Abstract: A lockout circuit which limits the field voltage in an alternator while the vehicle starter is activated. The lockout circuit may be configured to limit the field voltage while the charging circuit voltage is below a threshold value. A timer circuit may advantageously be employed with the lockout circuit. A temperature compensating function may also be employed to change the threshold value in response to temperature changes. The disclosed circuit is particularly advantageous when employed in cold weather conditions. A method of starting the engine of a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-temperature LED lighting and power supply device has a low power-consuming power supply control module and an LED lighting module electrically connected therewith. The LED lighting module is composed of at least one light source driver and an LED light source. The low power-consuming power supply control module at least has a surge suppression unit, a voltage-dividing-limiting unit, a current-limiting unit, and a steady voltage filtering unit. Accordingly, the present invention allows LED lighting equipment to be applied in a wider power supply range and operated under a low-temperature and low power-consuming state so as to meet economic and practical demands and environmental protection.

Abstract: A balancing converter is connected to terminals of cells of an electric battery. The converter includes a quasi-resonant circuit and a pseudo-control circuit coupled by a transformer and implements soft-switching techniques through quasi-resonances.

Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.

Abstract: A method for regulating the output voltage of the alternator of a generator set, the generator set including a heat engine driving the alternator and the alternator including a rotor having a pole wheel. The method includes the following step: modifying the current in the pole wheel, at least during an increase in the load at the outlet of the alternator, in such a way as to bring the output voltage of the alternator to a value lower than the value before the increase in the load, the modification of the current in the pole wheel depending on the deceleration of the heat engine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection circuit for detecting coil abnormality of a DC fan motor, which is applied to a fan. The detection circuit comprises at least one detection unit and a processing unit. The detection unit is used to detect and receive the voltage signal at the center point of the coil set of the fan stator and perform a clamping process and a inverting process on the voltage signal to generate an inverted voltage signal such that the processing unit compares the inverted voltage signal with a predetermined value and determines to generate a notifying signal to a remote device. Thus, the effect of effective real-time monitoring the fan can be achieved.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for generating a motor driving control signal, the apparatus including: an oscillating unit generating an oscillating signal having a preset duty ratio; a selecting unit including a first switch switching a first path connected between the oscillating unit and an output terminal and a second switch complementarily operated with respect to the first switch and switching a second path connected to the first path in parallel; and a duty adjusting unit installed on the second path between the second switch and the output terminal, adjusting a duty ratio of the oscillating signal according to a rotation speed signal of a motor, and outputting the signal having the adjusted duty ratio as a driving control signal through the output terminal.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine in response to a waste gate position is presented. In one example, the method adjusts an actuator to reduce the possibility of misfire in an engine cylinder in response to waste gate position. In this way, it may be possible to adjust engine operation for varying engine operating conditions.

Abstract: The regulator/brush-holder assembly (1) comprises a support (2) and an electrical circuit (5, 6) comprising a regulating element (5) connected by microwires to a trace circuit (6). The electrical circuit further includes a filtering circuit (10) separate from the regulating element and connected by microwires to the trace circuit. According to one particular embodiment, the filtering circuit comprises an insulating substrate (11) and surface-mounted components (C1, C2, S1, S2, V). A ground plane (19) and/or one or more ground pads may be provided for connection to a ground trace of the trace circuit. The filtration frequencies of the filter circuit extend from 100 kHz to 1 GHz.

Abstract: A power supply system for a motor vehicle includes a generator that includes a rotor having a field coil and a stator having an armature coil; a rectifier that rectifies AC power generated in the armature coil; an excitation control circuit that takes control of a voltage applied to the field coil; a capacitor that is connected to the DC side of the rectifier, and receives and transfers the rectified power; a battery connected to an electric load of the motor vehicle; a DC-DC converter that is connected between the capacitor and the battery and capable of converting unidirectionally or bidirectionally an input DC voltage into any DC voltage; and a selection switch which connects the capacitor or the battery to the excitation control circuit as a power supply source.

Abstract: A generator system includes a generator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion. An exciter field winding and a main armature winding are disposed on the stationary portion. An exciter armature winding and a main field winding are disposed on the rotating portion. A frequency demodulator is configured to extract a frequency modulated control signal from the exciter armature winding and to demodulate the frequency modulated control signal to generate a demodulated control signal. The generator includes a main field rotating power converter to selectively control current in the main field winding in response to the demodulated command signal. The generator system includes a generator control unit in electrical communication with the generator to monitor the output voltage at the main armature winding and to output an exciter current including the frequency modulated control signal to the exciter field winding based on the output voltage.

Abstract: A generator includes a permanent magnet generator, an exciter and a main generator mounted for rotation on a shaft. The main generator is configured to produce a voltage output. A generator control unit includes a circuit configured to provide current from the permanent magnet generator to the exciter. A switch is provided in the circuit and is configured to change between open and closed conditions. The switch is configured to flow current in the circuit in the closed condition and interrupt current flow in the open condition. An overvoltage limit controller is programmed to determine an amount of overvoltage of the output voltage exceeding a desired voltage.

Abstract: A dip in the output voltage of a motor-vehicle alternator, owing to a connecting of a load or a change in speed, is compensated with the aid of an alternator regulator which provides a control signal that has a duty factor and increases the excitation current of the motor-vehicle alternator. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, in a first step, the duty factor of the control signal is increased by a differential amount, and in a subsequent second step, the rate of correction is limited. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, parameters describing the instantaneous working point of the motor-vehicle alternator are determined, and in the first step, the differential amount is set as a function of the working point.

Abstract: An AC/DC conversion circuit of a power conversion apparatus receives an AC signal and has a switching element. A voltage sensing circuit generates a voltage reference signal according to an AC voltage signal. A harmonic generation circuit generates a harmonic injection signal according to the voltage reference signal. A subtraction circuit of a maximum power tracking circuit outputs a first DC signal and a second DC signal according to the voltage reference signal. An arithmetic circuit outputs a reference signal. A current sensing circuit outputs a feedforward signal according to one phase of an AC current signal. A current control circuit outputs an error signal according to the reference signal and the feedforward signal. A pulse width modulation circuit outputs a control signal to control the switching element according to the error signal and the harmonic injection signal, so that an aerogenerator operates at the maximum power approximation line.

Abstract: A voltage regulator coupled between a batteryless alternator and a ground includes an under-voltage detection circuit and an exciting current regulating unit. The under-voltage protection circuit includes a voltage detection unit, a plurality of switching circuits, and a power switch. The voltage detection unit generates a first control signal according to an output voltage of the batteryless alternator. The switching circuits are connected in series and controlled by the first control signal. The power switch is coupled to one of the switching circuits and a rotor coil of the batteryless alternator. The exciting current regulating unit controls the operation of the power switch according to the output voltage of the batteryless alternator. The voltage detection unit detects whether the output voltage is lower than a threshold and selectively cuts off the power switch by sequentially controlling the operations of the switching circuits according to the detection result.

Abstract: An integrated power system suitable for simultaneously powering marine propulsion and service loads. The system includes: (a) at least one generator configured with at least first and second armature windings configured to output respective first and second alternating current power signals of different voltages, the at least two armature windings positioned within the same stator slots so that they magnetically couple; (b) at least first and second rectifier circuits coupled to said generator to convert said first and second alternating current power signals into first and second direct current power signals; and (c) a first load to which said first direct current power signal is coupled and a second load to which said second direct current power signal is coupled.

Abstract: An electric power generation system (EPGS) employs both a wild-source generator and a variable and/or constant frequency generator. The wild-source generator is coupled to receive mechanical power from a low-pressure spool on an aircraft engine and to generate in response a wild-source output for consumption by voltage and frequency-tolerant loads. The variable and/or constant frequency generator is coupled to receive mechanical power from a high-pressure spool on the aircraft engine and to generate in response a variable and/or constant frequency output for consumption by voltage and frequency-intolerant loads.

Abstract: A wind power generator generates power through a rotation of a rotor and is interconnected, and operated with its power generation output previously limited in order to be able to further supply the power to a power system in response to a decrease in system frequency. Thus, a concentrated control system derives a required restricted amount corresponding to a power generation output required to respond to the decrease in system frequency, derives a value by subtracting an amount corresponding to a latent power generation output with which the power generation output can be increased, from the required restricted amount, and sets a restricted amount of the power generation output in each wind power generator to perform the operation with the power generation output previously limited to respond to the decrease in system frequency, based on the above value.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine for a vehicle that is capable of starting synchronous rectification through switching elements after having ensured absence of a short circuit fault. The rotary electric machine includes a multi-phase armature winding, a switching element set that includes a plurality of pairs of upper-arm and lower-arm switching elements to form a bridge rectification circuit together with the armature winding, an on/off-timing setter that sets on/off-timing of each switching element, a switching element driver that drives each switching element at the on/off-timing set by the on/off-timing setter; and a synchronous control start determiner that determines timing when an energization period for the upper-arm switching element and an energization period for the lower-arm switching element occur alternately as start timing of the synchronous rectification.

Abstract: Starting and stopping an engine is automatically controlled based on a load without using a relay. An inverter engine-driven power generator has an alternator, a rectifying circuit, a DC/DC converter, and an inverter circuit. A load detection circuit is connected to an output of the inverter circuit in parallel. A load detection line of the load detection circuit is connected to an output line of the inverter circuit in parallel via resistors. A power supply formed of a battery is connected to the load detection line. A decision circuit outputs a load detection signal when a current having a preset value or more flows through the load detection line. A drive/stop CPU starts the engine in response to the load detection. The resistors are set at a resistance value which does not influence a load to which a generator output is supplied.

Abstract: A method for reducing a ripple, caused by rotational nonuniformity of an internal combustion engine, in the output voltage of a generator which is driven by the internal combustion engine is provided. The generator has a stator winding, a rotor winding, a field controller, associated with the rotor winding, for regulating the output voltage of the generator, and a downstream power converter having controllable switching elements. To reduce the voltage ripple, the output voltage of the generator is regulated on the stator side by appropriately controlling the switching elements of the power converter.

Abstract: A process for increasing the excitation current, particularly when activating the alternator, whose rectified alternator voltage is regulated by way of a regulator, is provided. For regulating the alternator voltage, the regulator sets the excitation current of an excitation winding of the alternator. The regulator further receives a phase signal. A rapid increasing of the excitation current to a defined value takes place, during which the phase signal is analyzed simultaneously. This rapid increasing continues until the phase signal or a quantity derived therefrom meets a defined condition with respect to the alternator voltage. Therefore, a further increasing of the excitation current takes place, preferably at a rate of change reduced with respect to the previous rapid increase.

Abstract: A method comprises the transmission to a regulator (8) of the alternator of width-modulated pulses (PWM1) exhibiting a duty ratio representative of a setpoint value (Vref) continuously included between a first reference duty ratio (DC1) and a second reference duty ratio (DC2), and the detection of these pulses by the regulator so as to generate the setpoint value. The method also comprises the transmission to the regulator of other width-modulated pulses (PWM2) exhibiting a specific duty ratio (EXOF_R) which is less than the first reference duty ratio (DC1) and ties between a low duty ratio (DCL) and a high duty ratio (DCH), and the detection of these other pulses by the regulator, in a first step, and the generation of an opening signal (EXOF) for a circuit for excitation of the alternator, in a second step, following this latter detection.

Abstract: A generator system includes a generator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion. An exciter field winding and a main armature winding are disposed on the stationary portion. An exciter armature winding and a main field winding are disposed on the rotating portion. A frequency demodulator is configured to extract a frequency modulated control signal from the exciter armature winding and to demodulate the frequency modulated control signal to generate a demodulated control signal. The generator includes a main field rotating power converter to selectively control current in the main field winding in response to the demodulated command signal. The generator system includes a generator control unit in electrical communication with the generator to monitor the output voltage at the main armature winding and to output an exciter current including the frequency modulated control signal to the exciter field winding based on the output voltage.

Abstract: An electric power generation system and method that permits enhanced power generation efficiency when applied to rotating electric power generation systems is disclosed. The system may be broadly described as generally improving energy generation efficiency by improving the efficiency of electric current extraction from stator coils in many alternator-based electric power generation systems. The system disclosed comprises a number of preferred embodiments, some of which utilize buck-boost converter technologies in conjunction with super-diode excitation/rectification to minimize I2R power losses within rotating power generation system components while at the same time reducing heat losses and thus increasing overall rectification circuitry system reliability.

Abstract: An alternator for a power generation system. The alternator includes a stator. The stator includes a main output winding, a poly-phase auxiliary winding and an exciter field winding that is powered by the poly-phase auxiliary winding. The alternator further includes a rotor that includes an exciter secondary winding and a rotary field winding that is powered by the exciter secondary winding. The rotary field winding voltage is determined by the exciter secondary winding voltage. In some power generation systems, the rotary field winding current of the rotor may be directly rectified from the exciter secondary winding current by uncontrolled rectifiers. The alternator further includes a regulator that measures a current to the exciter field winding. The regulator controls the current to a set point in order to regulate an output voltage produced by the main output winding of the stator.

Abstract: A field winding type rotary electric machine includes: a controller; a field current integration portion provided in the controller to calculate an integral value by integrating an excessive field current exceeding a field current threshold; a field current limiting portion provided in the controller and carrying out limiting processing to limit a field current to or below a predetermined value when the integral value reaches an integral value threshold defined as a reference value at or above which the field current is limited; a controller power supply connection switch switched ON and OFF for power feeding to the controller; a controller power supply connection determination portion switching ON and OFF the controller power supply connection switch; and a power feeding ON state maintaining portion maintaining an ON state of the power feeding to the controller from start to end of the limiting processing by the field current limiting portion.

Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.

Abstract: A method for regulating the output voltage of the alternator of a generator set, the generator set including a heat engine driving the alternator and the alternator including a rotor having a pole wheel. The method includes the following step: modifying the current in the pole wheel, at least during an increase in the load at the outlet of the alternator, in such a way as to bring the output voltage of the alternator to a value lower than the value before the increase in the load, the modification of the current in the pole wheel depending on the deceleration of the heat engine.

Abstract: The control device including: a power transistor (502) for controlling conduction/non-conduction of a field coil (3) in accordance with an output voltage of an AC generator (1) mounted on a vehicle; an RPM detection section (511) for detecting an RPM of the AC generator (1); a drive duty setting section (510) for determining whether or not the RPM detected by the RPM detection section (511) is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, and reducing a conduction ratio of the field coil (3) when determining that the RPM is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold; and a driver (504) for driving the power transistor (502) based on the conduction ratio. In this manner, the conduction ratio of the field coil (3) is reduced to suppress the drive torque.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to systems and methods for improving reliability of dual bridge doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) by reducing the number of required components in the converters associated with such DFIGs. A converter is constructed using a pair of current conducting bridges wherein one of the current conducting bridges is controlled and the second is not controlled. The uncontrolled bridge may correspond to a pair of diodes while the controlled bridge may correspond to a pair of transistors, in particular, a pair of IGBT transistors.

Abstract: In a controller, a voltage controller operates, in an initial excitation mode, to turn selectively on and off a switch to supply an excitation current as an initial excitation current to the field winding, and operates, in a power generation mode, to selectively increase and reduce the excitation current to be supplied to the field winding to regulate an output voltage of the power generator to a target value. A mode-shift determiner determines, while the voltage controller operates in the initial excitation mode, whether to shift an operation mode of the voltage controller from the initial excitation mode to the power generation mode based on: a measured rotation number of a rotor, a threshold rotation number of the rotor, and a preset time period, the time period being equal to or longer than an expected maximum value of cycle of pulsations of rotation of the engine.

Abstract: A voltage regulator device (10) is described, applicable to the electrical system of a motor vehicle of the type comprising at least an electrical machine consisting of a three-phase generator and at least an accumulator (12). The voltage regulator device (10) comprises a rectifier bridge and a voltage rising circuit (16) provided with a first series of power elements (20). The voltage rising circuit (16) comprises one or more inductors (14) the winding inductance of stator phase of which is exploited in order to raise the phase voltage above the level of the voltage provided by the accumulator (12), so that it is possible to supply current to the electrical loads of the vehicle since a very low rotation regime of the engine of the vehicle itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatic regulation of a system in which a plurality of parameters characteristic of the system are measured and in which at least one control parameter (u) is applied as a function of the measured parameters (y). The method includes choosing a nominal operating point of the system, and defining a nominal model (Mn) of the system at this nominal operating point. The method further includes determining a set of representative models ([Mk]) of the possible variations relative to the nominal model (Mn) and parameterizing the error of the nominal model (Mn) of the system by decomposition ([?ik]d) over all the errors between the models of the set of models ([Mk]) representative of the possible variations and the nominal model (Mn). The method also includes minimizing a given optimization criterion (J) by varying at least one of the previously obtained parameters ([?ik]) of the error (?) relative to the nominal model (M) of the system.

Abstract: A device for controlling an on-vehicle power generator is provided with switching means, detecting means, voltage control means, startup control means and normal state control means. The voltage control means controls the output voltage of the power generator together with the switching means. The detecting means detects state of the power generation including a startup state where the engine is in startup condition and a normal state where normal power generation has been performed. The startup control means controls the voltage control means to start/stop of the power generation based on the frequency of the phase voltage of the power generator in the startup state. The normal state control means controls the voltage control means in the normal state such that the normal state control means controls the voltage control means to continue the power generation or stops the power generation based on the frequency of the phase voltage.

Abstract: Methods and a voltage regulator are provided for distributing power sourcing in a hybrid power plant system. The voltage regulator is configured to monitor an output power of a generator and control an excitation signal provided to the generator based at least in part on the generator output power.

Abstract: In order to receive a power generation command from the outside of a body, to transmit power generation control condition with respect to the power generation command to the outside, and to enable a vehicle to drive properly depending on the condition; a minimum value selector by which on-duty of a switching element by the power generation command inputted from the outside of the body of a control device is compared to on-duty of the switching element calculated inside the body of the control device and smaller on-duty of both on-duties is selected to perform ON/OFF control of the switching element is included, and the selected on-duty is transmitted to the outside.

Abstract: In a portable inverter power generation apparatus, a rectifying circuit converts AC electric power generated by an electric generator into DC electric power, and an inverter circuit converts the DC electric power into AC electric power. A current sensor detects an AC output current from the inverter circuit. In a first case where the AC output current detected by the current sensor increases from a value lower than a first value to a value higher than the first value, a computer sets a target rotational speed to a value lower than a resonance rotational speed at which an engine resonates until the AC output current detected by the current sensor increases to a second value higher than the first value, and sets the target rotational speed to a value higher than the resonance rotational speed when the detected AC output current increases to the second value.

Abstract: An electric power supply system includes: an AC generator having a drooping characteristic; a rectification section for converting AC output of the AC generator to DC; a load having an electric storage device supplied with power from the AC generator; and a control section provided between the rectification section and the load. The control section controls the AC generator so that the AC generator operates at predetermined voltage lower than output voltage corresponding to the maximum power operation point of the AC generator.

Abstract: A device for detecting a change in a generator output signal of a vehicle generator includes a window comparator for comparing a signal amplitude of the generator output signal to at least one threshold value which limits a signal amplitude range, a detector for detecting a change in the generator output signal based on an output signal of the window comparator, a detection unit for detecting a signal amplitude difference between a maximum signal amplitude and a minimum signal amplitude of the generator output signal, and an adaptation unit for adapting the signal amplitude range of the window comparator, based on the signal amplitude difference, when there is the change in the generator output signal.

Abstract: High voltage DC power, which is produced by rectifying AC power generated by an AC generator, is controlled and regulated without the need for measuring the position of the rotor with hardware. A Field oriented controller uses a sliding mode observer to estimate the position of the rotor without the use of position detection hardware. The estimated position of the rotor and the AC current are then used by the field oriented controller algorithm to regulate a DC output from a rectifier driven by an AC generator.

Abstract: An alternator has rectifying module groups. The rectifying module groups form a bridge circuit. The rectifying module groups have a load dump protection judgment section for monitoring an output voltage of rectifying module groups. When the monitored output voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage, the load dump protection judgment section provides to a control section an instruction to turn on MOS transistors in a lower arm of the bridge circuit at a time when a predetermined delay time has elapsed. When a second threshold voltage is lower than the first threshold voltage and the monitored output voltage becomes less than the second threshold voltage after the monitored output voltage exceeds the first threshold voltage, the load dump protection judgment section provides to the control circuit an instruction to turn on the MOS transistors in the lower arm after the MOS transistors are turned off during a predetermined time length.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle AC generator which restricts an upper limit of a field current to the maximum field current at a set voltage even when a power generation voltage becomes large, is obtained. In the control device for the vehicle AC generator, in which a DC voltage obtained by rectifying an AC output voltage of an armature coil in the AC generator with a rectifier is applied to a field coil to obtain a field current and the field current is controlled by ON/OFF of a switching element connected in series to the field coil, an upper limit restriction unit in which an upper limit of on-duty of the switching element is set to a set voltage/the DC voltage, is included.

Abstract: A static exciter of a field winding includes a rectifier connected to an electric grid and to the field winding; a unidirectional electronic switch connected in series with the rectifier; a capacitor bank; and a further switch disposed between the unidirectional electronic switch and the capacitor bank. Exciter also includes a control unit connected to the further switch and configured to close the further switch when a grid voltage drops below a first prefixed voltage value so as to connect the capacitor bank to the field winding and configured to open the further switch when the grid voltage exceeds a second prefixed voltage value so as to disconnect the capacitor bank from the field winding and so as to supply energy to the field winding from the capacitor bank for a time period.

Abstract: A rotary electrical machine regulation device of the type which can control the electrical machine using a predetermined set value of a direct voltage (B+) of the on-board electrical network of the vehicle in which the machine is installed. An excitation current (EXC) is supplied to the alternator (machine), and has a duty cycle (RC) which is determined by a digital processing block (9), on the basis of an error voltage between the predetermined set value and the direct voltage of the electrical network. Accordingly, a system (11) is provided herein for making the digital block electrically self-sufficient. The system includes a voltage maintenance device with a self-sufficient capacitor (110), and a self-sufficient control element (111).

Abstract: The control device including: a power transistor (502) for controlling conduction/non-conduction of a field coil (3) in accordance with an output voltage of an AC generator (1) mounted on a vehicle; an RPM detection section (511) for detecting an RPM of the AC generator (1); a drive duty setting section (510) for determining whether or not the RPM detected by the RPM detection section (511) is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, and reducing a conduction ratio of the field coil (3) when determining that the RPM is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold; and a driver (504) for driving the power transistor (502) based on the conduction ratio. In this manner, the conduction ratio of the field coil (3) is reduced to suppress the drive torque.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to, among other things, supply power to a load under various load conditions. Output voltage transient responses of the system, such as may be caused by transients changes in the load conditions, may be controlled through current transformation on the output in order to correct or impede over-voltage conditions of the transient response.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle AC generator, in which a part can be shared even when electrical configuration positions of field coils of rotors of generators are different, is obtained. Switching elements connected in series to the field coil in order to control a field current; and a control signal processing unit, in which information as to whether the field coil is connected to the high potential side or connected to the low potential side is inputted, one of the high potential side terminal and the low potential side terminal is selected on the basis of the inputted information, a control signal is outputted, and ON/OFF control of the switching element is performed to control the field current of the field coil, are provided.

Abstract: A lockout circuit which limits the field voltage in an alternator while the vehicle starter is activated. The lockout circuit may be configured to limit the field voltage while the charging circuit voltage is below a threshold value. A timer circuit may advantageously be employed with the lockout circuit. A temperature compensating function may also be employed to change the threshold value in response to temperature changes. The disclosed circuit is particularly advantageous when employed in cold weather conditions. A method of starting the engine of a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: The vehicle generator includes a rotor wound with a field winding, a stator wound with a stator winding, rectifier modules respectively connected to corresponding output terminals of the stator winding, and a power generation control device to control a power generation voltage of the vehicle generator formed from outputs of the rectifier modules by controlling an excitation current flowing through the field winding. Each of the rectifier modules includes a pair of a first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor series-connected between positive and negative terminals of a battery. The rectifier modules are connected with one another through a communication line. The rectifier modules exchange data regarding control of the first and second MOS transistors of the rectifier modules by a pulse train signal transmitted on the communication line.