Internal Packaged Alternator with Microprocessor Controlled Multi-Input Regulator

• US 20090322288A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHINIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
• Original Assignee: Remy Technologies LLC (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merrill, Thomas A., Zhou, Mingshe, Harmon, Jack D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/153
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/24 using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle alternator comprises a housing with a voltage regulator positioned within the housing. The alternator further comprises a rotor having a field coil positioned within the housing and a stator positioned within the housing. The stator includes stator windings configured to provide an output voltage in response to rotation of the rotor. The voltage regulator is configured to receive a battery temperature signal from outside of the alternator and control the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on the received battery temperature signal. In at least one embodiment, the battery temperature signal is provided from a temperature sensor positioned adjacent to the vehicle battery. The voltage regulator of the alternator includes a processor configured to control the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on the particular type of vehicle battery used in association with the alternator.

Claims

1. A vehicle alternator comprising:

a housing;

a rotor having a field coil positioned within the housing;

a stator positioned within the housing, the stator configured to provide an output voltage in response to rotation of the rotor; and

a voltage regulator positioned within the housing, the voltage regulator configured to receive a battery temperature signal from outside of the alternator, the voltage regulator further configured to control the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on the received battery temperature signal.

2. The vehicle alternator of claim 1, the voltage regulator further configured to receive at least one additional signal selected from the group consisting of a battery voltage signal, a battery current signal, and a regulator duty cycle signal.

3. The vehicle alternator of claim 1 wherein the voltage regulator includes a processor configured to deliver a control signal within the regulator, the control signal configured to control the current provided to the field coil.

4. The vehicle alternator of claim 3 wherein the alternator further comprises a memory device associated with the processor, the memory device including a plurality of different programs, each of the plurality of different programs configured to adjust the control signal based at least in part on the battery temperature signal.

5. The vehicle alternator of claim 4 wherein the alternator is configured to select one of the plurality of different programs based on a type of battery used in association with the vehicle alternator.

6. The vehicle alternator of claim 3 wherein the processor is configured to control the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on a type of battery used in association with the vehicle alternator.

7. The vehicle alternator of claim 1 wherein the voltage regulator is configured to receive the battery control signal from a current sensor positioned adjacent to a vehicle battery.

8. A method of controlling vehicle alternator comprising:

delivering a battery temperature signal from outside the vehicle alternator to a regulator positioned within a housing of the vehicle alternator;

providing a current to a field coil; and

adjusting the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on the battery temperature signal received by the regulator.

9. The vehicle alternator of claim 8 wherein the battery temperature signal is received from a remote temperature sensor positioned adjacent to a vehicle battery.

10. The vehicle alternator of claim 8 wherein the battery temperature signal is received from an engine control module which receives a signal from a remote temperature sensor positioned adjacent to a vehicle battery.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of delivering at least one additional signal to the regulator, the at least one additional signal comprising a battery voltage signal, a battery current signal, or a regulator duty cycle signal, and wherein the current provided to the field coil is based at least in part on the additional signal received by the regulator.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing the current to the field coil comprises delivering a control signal from a processor within the regulator, the control signal configured to control the current provided to the field coil.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of using the processor to execute a program that controls the control signal based at least in part on the battery temperature signal, wherein the program executed by the processor is dependent upon a type of battery used in association with the vehicle alternator.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the current provided to the field coil is dependent at least in part on a type of battery used in association with the vehicle alternator.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the regulator includes a processor, the method further comprising the step of executing a program configured to adjust the current provided to the field coil.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of selecting the program from one of a plurality of different programs based on a type of battery used in association with the vehicle alternator.

17. An electrical arrangement for a vehicle, the electrical arrangement comprising:

a vehicle battery;

a temperature sensor provided adjacent the vehicle battery, the temperature sensor configured to provide a battery temperature signal; and

an alternator configured to receive the battery temperature signal from the temperature sensor, the alternator comprising,

an alternator housing,

a rotor having a field coil positioned within the alternator housing,

a stator positioned within the alternator housing, the stator configured to provide an output voltage in response to rotation of the rotor; and

a voltage regulator positioned within the housing, the voltage regulator configured to receive the battery temperature signal, the voltage regulator further configured to control the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on the received battery temperature signal.

18. The electrical arrangement of claim 17 wherein the voltage regulator includes a processor configured to deliver a control signal within the regulator, the control signal configured to control the current provided to the field coil.

19. The electrical arrangement of claim 18 wherein the processor is configured to control the current provided to the field coil based at least in part on a type of battery used in association with the vehicle alternator.