Vehicle battery charging system
First Claim
1. A vehicle electrical system, comprising:
- an alternator;
a controllable voltage regulator coupled to the alternator for energization;
a battery connected to the controllable voltage regulator for charging;
a battery temperature sensor providing measurement signals of battery temperature;
a current sensor coupled to a terminal of the battery for providing signals relating to current drawn and supplied to the battery; and
data processing means connected to receive the measurement signals of battery temperature and the signals relating to current drawn and supplied to the battery and responsive thereto for generating a control signal for the controllable voltage regulator.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle electrical system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical subsystems for supplying power to different component groups of the vehicle. A voltage regulator is provided each subsystem for setting the voltage on each electrical subsystem independently of the other electrical subsystems. One such subsystem includes a battery having a grounded terminal and an ungrounded terminal. An electrical system controller including data processing capacity provides control of the voltage level on the charging subsystem through a charging regulator having an output connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery and a control input. An electrical power generator is connected to energize the charging regulator. Instrumentation connected to the electrical system controller provides measurements of current discharged from the battery, current delivered to the battery, and battery temperature. A program residing on the electrical system controller for execution, utilizes battery temperature, battery temperature rate of change and measured current discharged as inputs to an algorithm for dynamically setting a control signal value. The generated control signal is applied to the control input of the charging regulator.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A vehicle electrical system, comprising:
-
an alternator;
a controllable voltage regulator coupled to the alternator for energization;
a battery connected to the controllable voltage regulator for charging;
a battery temperature sensor providing measurement signals of battery temperature;
a current sensor coupled to a terminal of the battery for providing signals relating to current drawn and supplied to the battery; and
data processing means connected to receive the measurement signals of battery temperature and the signals relating to current drawn and supplied to the battery and responsive thereto for generating a control signal for the controllable voltage regulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A vehicle electrical system, comprising:
-
a lead acid battery having two terminals;
a current sensor coupled to one terminal of the battery for measuring current sourced from and delivered to the battery;
a temperature sensor proximate to the battery for measuring battery temperature;
a charging regulator responsive to a control signal and having input and output terminals, connected by the output terminal to one terminal of the battery for controlling current delivered to the battery;
an electrical system controller responsive to the measured current sourced from the battery and the measured battery temperature for generating the control signal applied to the charging regulator; and
an energization source connected to the input of the charging regulator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A vehicle electrical system comprising:
-
a battery set having a grounded terminal and an ungrounded terminal;
an electrical system controller including data processing capacity;
a charging regulator having an output connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery and a control input;
an electrical power generator connected to energize the charging regulator;
instrumentation connected to the electrical system controller for providing measurements of current discharged from the battery, current delivered to the battery, and battery temperature;
a program residing on the electrical system controller for execution, the program utilizing battery temperature, battery temperature rate of change and measured current discharged as inputs to an algorithm for dynamically setting a control signal value; and
means for applying the control signal to the control input of the charging regulator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification