Power generation controller for AC generator

• US 20040174018A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Itoh, Yasumitsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,023,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/40C
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2027 Control of the current by pulse width modulation or duty cycle control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2058 using information of the actual current value
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A power generation controller for an AC generator detects the state of a battery and an electric load to control the output of the AC generator. A current detector detects a current to be used by an electric load on the vehicle. The controller includes a field current control section, a field current monitor section, and an output control section. The field current control section controls a field current of the AC generator. The field current monitor section monitors a field current duty value which is a controlled state of the field current of the AC generator. The output control section corrects the output of the AC generator according to the field current duty value, monitored by the field current monitor section, and/or the load current value, detected by the current detector.

Claims

1. A power generation controller for an AC generator,

wherein the AC generator is driven by an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle and charges a battery,

said power generation controller controls the output of the AC generator according to an external input duty signal value and a battery voltage which change in accordance with a running state of the vehicle and/or a driving state of said engine, wherein

a current detector detects a current to be used by an electric load on the vehicle,

a control unit comprises a field current control section, a field current monitor section, and an output control section,

said field current control section controlling a field current of said AC generator,

said field current monitor section monitoring a field current duty value which is a controlled state of the field current of said AC generator, and

said output control section correcting the output of said AC generator according to the field current duty value monitored by said field current monitor section, and/or the load current value, detected by said current detector.

2. The power generation controller for the AC generator as defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit prevents said AC generator from generating power by said output control section when a change-gear in a transmission in connection with said engine is shifted from first to second speed at start-up and acceleration of the vehicle, and when the electric load current detected by said current detector is less than a predetermined value.

3. The power generation controller for the AC generator as defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit, simultaneously with fuel cut of said engine of a hybrid vehicle, enables said AC generator to start regenerative generation by said output control section during deceleration of the vehicle.

4. The power generation controller for the AC generator as defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit sets said external input duty signal value provided to said AC generator at a predetermined value when said current detector detects the electric load in the vehicle.