| Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generator -> Monitor Keywords |
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 Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generatorThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060043939. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention generally relates to multi-mode control of a vehicle electrical generator, and more particularly relates to generator systems and methods for operating in multiple modes in response to one or more control inputs. BACKGROUND [0002] Conventional automobiles and other vehicles include numerous electrical components such motors, lights, gauges and such accessories as power windows, power locks, audio systems and the like. Typically, such components derive electrical power from a vehicle electrical system that includes a battery and an alternator. The battery typically provides electrical power while the engine is off and/or is being started; the alternator generally converts mechanical energy from the vehicle's engine to electrical energy that can be used to drive various electrical components while the vehicle is running. The alternator also recharges the battery during engine operation as appropriate. [0003] The electrical system typically also includes a "regulator" that controls the voltage generated by the alternator. Generally, an engine control module (ECM) or other vehicle control device provides a signal to the regulator that indicates a desired output voltage. Regulator circuitry is commonly "built in" to many modern alternators such that the alternator and regulator components are provided within a common housing. [0004] As the electrical demands upon the electrical system continue to increase, however, it is desirable to provide a generator assembly that is increasingly flexible and capable. In particular, it is desirable to produce a vehicle generator assembly that is capable of quickly responding to stalls or other engine operating conditions. Further, it is desirable to control the torque load placed on the engine by the generator assembly to further improve engine performance and fuel economy. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background. BRIEF SUMMARY [0005] Systems, methods and devices are described for controlling a vehicle electrical generator. According to various exemplary embodiments, a regulator for controlling a generator in response to an input signal received from a control module suitably includes a discriminator module, a processing module and a switching circuit. The discriminator determines whether the regulator is operating in voltage or torque control mode. If the input signal indicates a voltage control operating mode, the output generator produces a modulation signal to achieve a desired voltage between the battery terminals (e.g. B+ and B-). If the input signal is a torque control, the output generator produces one or more modulation signals (e.g. pulse width modulation signals) to control the torque of the generator. The modulation signals are applied across a field coil or other controllable element of the generator by a switching circuit that applies positive and/or negative voltage from the battery terminals as appropriate. In various further embodiments, a "fast torque control" may be implemented by, for example, configuring the chopper circuit to modulate the controllable element using voltages of opposing polarities. By directly controlling the torque of the generator, benefits realized in various exemplary embodiments may include improved engine performance, improved recovery from engine stalls, reduced fuel consumption, improved idle quality, improved vehicle emissions and/or other benefits. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: [0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary vehicle; [0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary vehicle electrical generator with a multi-mode regulator; [0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of an exemplary vehicle electrical generator with a multi-mode regulator; and [0010] FIG. 4 is a plot of exemplary results obtainable with one embodiment of a fast torque reduction technique. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. [0012] According to various exemplary embodiments, a generator assembly that includes a regulator and an alternator is operable in either a voltage control or a torque control mode. When the generator is in the torque control mode, the torque load placed on the engine due to the electrical load of the generator is suitably controlled in response to a control signal provided by an engine control module or other controller. Moreover, the regulator may include switching circuitry that allows either positive or negative voltage to be switchably applied across a controllable element of the alternator, thereby allowing for rapid reduction of torque as appropriate. In various further embodiments, the regulator includes one or more discriminator modules that sense the desired operating mode of the generator in response to a frequency of the signal input from the controller, the operating speed of the alternator, and/or any other appropriate factors. The torque control mode may be used to rapidly decrease torque loads on the engine in the event of a stall, for example, and/or may be used to improve engine performance, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy and/or the like. [0013] With initial reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary vehicle 100 suitably includes an engine 102 and an electrical system that includes a battery 106 and a generator assembly 104. Generator assembly 104 is mechanically coupled to engine 102 via a belt 112, chain or other coupling that facilitates transmission of rotational energy from the engine to the electrical system for generating electrical energy. Generator assembly 104 also receives a control signal (L) 118 from an engine control module (ECM) or other controller, and as described more fully below. Generator assembly 104 may also provide an optional feedback signal (F) 116 to ECM 114 as appropriate. Signals 116 and 118 may be transmitted and received in any manner across any number of serial and/or parallel data channels using any digital, analog, optical or other communications protocol as appropriate. [0014] The term "generator assembly" as used herein is intended to broadly encompass any device or component that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy usable by battery 106 and/or any other electrical components within vehicle 100. Accordingly, generator assembly 104 may include any type of generator, alternator and/or other circuitry as appropriate. In an exemplary embodiment, generator assembly 104 suitably includes an alternator as well as a regulator circuit and a converter such as a rectifier circuit capable of converting alternating current (AC) produced by the alternator to an appropriate direct current (DC) typically used by battery 106 and other vehicle components. Other embodiments may include a DC generator in place of or in addition to an alternator, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for separate AC-to-DC conversion. Various exemplary generator assemblies 104 are described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 below. [0015] Generator assembly 104 and battery 106 each include at least two electrical terminals as appropriate. These terminals are typically interconnected to allow generator assembly 104 to recharge battery 106 during operation of engine 102. FIG. 1 shows the positive terminals (B+) interconnected by signal line 110 and negative terminals (B-) 108, 109 each connected to the engine 102 or another object representing an electrical ground. In alternate embodiments, the negative terminals of generator assembly 104 and battery 106 may be interconnected. Indeed, the various components and terminals shown in FIG. 1 may be electrically or mechanically arranged in any manner, as will vary from embodiment to embodiment. [0016] In operation, then, generator assembly 104 suitably produces an electrical output that can typically be represented as a DC signal between two nodes 108 and 110. Because this electrical energy is produced from mechanical energy received from engine 102 via belt 112, generator assembly 104 suitably places a torque load upon engine 102 that is dependent upon the electrical load placed upon the generator. More particularly, the torque load produced by the generator assembly is a function of the DC output voltage, the rotational speed and the current output of the generator. Similarly, the generator output current is typically dependent upon the battery voltage applied across the generator as well as the speed of the generator and the amount of excitation field current present in the generator. [0017] Because the torque load of the generator is at least partially dependent upon the field current of the generator, variations in the field current can be used to control the torque load of generator assembly 104. In practice, however, changing the field current with a conventional voltage control signal provided by a typical controller can be inordinately slow due to the large leakage time constants of many conventional alternators. Various embodiments therefore place the generator assembly into a "torque control mode" that is capable of processing torque/current control signals in a manner apart from the conventional voltage control signals typically provided from ECM 114 to generator assembly 104. [0018] With reference now to FIG. 2, an exemplary generator assembly 200 suitably includes a regulator module 201, an alternator 203 and a rectifier circuit 205. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, generator assembly processes an input signal 202 received from a controller (e.g. ECM 114 in FIG. 1) to produce one or more modulation signals 252, 254 which can be used to appropriately apply the battery voltages 246, 248 across a controllable element 226 of alternator 203. Generator assembly 200 generally corresponds to generator assembly 104 shown in FIG. 1. [0019] Regulator module 201 (also referred to as simply "regulator" 201) is any circuit, processing module, logic or the like capable of regulating one or more parameters or components of alternator 203. As shown in FIG. 2, regulator module suitably includes one or more discriminator modules 206/208, a processing module 212 and additional switching circuitry (e.g. transistors 216, 222 and diodes 224, 218) as appropriate. In various embodiments, regulator module 201 is implemented with a combination of discrete components and a digital processor, although other embodiments may be implemented with any discrete and/or integrated components, with a microcontroller or with any other hardware and/or software components used alone or in combination. Discriminator modules 206 and 208, for example, may be physically combined with processing module 212 in a common chip or circuit in various alternate embodiments, and need not be implemented as separate hardware components. Continue reading... Full patent description for Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generator patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generator or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Automotive electrical system configuration using a two bus structure Next Patent Application: Power generating system including a high-frequency alternator, a rectifier module, and an auxiliary power supply Industry Class: Electricity: single generator systems ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generator patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13576 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
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