Abstract: The vehicle generator includes a rotor around which a field winding is wound, a stator around which an armature winding is wound, a rectifier rectifying an AC voltage induced in the armature winding to generate a DC output current. The rectifier has a plurality of rectifying elements mounted to a current path section thereof, the DC output current flowing through the current path section to reach an output terminal of the vehicle generator. The vehicle generator further includes a first voltage detector circuit detecting a voltage difference between two points of the current path section located along a direction in which the output current flows, and an output current calculating circuit calculating a value of the output current on the basis of the voltage difference detected by the first voltage detector circuit and a resistance value between the two points of the current path section.

Abstract: The vehicle generator includes a rotor around which a field winding is wound, a stator around which an armature winding is wound, a rectifier rectifying an AC voltage induced in the armature winding to generate a DC output current. The rectifier has a plurality of rectifying elements mounted to a current path section thereof, the DC output current flowing through the current path section to reach an output terminal of the vehicle generator. The vehicle generator further includes a first voltage detector circuit detecting a voltage difference between two points of the current path section located along a direction in which the output current flows, and an output current calculating circuit calculating a value of the output current on the basis of the voltage difference detected by the first voltage detector circuit and a resistance value between the two points of the current path section.

Abstract: The power generation control device for a vehicle generator includes an IC circuit including a communication circuit formed therein and having a function of performing a digital communication with an external device through a communication wire, and a resistor mounted to the IC circuit so as to connect the communication circuit to a communication terminal of the power generation control device connected to the communication wire.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for an a.c. generator produces a power generation ratio signal having a duty ratio corresponding to the current supply to the field winding of the a.c. generator. This power generation ratio signal is applied to an external apparatus through a signal wire. The duty ratio of the power generation ratio signal is more than 10% when the a.c. generator is normal. When abnormality is detected, the power generation ratio signal is partly masked by an abnormality detection signal so that the duty ratio of the power generation signal is reduced to be less than 10% and this change may be detected by the external apparatus. Alternatively, the power generation ratio signal may be transmitted only intermittently when the abnormality is detected.

Abstract: A voltage control system for a vehicular power generator includes a receiver unit that receives voltage pulse signals indicating characteristics of the voltage control system from an external device with stability. The device periodically reads two cycles of leading edges or trailing edges, or two periods of high level pulses or low level pulses. When a difference between the two cycles or periods is within a predetermined range, the indicated value of the present voltage pulse signal is used to control the power generator. When the difference is out of the predetermined range, the indicated value of the stored previous pulse signal is used instead.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of a vehicle AC generator is comprised of a field current switching circuit connected to a field coil, a control circuit for controlling the field current switching circuit according to an output voltage of the armature coil; a power circuit for supplying electric power to the control circuit, a power drive circuit for controlling supply of electric power of the power circuit to the control circuit, and a rotation speed sensor. The power drive circuit supplies electric power from the power circuit to the control circuit if the rotation speed becomes as high as a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of an automotive generator has a MOS transistor, flywheel diode, voltage detection circuit, and booster circuit. When a battery terminal voltage is below a voltage adjustment setting, current is supplied by a current supply circuit separate from a charge pump circuit to raise a gate voltage of the MOS transistor until the source voltage of the MOS transistor becomes greater than the reverse bias voltage of the flywheel diode, and the charge pump circuit output is applied to the MOS transistor after this specified value is reached. The charge pump circuit has an even number of capacitor stages.

Abstract: A vehicle AC generator includes a pulley unit having a one-way clutch, a rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles, a field coil, a stator having a stator winding, a cycle period detecting unit and a signal unit. The pulley unit transmits one-way driving torque to the rotor and interrupts the rotor from the other driving torque. The angular acceleration detecting unit detects angular acceleration of the rotor when the one-way clutch idles the pulley. The signal unit transmitting a signal that indicates the angular acceleration to an outside device.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of a vehicle AC generator includes a control circuit connected to a power circuit for supplying field current to a field coil of the AC generator, a power circuit for supplying electric power to the control circuit, a power drive circuit for controlling the power circuit according to a self-excited voltage induced in an armature coil of the AC generator, and a bypass circuit connected to a ground. The resistance of the bypass circuit is reduced when the power circuit does not supply electric power to the control circuit and is increased when the power circuit supplies electric power to the control circuit. Therefore, power consumption of the bypass circuit is reduced when the AC generator starts regular power generation.

Abstract: A vehicular power generator control apparatus includes a switching transistor, a voltage control circuit, a high rotation speed detecting circuit, a leakage detecting circuit and a maximum conduction rate restricting circuit. The leakage detecting circuit detects leakage current flowing to a P-terminal. When the leakage current is detected, a maximum conduction rate set by the maximum conduction rate restricting circuit is changed from a small value at low rotation speeds to a large value. Thereby, field current flowing in a field coil is increased, a large voltage is generated at stator coils and current flows to a rectifying circuit to thereby reduce the leakage current which flows to the P-terminal.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for an a.c. generator produces a power generation ratio signal having a duty ratio corresponding to the current supply to the field winding of the a.c. generator. This power generation ratio signal is applied to an external apparatus through a signal wire. The duty ratio of the power generation ratio signal is more than 10% when the a.c. generator is normal. When abnormality is detected, the power generation ratio signal is partly masked by an abnormality detection signal so that the duty ratio of the power generation signal is reduced to be less than 10% and this change may be detected by the external apparatus. Alternatively, the power generation ratio signal may be transmitted only intermittently when the abnormality is detected.

Abstract: A vehicle AC generator includes a pulley unit having a one-way clutch, a rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles, a field coil, a stator having a stator winding, a cycle period detecting unit and a signal unit. The pulley unit transmits one-way driving torque to the rotor and interrupts the rotor from the other driving torque. The angular acceleration detecting unit detects angular acceleration of the rotor when the one-way clutch idles the pulley. The signal unit transmitting a signal that indicates the angular acceleration to an outside device.

Abstract: A voltage control system for a vehicular power generator includes a receiver unit that receives voltage pulse signals indicating characteristics of the voltage control system from an external device with stability. The device periodically reads two cycles of leading edges or trailing edges, or two periods of high level pulses or low level pulses. When a difference between the two cycles or periods is within a predetermined range, the indicated value of the present voltage pulse signal is used to control the power generator. When the difference is out of the predetermined range, the indicated value of the stored previous pulse signal is used instead.

Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a rotation by utilizing a residual magnetism remaining in a core, when a field current attenuates gradually through a current return diode during a deceleration period for the stop of rotation, there occurs an AC demagnetizing action which causes the field current to attenuate, so that also during the deceleration period, the supply of electric power to a control circuit and field current to a field coil are continued.

Abstract: A vehicular power generator control apparatus includes a switching transistor, a voltage control circuit, a high rotation speed detecting circuit, a leakage detecting circuit and a maximum conduction rate restricting circuit. The leakage detecting circuit detects leakage current flowing to a P-terminal. When the leakage current is detected, a maximum conduction rate set by the maximum conduction rate restricting circuit is changed from a small value at low rotation speeds to a large value. Thereby, field current flowing in a field coil is increased, a large voltage is generated at stator coils and current flows to a rectifying circuit to thereby reduce the leakage current which flows to the P-terminal.

Abstract: An electric power generation control unit for vehicles comprises a transistor, a feedback diode, a voltage control circuit, a load factor signal generating circuit and a load factor signal output limiting circuit. The load factor signal generating circuit outputs a load factor signal synchronized with on/off condition of the transistor. The load factor signal output limiting circuit outputs a signal of a predetermined duty ratio from a load factor signal output terminal even in the condition that the load factor is maximum or minimum.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of a vehicle AC generator is comprised of a field current switching circuit connected to a field coil, a control circuit for controlling the field current switching circuit according to an output voltage of the armature coil; a power circuit for supplying electric power to the control circuit, a power drive circuit for controlling supply of electric power of the power circuit to the control circuit, and a rotation speed sensor. The power drive circuit supplies electric power from the power circuit to the control circuit if the rotation speed becomes as high as a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of an automotive generator has a MOS transistor, flywheel diode, voltage detection circuit, and booster circuit. When a battery terminal voltage is below a voltage adjustment setting, current is supplied by a current supply circuit separate from a charge pump circuit to raise a gate voltage of the MOS transistor until the source voltage of the MOS transistor becomes greater than the reverse bias voltage of the flywheel diode, and the charge pump circuit output is applied to the MOS transistor after this specified value is reached. The charge pump circuit has an even number of capacitor stages.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of a vehicle AC generator includes a control circuit connected to a power circuit for supplying field current to a field coil of the AC generator, a power circuit for supplying electric power to the control circuit, a power drive circuit for controlling the power circuit according to a self-excited voltage induced in an armature coil of the AC generator, and a bypass circuit connected to a ground. The resistance of the bypass circuit is reduced when the power circuit does not supply electric power to the control circuit and is increased when the power circuit supplies electric power to the control circuit. Therefore, power consumption of the bypass circuit is reduced when the AC generator starts regular power generation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a rotation by utilizing a residual magnetism remaining in a core, when a field current attenuates gradually through a current return diode during a deceleration period for the stop of rotation, there occurs an AC demagnetizing action which causes the field current to attenuate, so that also during the deceleration period, the supply of electric power to a control circuit and field current to a field coil are continued.