal voltage detector, and a battery electrolyte concentration signal detector. The battery condition detection apparatus further comprises a memory circuit for storing detection signals generated by at least the first two detectors and inputted to the battery condition detection apparatus, and a computation device for executing computation processing on output signals from the aforesaid detectors.With the foregoing structure, the battery condition detection apparatus performs computation to obtain at least one of corrected values of the battery terminal voltage and the battery electrolyte concentration in the state where the battery discharge current assumes a predetermined value, and performs the detection of the battery condition and/or the control of power generation of a battery-charging generator.

Abstract: A charging control apparatus for a vehicle has a charging control unit. A voltage detecting terminal receives a control voltage that controls the output of a battery charging generator. This unit can use a Type I system, which directly detects the battery voltage and which maintains the battery voltage at its usual level of 14.5 volts by comparing the battery voltage with a threshold, or a Type II system which monitors the battery voltage using a microprocessor, and therefore the output signal indicative of battery voltage can never reach 14.5 volts. The Type II system maintains a normal voltage of 5 volts. The system operates to maintain the voltage between 5 volts and 14.5 volts so that the same system can operate with either Type I and Type II systems. Any voltages between these two limits causes the output of the generator to be increased.

Abstract: An automotive charging apparatus employs a high voltage load, such as a deicing means for deicing a windshield of the automobile, in the line which connects a battery with an alternator. The automotive charging apparatus also employs a switch in parallel with the high voltage load so that an output voltage is supplied both to the high voltage load and to the battery when the switch member is opened and the output voltage is supplied only to the battery when the switch member is closed. The output voltage of the alternator changes to the higher level when the switch member is opened in order to maintain the battery voltage within the range of the predetermined value.

Abstract: A battery voltage regulator for a vehicle charging system includes a voltage control circuit for controlling a battery terminal voltage and an external terminal connected to the positive terminal of a battery through the series combination of a charge lamp and an ignition switch. The regulator is at least composed of a charge lamp drive circuit responsive to a generation output of an alternator in order to energize the charge lamp, a power supply circuit responsive to the potential at the above mentioned external terminal to supply operational power to the voltage control circuit, and a malfunction-preventing circuit connected between the above mentioned external terminal and ground. The malfunction-preventing circuit prevents the power supply circuit from operating by disturbances such as leakage current flowing into the regulator through the external terminal.