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.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for controlling electric power generated by an alternator coupled to a vehicle engine is disclosed. The regulator comprises a switching circuit for regulating an output voltage from the alternator or a voltage for charging the battery of the vehicle to a predetermined value by controlling a current flowing through the rotor coil of the alternator, a comparator for detecting ON-state of the switching circuit, a smoothing circuit for detecting the average ON duty of the switching circuit by smoothing the output of the comparator, and a reference-voltage generating circuit for generating and issuing a reference voltage in response to the average ON duty to the switching circuit. The voltage regulator detects the load condition of the alternator from the average ON duty of the switching circuit and regulates the output voltage of the alternator or the voltage for charging the battery of the vehicle in accordance with the load condition to charge the battery in proper condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling electric generation for vehicles for use in an electric generating apparatus for a vehicle having a battery comprising a generator and an electric generation display device comprises: a first comparator circuit for comparing a detection value of the battery voltage with a first reference control voltage so as to charge the battery appropriately; an electric generation display control circuit for driving the electric generation display device in response to an output signal of a second comparator circuit for comparing a detection value of an electric generation voltage of the generator with a second reference control voltage; a third comparator circuit for comparing the detection value of the electric generation voltage of the generator with a third reference control voltage which is higher than the second reference control voltage; and means for driving an exciter circuit of the generator which receives the output signals of the first and third comparator circuits and operates to

Abstract: In a roadway vehicle having a storage battery and an engine-driven alternator, the battery voltage is controlled by a voltage regulator which has a first voltage detector for detecting when the battery voltage reduces below a higher reference level at which the battery voltage is normally controlled, and a second voltage detector for detecting when the battery voltage reduces below a lower reference level. A third voltage detector detects when the alternator voltage rises above a predetermined level. A logic gate circuit responds to outputs from the second and third voltage detectors by generating a warning signal.

Abstract: A generation indicating apparatus for a vehicle alternator in a generating and charging system includes an indicator lamp connected in series with an electric load and the series circuit of the indicator lamp and the electric load is connected to a battery through a key switch. A series circuit of an electric load drive transistor and an indicator lamp drive transistor is connected in parallel with the series circuit of the indicator lamp and electric load and a junction point between the indicator lamp and the electric load is connected through a line to a junction point between the two drive transistors. Either the load drive transistor or the lamp drive transistor is made conductive depending upon whether a voltage built up by the alternator has reached a predetermined level or not.

Abstract: In a battery charge indicating system, there are provided detecting means of an npn-transistor for detecting a closed condition of an ignition switch, and switching means of a pnp-transistor for supplying a base current to a driving transistor in response to an output of the detecting means, so that the driving transistor is made conductive when the ignition switch is closed and a generator is not generating its output. The emitter of the pnp-transistor is connected to a battery not through a current supply terminal for a voltage regulator, whereby even when the current supply terminal is accidentally disconnected from the regulator, the driving transistor is made conductive so that an indicating lamp is activated to indicate that the generator is not in the operation condition.

Abstract: A voltage regulator of a generator for vehicles includes an excitation control circuit for controlling the initial excitation of the generator and the full excitation succeeding to the initial excitation. The excitation control circuit also includes an indication lamp for indicating whether the generator is in a generating state or not. A generator output detecting circuit has a single input terminal to receive an output voltage developed in a stator winding of the generator and compares the output voltage respectively with a first reference level corresponding to an initial voltage build-up and a second reference level higher than the first reference level.

Abstract: A generation control apparatus for vehicles comprises a voltage regulator circuit for controlling the generation of power by a vehicle generator. The power is supplied to the voltage regulator circuit through a first circuit including an ignition switch and a second circuit not including the ignition switch. The supply of power through the second circuit is dependent upon the generating condition of the generator thus allowing the control of the power generation by means of the current flowing through a charge indicator even if the detection of the power generation is prevented. In this way, even if a fault such as a break occurs in the first circuit, the generating operation is maintained until the engine is turned off and the generator has stopped.

Abstract: A voltage control system for vehicles includes a power supply control circuit which allows power to be supplied to a voltage regulator circuit from a battery through a voltage detection line only when a key switch is turned on. The voltage regulator circuit controls the energization of a generator depending on the terminal voltage of the battery detected through the voltage detection line. The power supply control circuit includes a voltage divider circuit for detecting a voltage developed at an output terminal of an auxiliary rectifier associated with the generator when the connection of the output terminal to the battery is completed upon closing the key switch.

Abstract: A power generation control system for a vehicle generator comprises a generator including an armature coil, an exciting coil and a rectifier for rectifying the AC output of the armature coil, a battery, and a voltage control device for controlling the activation of the generator in accordance with the terminal voltage of the battery. This power generation control system further comprises an abnormal voltage detector circuit for detecting the voltage generated across the armature coil and cutting off the current flowing in the exciting coil when said voltage exceeds a predetermined value. The abnormal voltage detector circuit has the function to hold this forcible stoppage of power generation.

Abstract: In a battery charging control system for vehicles having an energization resistor connected to the output terminal of an auxiliary rectifier for the purpose of providing a current path from a battery through a key switch, a warning lamp and the energization resistor to indicate a failure of a generator by the lamp, an energization control circuit is provided to form the current path through the energization resistor only when a voltage developed at the output terminal of the auxiliary rectifier reaches a specified voltage level thus blocking the current path during initial excitation of the field coil of the generator.

Abstract: A generation control apparatus for vehicle generator normally controls the energization of the vehicle generator in response to a terminal voltage of a battery which is charged by the generator through a rectifier. The generation control apparatus includes a fault detection circuit to detect an abnormal condition of the terminal voltage of the battery or the output voltage of the generator, and if the abnormal condition is detected, a changeover circuit effects the control of the energization in accordance with the output voltage of the generator instead of the battery terminal voltage.

Abstract: A semi-conductor voltage regulation system for a vehicle alternator has a timed signal generating circuit initiated by the engine starter signal. The field exciting current of the alternator is first supplied for a predetermined period after the engine has been started until the alternator is excited to start generation. When the alternator is fully excited, the regulation system operates in the well known manner.

Abstract: In a voltage control apparatus for an electric generator (1) for vehicles including an armature winding (3), an exciting coil (4), a rectifier (2) for rectifying an a.c. output from the armature winding, and a voltage regulator (5), the voltage regulator comprises a differential amplifier circuit (26) producing a detected voltage corresponding to a difference between a battery charging voltage and a reference voltage, a comparator circuit (30) comparing the detected voltage with a triangular waveform voltage generated at constant periods and producing a pulsed output voltage, a first driver circuit (51) effecting duty-factor-control of an exciting current flowing through the exciting coil in response to the pulsed output voltage, and an initial excitation circuit (32) for causing a predetermined small initial exciting current to flow through the exciting coil intermittently during a time interval after the start of the electric generator.

Abstract: A semi-conductor voltage regulation system for a vehicle includes engine rise-up detection circuit and an oscillator circuit. The field exciting current is intermittently supplied by the oscillator circuit before the engine starts and continuously supplied after the engine has started so as to minimize battery discharge.

Abstract: A generator operation indicating apparatus for vehicle generators having a protective circuit against abnormal voltage, includes a drive circuit for turning an indicating device on from the time of closing of a key switch until the time that a vehicle generator attains a predetermined operating condition to indicate the generator operation and a control circuit for forcibly rendering the drive circuit inoperative in response to the occurrence of an abnormal voltage between the indicating device and the drive circuit. When the generator attains the predetermined operating condition, the indicating device is turned off and the supply of current to a load circuit is started. In this case, the drive circuit is also forced to come out of operation upon occurrance of an abnormal supply voltage.

Abstract: When an engine key switch of a vehicle is closed, a rotor coil of a three-phase a.c. alternator adapted to charge a vehicle-mounted battery is excited by a first controlling circuit. Even with the closure of the engine key switch, the exciting current is restricted to a predetermined value by a second controlling circuit before the alternator has reached a predetermined operating state. The operating state of the alternator is monitored by detecting a voltage at the neutral point of a stator coil connected in star of the alternator.

Abstract: A semi-conductor voltage regulation system for a vehicle includes engine rise-up detection circuit and an oscillator circuit. The field exciting current is intermittently supplied by the oscillator circuit before the engine starts and continuously supplied after the engine has started so as to minimize battery discharge. The engine rise-up detection circuit changes its input impedance in accordance with the voltage applied thereto, whereby a highly reliable regulator with less heat generation may be obtained.