Abstract: A vehicle alternator failure monitoring system and related monitoring method are disclosed wherein an ECU executes operations depending on a power generation status of a vehicle alternator and a vehicle alternator control device has a serial communication transmitter circuit operative to transmit a serial communication signal, indicative of the power generation status of the vehicle alternator, to the ECU. The serial communication transmitter circuit has a first power generation status signal transmission mode in which a first power generation status signal, representing the power generation status, is transmitted together with a failure flag representing the presence of or absence of an operational failure, related to the vehicle alternator, and a second power generation status signal transmission mode in which a second power generation status signal, representing the power generation status, is transmitted together with additional data representing an operational state of the vehicle alternator.

Abstract: A vehicle system that includes an engine control apparatus which regulates engine idling speed incorporates a battery current detection apparatus which acquires information expressing the value of field current of an engine-driven electric generator and detects a condition of high electrical load as occurrence of a battery discharge current exceeding a threshold value, and responds to that condition by notifying the engine control apparatus of a higher value of field current of the electric generator than the actual value, to thereby effect a rapid increase in engine speed and so rapidly increase the output power of the electric generator.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that drives an inductive load according to a control signal from an external controller transmits temperature data to it for indicating a condition of the inductive load through a line driver. The external controller regenerates the control signal according to the temperature data. According to the control signal, the apparatus operates a pair of power supply circuits to complementarily supply power to the load. Thermal conditions of the power supply circuits and the line driver are monitored for detecting an overheat condition. The transmission of temperature data to the external controller is enabled as long as no overheat condition is detected in both of the power supply circuits and line driver. If an overheat condition is detected in at least one of the power supply circuits and line driver, heat protection is performed and the overheat condition is communicated to the external controller.

Abstract: An electric power generation control system has an electric power generation amount determining section for determining an electric power generation request amount of a vehicle alternator by monitoring vehicle conditions, an electric power generation amount increase judgment section for judging presence/absence of an electric power generation amount increase request to the vehicle alternator based on change of the electric power generation request amount in passage of time, an idle state judgment section for judging whether or not a vehicle engine falls in idle operation state, and an electric power generation amount suppressing control section for suppressing an electric power generation amount of the vehicle alternator. In the idle operation state of the vehicle engine and the presence of the electric power generation amount increase request, the electric power generation amount suppressing control section halts the control of suppressing the electric power generation of the vehicle alternator.

Abstract: There is provided a battery condition detecting apparatus which comprises: means for detecting a discharging and charging current from the battery; means for detecting whether or not a negative acceleration of charging current changes in its sign from negative to zero during charging of the battery based on a result of detecting the discharge current; means for calculating an integrated charged capacity of the battery by integrating an instantaneous charging current during charging of the battery; means for controlling an alternator mounted in an automotive vehicle so as to control an output electric power generated by the alternator such that a discharging current from the battery is kept to be constant; and means for determining that the charge polarization is cancelled, if the integrated discharged capacity becomes to be equal to the integrated charged capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a state of charge (SOC) of a battery mounted on a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine driving a generator mounted on the vehicle. The generator charges the battery. In the apparatus, a setting unit sets a target value directed to controlling the SOC of the battery such that the target value is higher as an efficiency of the internal combustion engine depending on the number of rotations of the engine is higher. A determining unit determines whether the vehicle is in a decelerated state. A controlling unit controls a state of rotation of the generator to enable the generator i) to perform regeneration when it is determined that the vehicle is in the decelerated state and ii) to perform generation to enable the SOC of the battery to be the target value when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to manage a charge/discharge current of an on-vehicle battery. The apparatus comprises a detecting unit detecting an actual amount of the charge/discharge current and a receiving unit receiving information indicating generating operations of an on-vehicle generator. The apparatus also comprises a control unit controlling the generating operations of the generator so that the charge/discharge current keeps a given value specified, on the basis of the detected actual the charge/discharge current and the received information. The apparatus also comprises determining and setting units. The determining unit determines whether a voltage of the battery satisfies a given condition for the voltage, by monitoring the voltage in a state where the generating operation of the generator is controlled. The setting unit sets, as an amount of offset of the charge/discharge current, a charge/discharge current detected when it is determined that the voltage of the battery satisfies the given condition.

Abstract: The power generation controller, which is for regulating an output voltage of a vehicle generator or a battery voltage of a vehicle battery charged by the vehicle generator by controlling an excitation current flowing into an excitation winding of the vehicle generator, includes a switching element connected in series between an output terminal of the vehicle generator and the excitation winding, a voltage control circuit on/off controlling the switching element such that one of the output voltage of the vehicle generator and the battery voltage is kept at a target voltage, and a contact abnormality detector circuit detecting a voltage of the output terminal as the output voltage of the vehicle generator, and detecting abnormality in a contact state between the power generation controller and the output terminal on the basis of the detected output voltage of the vehicle generator.

Abstract: In a system, an output voltage of a power generator is input to a filter circuit. The filter circuit includes a first capacitor having opposing first and second electrodes, a second capacitor having opposing third and fourth electrodes, a first switch electrically connected to be series with the third electrode of the second capacitor, and a second switch electrically connected to be series with the fourth electrode of the second capacitor. A series circuit of series-connected first switch, the second capacitor, and the second switch is electrically connected with the first capacitor in parallel thereto. A control circuit is electrically connected to the first and second switches of the filter circuit. The control unit is configured to control the first and second switches to be substantially simultaneously on and off to thereby cause the filter circuit to filter the frequency components from the output voltage.

Abstract: The power generation controller includes a control command receiving section receiving a control command transmitted from an external control unit for controlling an internal combustion engine, a control command holding section holding the control command received by the control command receiving section, and an excitation current control section controlling an excitation current of a generator driven by the internal combustion engine on the basis of the control command held by the control command holding section. The excitation current control section is configured to control the excitation current on the basis of a control command transmitted from the external control unit when the internal combustion engine is in a stopped sate.

Abstract: An electric generation control apparatus for a vehicle alternator receives an electric generation control signal transferred from an ECU placed apart from the control apparatus through a data transfer line. The control apparatus has a voltage comparator, a communication state judgment circuit, a serial data communication receiver, a PWM communication receiver, and an electric generation control circuit. The voltage comparator acts as a receiver of receiving the electric generation control signal transferred through the data transfer line. The communication state judgment circuit judges whether the received signal is a PWM signal or a serial data signal. The serial data communication receiver and the PWM communication receiver demodulate an electric generation control parameter from the received control signal based on the judgment result. The electric generation control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle alternator based on the electric generation control parameter demodulated.

Abstract: An electric generation control apparatus for a vehicle alternator receives an electric generation control signal transferred from an ECU placed apart from the control apparatus through a data transfer line. The control apparatus has a voltage comparator, a communication state judgment circuit, a serial data communication receiver, a PWM communication receiver, and an electric generation control circuit. The voltage comparator acts as a receiver of receiving the electric generation control signal transferred through the data transfer line. The communication state judgment circuit judges whether the received signal is a PWM signal or a serial data signal. The serial data communication receiver and the PWM communication receiver demodulate an electric generation control parameter from the received control signal based on the judgment result. The electric generation control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle alternator based on the electric generation control parameter demodulated.

Abstract: A vehicle generator control device includes a transistor chopper type exciting circuit for supplying an excitation current to a vehicle-mounted electric generator drivable by an engine of the motor vehicle. The exciting circuit comprises a bridge circuit having a first pair of opposing arms formed of respective power transistors and a second pair of opposing arms formed of respective diodes. One of the power transistors is connected to a ground potential of the vehicle-mounted electric generator and the other power transistor is connected to an output terminal of the vehicle-mounted electric generator. When the engine is in a non-operating state, the one transistor is set in an on state and the other power transistor is set in an off state.

Abstract: An electric power generation control system has an electric power generation amount determining section for determining an electric power generation request amount of a vehicle alternator by monitoring vehicle conditions, an electric power generation amount increase judgment section for judging presence/absence of an electric power generation amount increase request to the vehicle alternator based on change of the electric power generation request amount in passage of time, an idle state judgment section for judging whether or not a vehicle engine falls in idle operation state, and an electric power generation amount suppressing control section for suppressing an electric power generation amount of the vehicle alternator. In the idle operation state of the vehicle engine and the presence of the electric power generation amount increase request, the electric power generation amount suppressing control section halts the control of suppressing the electric power generation of the vehicle alternator.

Abstract: A noise free transceiver circuit includes a communication line, a power source line, a ground line, an output transistor having output terminals connected between the communication line and the ground line for outputting a communication signal to the communication line, a first circuit for applying a trapezoidal signal to the input terminal of the output transistor to turn on in synchronism with a transmission signal and a second circuit for turning off the output transistor when the level of the transmission signal is high. The output transistor is turned off when the communication signal is outputted. Therefore, noises of the power line are shut out of the output transistor.

Abstract: An electric generation control apparatus for a vehicle alternator receives an electric generation control signal transferred from an ECU placed apart from the control apparatus through a data transfer line. The control apparatus has a voltage comparator, a communication state judgment circuit, a serial data communication receiver, a PWM communication receiver, and an electric generation control circuit. The voltage comparator acts as a receiver of receiving the electric generation control signal transferred through the data transfer line. The communication state judgment circuit judges whether the received signal is a PWM signal or a serial data signal. The serial data communication receiver and the PWM communication receiver demodulate an electric generation control parameter from the received control signal based on the judgment result. The electric generation control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle alternator based on the electric generation control parameter demodulated.

Abstract: An overcurrent protecting device for protecting a semiconductor element from an overcurrent includes: the semiconductor element; a shunt resistor for detecting the overcurrent when the electric current in the semiconductor element exceeds a threshold value; a reference resistor for setting the threshold value; a constant electric current circuit for supplying a constant electric current to the reference resistor; and a comparator for comparing a terminal voltage of the shunt resistor and a terminal voltage of the reference resistor. The shunt resistor is made of a same kind of resistor as the reference resistor.

Abstract: A control apparatus such as an ECU, that controls the generator of a vehicle, measures the engine rotation speed and generator rotation speed while the engine is idling, and calculates and stores the ratio of the speed values. Thereafter when the vehicle is being driven and the current value of generator rotation speed is required, it is calculated based on the stored ratio value and the currently measured speed of the engine. The processing load on the ECU is thereby reduced, since generator rotation speed measurement processing is performed only in the idling condition.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle generator includes a switch, a regulator, a fault condition detector, and a PWM signal generator. The switch is selectively turned on and off so as to intermittently excite the generator. The regulator controls on/off operation of the switch so as to bring an output of the generator into agreement with a target value. The fault condition detector detects a fault condition of the generator. The PWM signal generator generates and outputs a PWM signal that has a duty determined as a function of a duty of the on/off operation of the switch and a frequency determined based on if the fault condition of the generator is detected by the fault condition detector. Consequently, the control apparatus can inform an external control apparatus of the duty of the on/off operation of the switch and the fault condition of the generator with the single PWM signal.

Abstract: The vehicle power-generation control unit includes a voltage detecting circuit detecting a generation voltage of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine, a switching device allowing an exciting current to flow into an exciting winding of the vehicle generator when the switching device is in an on state, an average duty ratio detecting circuit detecting a temporal average duty ratio of the switching device on the basis of the generation voltage, an enhanced duty-cycle signal generating circuit generating an enhanced duty-cycle signal having a duty ratio equal to the temporal average duty ratio added with a supplementary duty ratio determined depending on at least one of vehicle state information and vehicle generator state information, and a driver circuit driving the switching device with the duty ratio of the enhanced duty-cycle signal when the generation voltage detected by the voltage detecting circuit is lower than a predetermined target voltage.