Method and Device for Providing a Supply Voltage by Means of Generator Units Connected in Parallel

• US 20100007207A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seg Automotive Germany GMBH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Peuser, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/66 one of the loads acting as master and the other or others acting as slaves

Abstract

A method and a device are provided for providing a supply voltage for the consumers of a vehicle electrical system, using generator units connected in parallel. The measurement voltage inputs and the monitor outputs of the controllers of the generator units are used in the initialization phase for the assignment of master or slave function, as well as for address assignment if warranted, and during later parallel operation are used to bring the degree of utilization of the generators of the generator units connected in parallel into agreement.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for providing a supply voltage in a vehicle, comprising:

providing a plurality of generator units connected in parallel, wherein each generator unit has a controller and a generator, and wherein each controller has a measurement voltage input and a monitor output, and wherein the supply voltage is provided at a combined common output of the generator units connected in parallel;

using, in an initialization phase, the measurement voltage inputs and the monitor outputs of the controllers for at least one of assignment of a master function, assignment of a slave function, and address assignment for parallel operation;

supplying, in a subsequent parallel operation, a measurement voltage to the measurement voltage input of the controller of a generator unit performing the master function;

generating, using the controller of the generator unit performing the master function, a generator control signal for the generator of the generator unit performing the master function, wherein the generator control signal is generated as a function of the measurement voltage;

outputting, at the monitor output of the controller of the generator unit performing the master function, a monitor signal describing the utilization of the generator of the generator unit performing the master function; and

supplying the monitor signal outputted at the monitor output of the controller of the generator unit performing the master function to the measurement voltage inputs of the controllers of the generator units performing the slave function, in order to bring the degree of utilization of the generators into agreement.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein in the initialization phase, a direct voltage value is applied to the measurement voltage input of a selected one of the controllers, and wherein the selected controller is assigned the master function on the basis of the direct voltage value.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the direct voltage value is a vehicle electrical system voltage.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the direct voltage value is provided by a control device.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein in the initialization phase, the measurement voltage inputs of the remaining controllers are set to a reference potential, and wherein the remaining controllers are assigned the slave function on the basis of the reference potential.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:

in the initialization phase, the controller of the generator unit performing the master function assigns itself an address and provides at its monitor output an identifier signal that contains information about the address of the generator unit performing the master function;

the identifier signal is supplied to the measurement voltage input of the controller of a downstream generator unit;

the controller of the downstream generator unit assigns itself an address on the basis of the identifier signal; and

the controller of the downstream generator unit provides at its monitor output another identifier signal that contains information about the address of the downstream generator unit.

17. A system for providing a supply voltage in a vehicle, comprising:

a first generator unit; and

at least one additional generator unit connected parallel to the first generator unit;

wherein each generator unit has a controller and a generator, each controller having a measurement voltage input and a monitor output, and wherein the measurement voltage input of the controller of the at least one additional generator unit is connected to the monitor output of the controller of a preceding generator unit.

18. The device as recited in claim 17, wherein the measurement voltage input of the controller of the first generator unit is connected to a direct voltage terminal providing a direct voltage.

19. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the direct voltage terminal is a direct voltage terminal of a control device.

20. The device as recited in claim 19, wherein the direct voltage is a battery voltage.