Multipower voltage regulator

• US 20080129255A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prestolite Electric Incorporated (Prestolite Electric LLC)
• Original Assignee: Prestolite Electric Incorporated (Prestolite Electric LLC)
• Inventors: Holguin, German
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/28
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/143 with multiple generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/45 for motor vehicles, e.g. car alternators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/105 for increasing the stability
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present technology provide voltage regulator-alternator configurations that can distribute loads among a plurality of alternators, and fail-safe mechanisms used in connection with such voltage regulator-alternator configurations. For example, certain embodiments of the present technology provide electrical systems that include voltage regulators with connections over which control signals, which indicate whether a detected voltage is higher or lower than a target voltage, can be transmitted to other voltage regulators and received from other voltage regulators. For example, certain embodiments of the present technology provide voltage regulators that include connections over which control signals can be transmitted to other voltage regulators and received from other voltage regulators. For example, certain embodiments of the present technology provide methods of modifying a basic voltage regulator such that the modified voltage regulator can transmit a control signal to another voltage regulator and receive a control signal from another voltage regulator.

Claims

1. An electrical system comprising:

a plurality of alternator-voltage regulator pairs connected in parallel for providing electric power,

wherein a first voltage regulator is configured to transmit a control signal to a second voltage regulator and receive a control signal from the second voltage regulator, and

wherein control signals indicate whether the voltage output of the plurality of alternator-voltage regulator pairs is above or below a target voltage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each voltage regulator is configured to increase voltage output of its corresponding alternator when any control signal indicates that the voltage output of the plurality of alternator-voltage regulator pairs is lower than a target voltage.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each voltage regulator is configured to decrease voltage output of its corresponding alternator when all control signals indicate that the voltage output of the plurality of alternator-voltage regulator pairs is higher than a target voltage.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connection over which control signals can be communicated between the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the connection is a bi-directional bus.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the plurality of alternator-voltage regulator pairs provide electric power to the battery.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electric load consumer, wherein the plurality of alternator-voltage regulator pairs provide electric power to the electric load consumer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical system is the electrical system of a vehicle.

9. A voltage regulator comprising:

a connection over which a control signal can be transmitted from the voltage regulator to a second voltage regulator, and over which a control signal can be received from the second voltage regulator,

wherein control signals indicate whether a detected voltage is higher than a target voltage or lower than the target voltage.

10. The voltage regulator of claim 9, wherein the connection is a bi-directional bus.

11. The voltage regulator of claim 9, further comprising:

a voltage detector and error amplifier configured to (i) detect a voltage, (ii) compare the detected voltage to the target voltage, and (iii) transmit a control signal that indicates whether the detected voltage is higher than the target voltage or lower than the target voltage; and

an electronic switch configured to (i) receive a control signal, (ii) excite the field of a corresponding alternator when the control signal indicates that the detected voltage is lower than the target voltage, and (iii) de-excite the field of the corresponding alternator when the control signal indicates that the detected voltage is higher than the target voltage.

12. The voltage regulator of claim 11, wherein the electronic switch is a high-side switch.

13. The voltage regulator of claim 11, wherein the electronic switch is a low-side switch.

14. The voltage regulator of claim 11, wherein the voltage regulator is a frequency on demand voltage regulator.

15. The voltage regulator of claim 11, wherein the voltage regulator is a pulse width modulation voltage regulator.

16. The voltage regulator of claim 11, further including a fail-safe mechanism configured to detect a high voltage condition and disable the electronic switch for a certain period of time when the high voltage condition is detected, the fail-safe mechanism comprising:

an over voltage detector configured to detect a voltage and transmit a first signal if the detected voltage is above a certain point;

a timer configured to receive the first signal from the over voltage detector and transmit a second signal for a certain period of time when the first signal is received; and

a cut-off drive configured to receive the second signal from the timer and disable the electronic switch while the second signal is received.

17. The voltage regulator of claim 11, further including a fail-safe mechanism configured to detect a high current condition, and disable the electronic switch for a certain period of time when the high current condition is detected, the fail-safe mechanism comprising:

an over current detector configured to detect a current across the electronic switch, and transmit a first signal if the current is above a certain point; and

a timer configured to receive the first signal from the over current detector and transmit a second signal for a certain period of time when the first signal is received; and

a cut-off drive configured to receive the second signal from the timer and disable the electronic switch while the second signal is received.

18. A method of modifying a voltage regulator comprising:

providing a basic voltage regulator with an electronic switch; and

modifying the provided voltage regulator such that the voltage regulator can transmit a control signal to a second voltage regulator and receive a control signal from the second voltage regulator, wherein control signals indicate whether a detected voltage is higher than a target voltage or lower than the target voltage.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising connecting the modified voltage regulator to a second voltage regulator that is similarly configured.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising incorporating a fail-safe mechanism.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the fail-safe mechanism comprises:

detecting a high voltage condition; and

disabling the electronic switch for a certain period of time when the high voltage condition is detected.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the fail-safe mechanism comprises:

detecting a high current condition; and

disabling the electronic switch for a certain period of time when the high current condition is detected.