Voltage regulator with improved protection and warning system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F02B-063/04
F02B-063/00
H02P-009/00
B60K-001/00
출원번호
US-0158799
(2005-06-22)
등록번호
US-7276804
(2007-10-02)
발명자
/ 주소
Jabaji,Issam
출원인 / 주소
C.E. Niehoff & Co.
대리인 / 주소
Law Offices of Michael M. Ahmadshahi
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
16
초록▼
This invention discloses a vehicle electrical system voltage regulator with improved electrical protection and warning means that discerns and responds to regulator, generator, or vehicle electrical system operation and malfunctions. The regulator includes monitoring, control, and protection circuit
This invention discloses a vehicle electrical system voltage regulator with improved electrical protection and warning means that discerns and responds to regulator, generator, or vehicle electrical system operation and malfunctions. The regulator includes monitoring, control, and protection circuits with a phase signal monitor, a field switching circuit that operates the field coil in response to electrical power demands, and a field enable switch in series with the field regulating switch. The phase monitor and protection circuit ascertains and transmits generator rotational motion for use by the monitoring and control circuit in discerning the various operating conditions. The monitoring and control circuit operates on the field switching circuit to meet the electrical power demands and provide multi level fault protection to include field switching circuit reconfiguration to continue operating under various fault conditions. A warning and diagnostic system incorporating visual indicators and communication lines provide descriptive system information for use by the vehicle's operator and computer network, respectively.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle electrical system, comprising: (a) a generator including a field coil; and (b) a voltage regulator, comprising: (i) a field switching (FS) circuit coupled with said generator field coil; and (ii) a monitor/control/protection (MCP) circuit coupled with an output of s
What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle electrical system, comprising: (a) a generator including a field coil; and (b) a voltage regulator, comprising: (i) a field switching (FS) circuit coupled with said generator field coil; and (ii) a monitor/control/protection (MCP) circuit coupled with an output of said generator and FS circuit; wherein said MCP circuit is configured to ascertain one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator by monitoring said generator output and FS circuit, and wherein the MCP circuit is configured to activate/deactivate said field coil, via said FS circuit, in response to said one or more operating states. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for communicating said one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said communication means comprises a light emitting diode, generating a flashing light pattern indicative of said one or more operating states. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein said communication means comprises a diagnostic terminal, generating a diagnostic signal indicative of said one or more operating states. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said FS circuit is configured to deactivate said field coil when said diagnostic terminal comprises a grounded state. 6. The system of claim 2, wherein said communication means comprises a communication terminal coupled with a computer system of said vehicle, generating a communication signal indicative of said one or more operating states. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more operating states of said generator comprises at least one of a properly operating state and an improperly operating state, wherein a properly operating state of said generator corresponding to said generator output voltage residing within a pre-determined output voltage range, and an improperly operating state of said generator corresponding to said generator output voltage residing outside of said pre-determined output voltage range. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more operating states of said generator comprises at least one of a properly operating state and an improperly operating state, wherein a properly operating state of said generator corresponding to said generator output voltage residing within a pre-determined output voltage range, and an improperly operating state of said generator corresponding to said generator output voltage residing outside of said pre-determined output voltage range for a pre-determined time interval. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the pre-determined time interval is substantially equal to 3 seconds. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more operating states of said voltage regulator comprises at least one of a properly operating state and an improperly operating state, wherein a properly operating state of said voltage regulator corresponding to said FS circuit switching on/off said field coil at least once within a pre-determined time interval, and an improperly operating state of said voltage regulator corresponding to said FS circuit failing to switch on/off said field coil at least once within said pre-determined time interval. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pre-determined time interval is substantially equal to 50 milliseconds. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein said MCP circuit is configured to activate said field coil, via said FS circuit, when said one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator correspond to a properly operating state of said generator and a properly operating state of said voltage regulator, and to deactivate said field coil, via said FS circuit, when said one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator correspond to an improperly operating state of said generator or an improperly operating state of said voltage regulator. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said MCP circuit is further configured to re-activate said field coil, via said FS circuit, when a voltage of a battery coupled with the generator falls below a pre-determined value. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the pre-determined value is substantially equal to 90% of the battery nominal voltage. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein said FS circuit is configured to deactivate said field coil when said field coil comprises a turn-to-turn short. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein said FS circuit is configured to deactivate said field coil when said field coil comprises at least a partially grounded state. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein (a) further comprises a rotary shaft coupled with an engine of said vehicle. 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a first terminal carrying a first signal proportional to a rotational speed of said shaft. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said MCP circuit is configured to monitor said first signal and to deactivate said field coil, via said FS circuit, when said first signal is absent. 20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a second terminal carrying a second signal proportional to an on/off state of said engine. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said MCP circuit is configured to monitor said second signal and to deactivate said field coil, via said FS circuit, when said second signal is absent. 22. A vehicle electrical system, comprising: (a) a generator including a field coil; and (b) a voltage regulator, comprising: (i) a field switching (FS) circuit coupled with said generator field coil; and (ii) a monitor/control/protection (MCP) circuit coupled with said FS circuit; wherein said MCP circuit is configured to monitor said FS circuit, and to reconfigure a protective component of the FS circuit to function as an operative component of the FS circuit when the operative component fails to function properly. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein said protective component comprises a switch component responsive to said MCP circuit and operative to activate/deactivate said operative component. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein said operative component comprises a switch component responsive to said protective component and operative to switch on/off said field coil. 25. A vehicle electrical system, comprising: (a) a generator including a field coil; and (b) a voltage regulator, comprising: (i) a field switching (FS) circuit coupled with said generator field coil; and (ii) a monitor/control/protection (MCP) circuit coupled with said FS circuit; wherein said MCP circuit is configured to monitor said FS circuit, and to reconfigure a protective component of the FS circuit to switch on/off said field coil when an operative component of the FS circuit fails to switch on/off said field coil. 26. A voltage regulator for a generator in a vehicle, said generator comprising a field coil, said voltage regulator comprising: (a) a field enable switch; (b) a field regulating switch responsive to said field enable switch and operative to switch on/off said field coil; and (c) a monitor/control/protection (MCP) circuit coupled with an output of said generator and said field enable and field regulating switches; wherein said MCP circuit is configured to ascertain one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator by monitoring the output of said generator and a switching interval of said field regulating switch, and wherein the MCP circuit is configured to activate/deactivate said field enable switch in response to said one or more operating states. 27. The voltage regulator of claim 26, further comprising means for communicating said one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator. 28. The voltage regulator of claim 26, wherein said one or more operating states of said generator comprises at least one of a properly operating state and an improperly operating state, wherein a properly operating state of said generator corresponding to said generator output voltage residing within a pre-determined output voltage range, and an improperly operating state of said generator corresponding to said generator output voltage residing outside of said pre-determined output voltage range. 29. The voltage regulator of claim 26, wherein said one or more operating states of said voltage regulator comprises at least one of a properly operating state and an improperly operating state, wherein a properly operating state of said voltage regulator corresponding to said field regulating switch switching on/off said field coil at least once within a pre-determined time interval, and an improperly operating state of said voltage regulator corresponding to said field regulating switch failing to switch on/off said field coil at least once within said pre-determined time interval. 30. The voltage regulator of claim 26, wherein said MCP circuit is configured to activate said field enable switch when said one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator correspond to a properly operating state of said generator and a properly operating state of said voltage regulator, and to deactivate said field enable switch when said one or more operating states of said generator and voltage regulator correspond to an improperly operating state of said generator or an improperly operating state of said voltage regulator. 31. The voltage regulator of claim 30, wherein said MCP circuit is further configured to re-activate said field enable switch when a voltage of a battery coupled with the generator falls below a pre-determined value. 32. The voltage regulator of claim 26, wherein said field enable switch or field regulating switch is configured to shut off when said field coil comprises a turn-to-turn short. 33. The voltage regulator of claim 26, wherein said field enable switch or field regulating switch is configured to shut off when said field coil comprises at least a partially grounded state. 34. The voltage regulator of claim 26, wherein said generator further comprises a rotary shaft coupled with an engine of said vehicle. 35. The voltage regulator of claim 34, further comprising a first terminal carrying a first signal proportional to a rotational speed of said shaft. 36. The voltage regulator of claim 35, wherein said MCP circuit is configured to monitor said first signal and to deactivate said field enable switch when said first signal is absent. 37. The voltage regulator of claim 34, further comprising a second terminal carrying a second signal proportional to an on/off state of said engine. 38. The voltage regulator of claim 37, wherein said MCP circuit is configured to monitor said second signal and to deactivate said field enable switch when said second signal is absent.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (16)
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