Voltage Of Generator Or Circuit Supplied Patents (Class 322/28)
  • Patent number: 8564254
    Abstract: The power generation amount control apparatus includes a battery state determination section, a generator performance determination section, a power-generation-amount increase determination section, an idle state determination section, and a power generation restriction control section. The power generation restriction control section is configured to perform power generation restriction control to restrict a power generation amount of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine when the idle state determination section determines that the vehicle engine is in the idle state, the power-generation-amount increase determination section determines that the power-generation-amount increase demand is not present, and the battery state determination section determines that the battery charged by the vehicle generator is not deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyo Teramoto, Tadatoshi Asada
  • Patent number: 8560201
    Abstract: A Gen-Set (10) control system is disclosed. The control system has an engine (12) having a desired operating range and a generator (14) driven by the engine to produce an electrical power output. The control system also has an engine control module (30) communicatively coupled with the engine, and configured to change and operating parameter of the engine based on a load command before a load on the engine causes the engine to deviate from the desired operating range. The control system further has an automatic voltage regulator (32). The automatic voltage regulator is configured to monitor at least one of a voltage output, a current output, and a power factor of the generator and generate the load command based on a change in at least one of the voltage output, the current output, and the power factor. The automatic voltage regulator (32) is also configured to deliver the load command to the engine control module (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David John Morrow, Keith David Robert Chambers, David John McGowan, Peter Thomas Alexander Gordon, Paresh Rameschchandra Desai, Stephen Francis Hill
  • Publication number: 20130241502
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrical system comprises a generator, a battery, and a regulator. The generator is operable to provide electrical energy at a plurality of voltage levels. The battery is in electrical communication with the generator. The regulator is operable to compare a charge level of the battery to a reference charge level, determine a voltage level for the generator based on the comparison, and provide a signal indicative of the determination toward the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Chandler Sowden
  • Publication number: 20130234678
    Abstract: A generator comprises first and second field coils whose combined magnetic flux causes stator current within one or more stator windings which, when rectified via a rectifier circuit, produces rectified output current with reduced voltage fluctuations. A filter circuit extracts the AC component of the rectified output current and delivers it to the second field coil. The magnetic flux generated by the second field coil modifies the magnetic flux of the first field coil effectively cancelling the voltage ripples associated with the rectified output current of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Pourkermani
  • Patent number: 8525490
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a magneto generator with a rotor having a magnet; a torque supplying device supplying torque to the rotor; a rectifier circuit supplying electric power to a electrical load device by rectifying an output of the magneto generator; a short circuit electrically shorting an output end of the magneto generator; a voltage detection circuit detecting a terminal voltage of the electrical load device; and a control circuit controlling a voltage of the electrical load device to be a first set value by controlling the short circuit to switch ON (short operating mode) and OFF (rectification operating mode) according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit and allowing the short circuit to operate while making a switching between the two operating modes according to a operating state relating to a rotation of the rotor of the magneto generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Itoi, Masayoshi Maeda, Nobuhiro Kihara, Hiroshi Okuda, Fumito Uemura
  • Patent number: 8525489
    Abstract: A system for directly and instantaneously controlling the exciter of a generator. A voltage error calculator calculates a voltage error of output voltage of the generator which is regulated by an instruction voltage and a time constant. A switching signal generator generates switching signals in response to the voltage error. An exciter controller controls the exciter in response to the switching signals. Thus, the system can induce the maximum response characteristic of a power converter only by setting the time constant of a controller without a complicated design for determining gains of the controller. Further, the system can considerably inhibit overshoot from occurring in a transient response state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kyungsung University Industry Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Jinwoo Ahn, Donghee Lee
  • Patent number: 8525491
    Abstract: The vehicle generator includes an armature winding, a switching section constituted as a bridge circuit including a plurality of pairs of an upper arm and a lower arm to rectify phase voltages of the armature winding, each of the upper and lower arms being constituted of a switching element parallel-connected with a diode, and a control section for controlling on/off timings of the switching elements. The control section is configured to perform switching operation to switch the switching section between a first operation state where each upper arm is turned off when the phase voltage is higher than a voltage of a vehicle battery, and a second operation state where each upper arm is turned off after the phase voltages becomes lower than the battery voltage, and configured to delay off timings of the switching elements stepwise when the switching section is in the second operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Iwai
  • Patent number: 8513911
    Abstract: A power converter that interfaces a motor requiring variable voltage/frequency to a supply network providing a nominally fixed voltage/frequency includes a first rectifier/inverter connected to a stator and a second rectifier/inverter. Both rectifier/inverters are interconnected by a dc link and include switching devices. A filter is connected between the second rectifier/inverter and the network. A first controller for the first rectifier/inverter uses a dc link voltage demand signal indicative of a desired dc link voltage to control the switching devices of the first rectifier/inverter. A second controller for the second rectifier/inverter uses a power demand signal indicative of the level of power to be transferred to the dc link from the network through the second rectifier/inverter, and a voltage demand signal indicative of the voltage to be achieved at network terminals of the filter to control the switching devices of the second rectifier/inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 8493038
    Abstract: The vehicle-use power generation control apparatus includes a first section to control an excitation current of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine such that a power generation voltage of the vehicle generator is kept at a first set value, a second section to perform gradual excitation control in order to gradually increase the excitation current, a third section configured to inhibit the gradual excitation control when the power generation voltage falls below a second set value lower than the first set value while the gradual excitation control is performed, a fourth section to detect a rotational speed of the vehicle engine or the vehicle generator, a fifth section to determine a limit value of the excitation current based on the detected rotational speed, and a sixth section configured to limit the excitation current below the limit value when the power generation voltage falls below the second set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kikuchi, Tomomi Tsuzuki, Liang Song
  • Patent number: 8476872
    Abstract: A system for reducing an alternator's load on an engine when the engine drives a second load. The system includes an alternator, a battery, a resistor, and a switch. The alternator includes a stator, a voltage regulator, a rectifier, and a field coil. The battery has a first terminal coupled to the alternator and a second terminal coupled to the alternator. The resistor has a first lead coupled to the first terminal and a second lead coupled to the field coil. The switch is coupled in parallel across the resistor, and is open when the engine drives the second load and closed when the engine is not driving the second load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory R. Truckenbrod, William L. Waldschmidt, John Steven McFadden, Vidhey Vijay Trivedi
  • Patent number: 8471407
    Abstract: An emergency power system for operation during loss of power on power mains comprises a spring-driven energy storage unit (ESU) and a generator. The ESU enters a generator mode responsive to a power outage state of a power sensor, during which mode unwinding of the spring drive powers the generator. After power is restored to the mains, a preferred embodiment automatically rewinds the spring using the generator as a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas W. Gow, Edward L. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8456138
    Abstract: A programmable system includes a first level protection circuit comprised of discharge tube CR1/ CR2 and piezoresistor MOV1/MOV2 in series; a second-level protection circuit comprised of the series arm of capacitor C1 and resistor R1 in parallel with a transient voltage suppression diode TVS1, and inductors L1/L2 connected to the ends of first level and second-level protection circuits respectively. A control circuit includes a PWM driver module and a SCM. The PWM driver module is connected to the PWM control port of the SCM and its output is connected to an IGBT module. The control circuit is also connected to a series communication module and to a user interface. The features of the invention are: strong-shock resistance; a wide range of load adaptability; and ability of accurately and steplessly regulating and adjusting with high frequency and high power load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: MacMic Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Luxtech 360 LLC.
    Inventors: Xishe Lei, Xiao Bao Wang
  • Publication number: 20130134950
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Pierre Tisserand, Pierre Chassard, Vincent Gendron, Guillaume Duthilleul
  • Patent number: 8446131
    Abstract: The regulating method is employed in a polyphase rotating electrical machine operating as a generator and having an excitation coil (10). The method is of the type in which a DC voltage (B+) is slaved to a predetermined setpoint, the voltage being produced by rectifying an AC voltage generated by the machine by controlling the duty cycle of a periodic excitation current (+EXC,?EXC) by means of a microcontroller (11), or the like, as a function of sampled values of the DC voltage (B+). The duty cycle is determined by the microcontroller (11) twice during an excitation current cycle (+EXC, ?EXC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Matt, Christophe Louise
  • Patent number: 8421422
    Abstract: A power supply device comprising: a magneto generator including a rotor including a magnet forming a magnetic field; a rectifying unit rectifying an alternating current of the generator to a direct current and supplying to an electrical load; a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage of the electrical load; an opening unit interrupting electrical conduction of an output of the generator; short-circuiting units electrically short-circuiting the output; a torque supplying device supplying torque to the rotor; a voltage control unit selectively performing one of opening-control of controlling on/off switching of the opening unit and short-circuit-control of controlling on/off switching of the short-circuiting units to control the voltage of the electrical load to a predetermined value in accordance with the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit; a switching control unit switching and controlling between the above two controls in accordance with an operating state regarding rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Eletric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Itoi, Masayoshi Maeda, Nobuhiro Kihara, Kenji Ishi, Hiroshi Okuda, Fumito Uemura
  • Patent number: 8421423
    Abstract: A generator (100) includes a generator winding (103) and an excitation winding (104), and a field winding (102). To converge an output voltage of the generator winding (103) to a target, a field current is varied by increasing/decreasing an energization duty ratio of a switching device (110) connected to the field winding (102). In a duty ratio zero determination unit (2) and a duty ratio zero continuation determination unit (3), when an output duty ratio continues for a predetermined time with duty ratio zero, a duty ratio increase amount restriction unit (4) restricts an upper limit of the duty ratio to a predetermined upper limit when the field current increases. A duty ratio restriction unit (21a) for restricting the duty ratio by a maximum value determined based on a voltage of a smoothing capacitor (113) in place of the determination of the duty ratio being zero may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakada, Minoru Maedako, Kenji Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20130088205
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including a housing. The module can include an electric machine positioned within the housing. The electric machine can include a field coil and a stator assembly. The module can include a rectifier assembly coupled to the housing and electrically connect to the stator assembly. The rectifier assembly can include at least one output post. A voltage regulator is coupled to the housing and includes at least one field post and a sense post. The voltage regulator is electrically connected to the rectifier assembly. The module can include a remote sense terminal coupled to the housing. A sense switch circuit is electrically coupled to at least the remote sense terminal, the sense post, and the at least one output post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Chad Zook, Robert R. Steele, JR., Mingshe Zhou, Tom Merrill
  • Patent number: 8415816
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle AC generator for improving working efficiency in assembly, allowing a reduction in the number of components, and the like. The vehicle AC generator includes: a rectifier for rectifying an AC generated by a stator coil into a DC; and a regulator for regulating an AC voltage generated by the stator coil, in which: the regulator includes: a regulator holder; a regulator main body provided inside the regulator holder, the regulator main body being for regulating the AC voltage; a capacitor provided inside the regulator holder, the capacitor being for absorbing a noise generated when the AC is rectified into the DC by the rectifier; and an insulating resin material filling the regulator holder so as to fix the regulator main body and the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Iwamoto, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8415930
    Abstract: Provided is a power supply device including: a magneto generator (1), which includes: a rotor including a magnet forming a magnetic field; and a stator which generates an alternating current in stator windings by rotation of the rotor; a rectifying unit (3) which rectifies the alternating current generated by the magneto generator to a direct current; a variable transformation-ratio direct current voltage transformer (40) which transforms an output voltage of the direct current of the rectifying unit to a voltage between input terminals of an electrical load (2) to which electric power is supplied; and a voltage control unit (5) which controls a transformation ratio of the variable transformation-ratio direct current voltage transformer in accordance with at least one of an operating state signal regarding the rotation of the rotor of the magneto generator and an electrical load state signal of the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kihara, Masayoshi Maeda, Shinji Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Okuda, Fumito Uemura, Takahiro Urakabe, Masaya Inoue, Naoki Itoi, Kenji Ishi
  • Patent number: 8405365
    Abstract: When a distortion of an output waveform of an alternating-current generator is improved, an output voltage control apparatus of a generator, which has versatility, is obtained. An output voltage control apparatus of a generator (1), including a generator winding (2) and an excitation winding (3) wound around a stator side, a field winding (5) wound around a rotor (4), and a rectifier (12) for rectifying a current generated by the excitation winding (3) and supplying the rectified current to the field winding (5), the output voltage control apparatus includes a field current drive means (20) for comparing an output voltage generated to the generator winding (2) with a reference wave whose distortion ratio is 0% and flowing a field current to the field winding (5) by adjusting a drive timing of a PWM signal output by a drive unit (24) based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakada, Minoru Maedako
  • Patent number: 8400118
    Abstract: An excitation winding (104) and a field winding (102) are provided. A smoothing capacitor (113) smoothes a current of the excitation winding (104) and inputs it to the field winding (102). A transistor (110) is driven to control an output of the generator winding (103). A diode (112) prevents a field current from flowing in a reverse direction. A transistor (10) connected to the diode (112) is driven in a phase reverse to a phase of a drive signal of the transistor (110). A duty monitor 1 determines whether a duty ratio of the drive signal of the transistor (110) is larger than a reference duty ratio, and when the duty monitor 1 determines that the duty ratio of the drive signal is larger than the reference duty ratio, an unit (2) extends an output cycle of the drive signal by thinning out the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8400117
    Abstract: A method for controlling the progressive charge of a motor vehicle alternator. The alternator comprises a stator, a rotor which is provided with an excitation coil, a voltage regulator which acts on an excitation current which is supplied to the excitation coil in order to regulate an output voltage of the alternator, and a device for controlling the progressive charge which, by means of limitation of the excitation current to a maximum value, determines a maximum mechanical torque which the alternator can collect on a thermal engine of the vehicle. The maximum mechanical torque is determined according to a speed of rotation (NALT) of the alternator, and the progressive charge control device comprises a so-called progressive charge return (PCR) signal which indicates the maximum value which the excitation current (lexc) can assume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Stéphane Fourmy, Sokha Ly, Philippe Hazard
  • Publication number: 20130057227
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling an electrical generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an electrical generator configured to be connected to an electrical grid and a converter comprising an inverter connected to a rotor of the electrical generator. The apparatus also includes a shunt protection circuit connected to the inverter and the rotor of the electrical generator and a control unit configured to activate and deactivate the inverter and the shunt protection circuit. The control unit is configured to, in response to determining that an abnormal condition is occurring in the electrical generator or an electrical grid to which the electrical generator is connected, deactivate the inverter and activate the shunt protection circuit. Also, after it is determined that the abnormal condition has passed, the control unit is configured to activate the inverter before deactivating the shunt protection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: INGETEAM TECHNOLOGY, S.A.
    Inventors: Sergio AURTENETXEA, Eneko OLEA, Iker GARMENDIA, Ainhoa CARCAR
  • Patent number: 8378642
    Abstract: A solar module has a solar generator for generating electrical power, and an inverter for feeding the electrical power produced by the solar generator into a power supply system or to one or more loads. An input load is connected in parallel with the solar generator. A control apparatus controls the operation of the inverter such that it measures a difference voltage between the loaded and the unloaded solar generator, weights this difference voltage with a factor, and operates the inverter only when the weighted difference voltage corresponds at most to a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Götz-Martin Bertelsmann, Robert Hottendorf
  • Publication number: 20130015663
    Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling power generation are provided. For example, such a system may include an electrical generator controller. The controller may include a filter component, a frequency response schedule component, and a rate limiter component. The filter component may receive a power grid frequency signal and output the frequency signal when the frequency signal is outside a frequency band. The frequency response schedule component may determine an ultimate target power contribution using the filtered frequency signal, the ultimate target power contribution representing an ultimate amount of power contribution that the electrical generator should provide in a primary frequency response. The rate limiter component may determine an immediate target power contribution signal that varies over time and approaches the ultimate target power contribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mario Joao Kumula, Roman Freidl
  • Publication number: 20130015826
    Abstract: A permanent magnet multipole alternator includes an external rotor mechanically connectable to a source of variable velocity and having permanent magnets, an internal stator having windings housed in slots defined by equidistant teeth terminating in projecting extension pieces, a circuit converting the alternating current generated by the alternator into substantially direct current, and a circuit controlling the rotational speed of the energy source based on load. The conversion circuit has a bridge rectifier circuit, the permanent magnets of the rotor are of approximately trapezoidal shape, the distance between the magnets and the extension pieces of the stator teeth is between 0.8 and 1.8 mm, the ratio between the lengths of the major and minor bases of each magnet is between 1.2 and 6, and the ratio between the length of each extension piece of the stator teeth and the distance between the magnets, is between 0.5 and 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Dante Imoli
  • Publication number: 20120326677
    Abstract: The rotary electrical machine is capable of functioning as a generator and outputs a continuous output voltage (Ub+) that is adjustable by an excitation current. The digital regulator (2) of the machine comprises an excitation current control means (7) and a control loop (6) that includes a device (10) for measurement, by sampling, of the output voltage (Ub+), the measurement device generating a signal sampled at a predetermined first sampling frequency (F1 e). The machine has a bandwidth that is limited by a predetermined first cutoff frequency (F1 c). The measurement device includes an apparatus for oversampling such that the first sampling frequency (F1 e) is greater than twice the first cutoff frequency (F1 c), and the control loop also includes an apparatus (12) for decimating the sampled signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Pierre Tisserand, Pierre Chassard, Laurent Labiste
  • Patent number: 8334678
    Abstract: A voltage control apparatus for an electric generator includes a load response controller and a voltage response controller. The electric generator includes a field winding and is driven by an engine of a motor vehicle. When the output voltage of the generator decreases below a threshold voltage upon the application of an electrical load, the rotational speed of the engine fluctuates to repeatedly increase and decrease until it is stabilized. During the time periods in which the rotational speed of the engine decreases, field current supplied to the field winding of the generator is gradually increased under a load response control performed by the load response controller. During the time periods in which the rotational speed of the engine increases, the field current is gradually increased under a voltage response control by the voltage response controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8330430
    Abstract: An alternator comprises a regulator configured to control the electric current to a field coil. The regulator includes a field driver circuit, the field driver circuit configured to deliver the electric current to the field coil at a switching frequency. The regulator further includes a controller configured to vary the switching frequency of the field driver circuit between a plurality of different switching frequencies. The alternator further comprises a sensor configured to detect a predetermined alternator condition, and the controller is configured to adjust the switching frequency of the field driver circuit in response to the sensed predetermined condition such as, for example, a rotor speed, a pulse width from the field driver circuit, an efficiency of the alternator, a temperature within the alternator, a temperature outside of the alternator, or magnetic noise of the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Steele, Jr., Jack D. Harmon, Mingshe Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120299558
    Abstract: A submerged ram air turbine generating system adapted for use in a pod mounted to the wing of an aircraft comprises a submerged inlet extending substantially entirely around the outer surface of the pod housing, a stator in the form of adjustable or fixed inlet guide vanes which direct an air stream to a hybrid ram air turbine having alternating turbine blades and splitters, and, a number of adjustable exhaust panels which are movable with respect to one or more exhaust openings in the pod housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: John F. Justak, Cyrille Doux, Stephen Martyr
  • Patent number: 8310212
    Abstract: This invention provides a control device for automobile battery-charging generators, adapted to supply a plurality of sets of specifications in a highly reliable and stable form by simple switching between electrical characteristics assigning and limiting functions so as to meet various needs of users. In accordance with a voltage of a battery B, a voltage control IC regulator 120 controls a field current flowing through a field winding FL. The voltage control IC regulator 120 has a plurality of functions for assigning electrical characteristics limits or electrical characteristics beforehand. The voltage control IC regulator 120 also has switch terminals SW1 and SW2 that switch the plurality of functions that assign the electrical characteristics limits or the electrical characteristics. Electric potential levels of the switch terminals SW1 and SW2 can be changed by cutting cutoff portions CP1 and CP2 of an intermediate terminal 150 or leaving these cutoff portions connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoju Masumoto, Hiroshi Yoneda, Makoto Hirama, Shuichi Kokubun
  • Patent number: 8305048
    Abstract: A vehicle power generating device includes an alternator which has a voltage regulator that keeps the voltage of generated power constant, and an electronic control unit that controls the voltage regulator. In this vehicle power generating device, the alternator has an abnormally high temperature determining portion that determines whether the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, and an abnormal signal outputting portion which, when it has been determined by the abnormally high temperature determining portion that the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, outputs a signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high to the electronic control unit. Also, when the electronic control unit receives the signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high, the electronic control unit controls the voltage regulator such that the voltage generated by the alternator is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidehiko Matsui
  • Publication number: 20120268081
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anshuman Tripathi, Cao Shu Yu, Allan Holm Jorgensen, Lars Helle, Saurabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 8294429
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for regulating a generator controlled power signal. An exemplary embodiment of the system may include both a digital voltage regulator and an analog voltage regulator and a selector switch configured to switch modulation control between the digital and analog voltage regulators. A watchdog detection circuit may be included for detecting an upsetting event in the digital voltage regulator and may trigger switching of the generator excitation input voltage modulation from the digital voltage regulator to the analog voltage regulator. An exemplary embodiment of the method may include modulating the generator excitation input voltage using the digital voltage regulator, detecting an occurrence of an upsetting event in the digital voltage regulator, disabling the digital voltage regulator, and switching modulation of the generator excitation input voltage to the analog voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Fuller, Yuan Yao
  • Publication number: 20120262129
    Abstract: A double fed induction generator (DFIG) system and controller are presented in which the rotor side converter is preloaded with one or more initial values for resuming regulated operation to counteract transients upon deactivation of the crowbar protection circuit to provide grid fault ride through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Haihui Lu, Zhenhuan Yuan, Lixiang Wei, Russel Kerkman, Richard Lukaszewski, Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8289005
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system comprises a generator, voltage regulator, electrical energy source, and control device. The generator provides electrical current to one or more electrical loads. Voltage variations are suppressed by storing electrical energy of the field coil of the generator in the electrical energy source, and by proving electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the field coil. The control device comprises a controller and a charging module operative to maintain the voltage of the electrical energy source at a predetermined voltage that is above the regulation voltage so as to reduce the generator output voltage variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
    Inventor: Stoyan Borissov Bekiarov
  • Patent number: 8265821
    Abstract: A method for determining a voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain includes measuring a plurality of voltage levels and utilizing a comparison test between at least two voltage levels of the plurality of voltage levels to determine the circuit voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, William R. Cawthorne, Aniket Kothari, Nicholas Kokotovich, Wei Ren, Bo Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120217937
    Abstract: A drive circuit is used for driving a switching element. The drive circuit includes a detection unit and an integrated circuit. The detection unit detects a state of a controlled switching element and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state. The integrated circuit receives the voltage signal via an input terminal for the detection result and controls the switching element based on the received voltage signal. The input terminal includes at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syun Miyauchi, Tsuneo Maebara, Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Ryotaro Miura
  • Patent number: 8235488
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of preventing a peak current from being introduced into internal units of the electronic apparatus when the internal units are simultaneously activated and a method to control one or more internal units thereof. The electronic apparatus includes at least one internal unit and a signal generator to generate a drive pulse having a width that gradually changes in an edge region and to drive the at least one internal unit. Accordingly a peak current is prevented from being introduced into the internal units by gradually increasing or decreasing the drive pulse to drive the internal units as time changes or by dividing the internal units into a block unit and sequentially providing the drive pulse to the internal units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-nam Jeon, Chun-ku Han
  • Patent number: 8232778
    Abstract: A generator controller provides independent and redundant overvoltage protection to an associated generator. The generator controller monitors the generator output at a first point of a regulation and a second point of regulation. A generator control unit (GCU) provides overvoltage protection based on the generator output monitored at the first point of regulation, including at least one of tripping a first generator control relay (GCR) to remove excitation from an exciter winding and tripping a generator line contactor (GLC) to disconnect the generator output from a bus. A overvoltage protection unit (OPU) provides independent, redundant protection based on the generator output monitored at the second point of regulation, including at least one of tripping a second GCR to remove excitation from the exciter winding and tripping the GLC to disconnect the generator output from the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Daxesh K. Patel
  • Publication number: 20120161724
    Abstract: A vehicle power generation voltage control apparatus is obtained, which has improved reliability, when in a faulty condition, of controlling an exciting current flowing through a field winding even if a monitor and detection circuit becomes faulty. An output voltage of a vehicle power generator or a battery terminal voltage connected to the vehicle power generator is detected by plural monitor and detection circuits, and according to the output of the plural monitor and detection circuits, an exciting current flowing through a field winding of the vehicle power generator is switched on and off, to control the output voltage of the vehicle power generator or the battery terminal voltage connected to the vehicle power generator to be a target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Sumimoto, Junya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8207709
    Abstract: The system contains a voltage reference input positioned to be compared to an initial generator output voltage of an engine generator control unit by a subtractor circuit. A resistive voltage divider has at least one input series resistor, a subtractor input, at least two secondary resistors, and a ground. The input series resistor is disposed between the voltage reference input and the subtractor input. The secondary resistors are disposed between the subtractor input and the ground. At least two transistor switches connected between the secondary resistors and the ground. The reduced generator output voltages are from the input series resistor and the secondary resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ametek, Inc.
    Inventor: Rex H. Allen
  • Patent number: 8207710
    Abstract: Provided is a regulator adapted to the various vehicle alternators of the present invention. The regulator particularly includes a coding circuit and a control circuit. The coding circuit is used to provide the different selectable codes. A laser trimming technology is introduced to form an open circuit over the coding circuit, in order to set a code. The control circuit is used to predetermine the various function selections in accordance with the various codes. The coding circuit includes an amplifier, a first input resistor, and a second resistor. The first input resistor is interconnected to a high-voltage end and an input end of the amplifier in series. The second input resistor is further interconnected to the input end and a low-voltage end in series. The open circuit is particularly formed on the first input resistor or the second input resistor for regulating the output voltage and setting a code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Actron Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Hsi-Chin Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120153904
    Abstract: An alternator has a field coil that produces a magnetic field which induces electricity in an coil arrangement. A field coil excitation system includes a generator with an output coil assembly for producing alternating electricity. A rectifier converts the alternating electricity into voltage and direct current at two nodes. A capacitor, between the nodes, has capacitance that forms a resonant circuit with inductance of the output coil assembly. Due to that resonant circuit, the voltage and direct current oscillate in a predefined phase relationship. A switch and the field coil are connected in series between the nodes. A controller renders the switch conductive for a time period specified by a received control signal. The switch is rendered non-conductive at the first occurrence of a minimum current level after the time period ends. The predefined phase relationship enables the minimum current level to be detected by sensing the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Eric D. Albsmeier
  • Patent number: 8203317
    Abstract: A method for controlling an output voltage of generator arrangement includes generating a controlled field current for a field winding dependent on the output voltage and dependent on at least one control parameter that depends on a rotational speed of the generator. The method also includes decreasing a rate of change of the controlled field current with respect to an output voltage change if the rotational speed decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Frank Auer, Harald Panhofer, Pierre Lefaix
  • Publication number: 20120150524
    Abstract: A fault-ride-through method is provided. The method includes detecting a voltage dip on a power line transmitting electric power. If a voltage dip is detected, the method includes reducing an active current and/or an active power to a specific value, which active current and/or active power is fed by a power generating unit at a feeding point into a power network having a plurality of power lines. Further, a converter of a power generating unit is provided, that is capable of implementing the fault-ride-through method. The power generating unit may be a part of a wind turbine in a wind farm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Joergen Nygaard NIELSEN, Jan THISTED
  • Patent number: 8198837
    Abstract: A DC motor control device calculates motor speed using determinations of motor field flux and armature voltage in the motor. The device includes a control module having one or more control inputs and one or more control outputs. At least one control input is configured to receive data representing field current measured in the DC motor. The control module includes flux curve logic that is responsive to measurements of motor field current to calculate a field flux in the motor. The flux curve logic uses a flux curve stored in the control module, the flux curve representing a functional relationship between field current and field flux in the motor. The flux curve is defined by a plurality of flux curve data points corresponding to a plurality of motor field currents within a lower current range and within an upper current range. The flux curve is further defined by at least a first flux curve line positioned within the lower current range and a second flux curve line positioned within the upper current range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Magnetek, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Wellnitz
  • Patent number: 8193782
    Abstract: The abnormality detection apparatus includes a first function of measuring a first temperature of a first portion of the abnormality detection apparatus, the first temperature having a correlation with a second temperature of a second portion of a vehicle alternator, a second function of integrating a stress depending on a temperature variation of the first portion on the basis of the first temperature measured by the first function, a third function of predicting occurrence of abnormality in the second portion depending on the stress integrated by the second function, and a fourth function of issuing an alarm when the third function predicts occurrence of abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mori, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8174246
    Abstract: A switching element, a duty deciding circuit, an LRC circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, and an LRC limit value deciding circuit are included. The switching element 58 outputs a duty factor of a field winding of a vehicle power generator towards an ECU, via an FR terminal. The duty deciding circuit limits a speed at which the duty factor of the field winding increases to a predetermined limit value. The voltage detecting circuit detects a voltage at the FR terminal. The LRC limit value deciding circuit switches the limit value of the speed at which the duty factor increases based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kizawa, Tomoya Okuno
  • Publication number: 20120105020
    Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Harold C. Scott, Dave E. Williams, Charles Y. Lafontaine