Control system of generator for a vehicle

• US 20060145669A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Itou, Yoshihito, Kouwa, Tatsuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,173,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/28
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/243 with on/off action
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/305 controlling voltage H02P9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for controlling a vehicular generator, includes: a voltage controlling device 1 for adjusting a generator output voltage a generator 10 connected to an in-vehicle battery 4 to a predetermined voltage, the voltage controlling device 1 including external voltage sensing terminal S for detecting an external voltage of the generator 10, and the generator output voltage being adjusted through on/off control of a field current of the generator 10 in accordance with the external voltage, in which an external control unit 5 is inserted between the external voltage sensing terminal S and the battery 4 to cause a voltage drop. Consequently, it is possible to dispense with an exclusive input terminal for external signal, thereby enabling simple system configuration cost reduction.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a vehicular generator, comprising:

a voltage controlling device for adjusting a generator output voltage of a generator connected to an in-vehicle battery to a predetermined voltage,

the voltage controlling device including an external voltage sensing terminal for detecting an external voltage of the generator, and the generator output voltage being adjusted through on/off control of a field current of the generator in accordance with the external voltage,

characterized in that an external control unit is inserted between the external voltage sensing terminal and the battery to generate a voltage drop.

2. The system for controlling a vehicular generator according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the external control unit includes an operation state detecting section for detecting a vehicle operation state; and

the voltage drop is variably set in accordance with the operation state.

3. The system for controlling a vehicular generator according to claim 2, characterized in that the external control unit includes:

an input terminal connected to the battery;

an output terminal connected to the external voltage sensing terminal;

a duty signal generating section for generating a duty signal;

a duty-voltage conversion circuit for converting the duty signal to a predetermined voltage; and

a current mirror circuit for absorbing a constant-current based on the predetermined voltage from a line between the input terminal and the output terminal.

4. The system for controlling a vehicular generator according to claim 3, characterized in that the duty signal generating section variably sets the duty signal in accordance with the operation state.

5. The system for controlling a vehicular generator according to claim 3, characterized in that:

the constant-current is set to a value proportionate to the duty signal; and

the voltage drop corresponds to the constant-current.

6. The system for controlling a vehicular generator according to claim 4, characterized in that:

the constant-current is set to a value proportionate to the duty signal; and

the voltage drop corresponds to the constant-current.