Charging generator control apparatus

• US 4,471,287 A
• Filed: 03/22/1983
• Issued: 09/11/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Morishita, Mitsuharu, Kouge, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/477,802
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 322/28, 322/99, 320/64, 320/68, 320/48
• US Class Current: 322/99
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/16 Regulation of the charging current or voltage by variation of field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

A control apparatus for a charging generator capable of detecting a non-generating state, an uncontrolled state, and a state in which there is a break in connection at the primary output terminal of the generator. A bridge rectifier coupled to the outputs of the armature winding of the charging generator provides the output voltage on first and second output terminals. A voltage regulator controls the amount of current flow in the field coil of the generator in response to the voltage produced on the first output terminal. A diagnostic circuit detects conditions of the non-generating state, the uncontrolled state, and a break in connection at the first output terminal, while a start-up detecting circuit detects the start-up condition of the generator. A charge indicator lamp and a switching circuit are connected in series between the first and second output terminals, with the switching circuit being operated by the diagnostic circuit to turn on when any of the failure conditions have been detected and to the start-up detecting circuit for preventing the lamp from being turned on during the start-up condition of the generator.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a charging generator comprising:

a bridge rectifying circuit coupled to outputs of an armature winding of a charging generator for rectifying an alternating voltage generated in said armature winding, said rectifying circuit having first, second and third rectified voltage output terminals, said first output terminal being coupled to a battery to be charged, said second output terminal being coupled to a field coil of said generator, and said third output terminal being coupled to a local ground;

voltage regulating means for controlling an amount of current flow in said field coil in response to a voltage across said first and third output terminals;

diagnostic circuit means for detecting conditions of a non-generating state of said generator (b) an uncontrolled state of said generator, and (c) a break in connection between said bridge rectifying circuit and said first output terminal, said diagnostic circuit being coupled to said local ground;

start-up detecting means for detecting a start-up condition of said generator; and

a charge indicator lamp and switching circuit means coupled in series between said first and second output terminals, said switching circuit means being coupled to outputs of said diagnostic circuit means and said start-up detecting means for turning on said lamp when said diagnostic circuit means detects any of said conditions (a) to (c) and for preventing said lamp from turning on when said start-up detecting means detects said start-up condition.

2. The control apparatus for a charging generator of claim 1, wherein said voltage regulating means comprises means for maintaining an output voltage at said second output terminal at a first predetermined value.

3. The control apparatus for a charging generator of claim 2, wherein said diagnostic circuit means comprises means for supplying second and third predetermined values, said second predetermined value being smaller than said first predetermined value, said third predetermined value corresponding to an output voltage of said generator above which said generator is assumed to be operating in said non-controlled state, and said second predetermined value corresponding to a peak level of said output voltage on said second output terminal below which it is assumed a break in connection has occurred between said bridge rectifying circuit and said first output terminal, said third predetermined value being larger than said first predetermined value.

4. The control apparatus for a charging generator of claim 1, further comprising a key switch coupled in series with said indicator lamp and said switching means between said first and second output terminals.

5. The control apparatus for a charging generator of claim 4, wherein said switching circuit comprises a bipolar transistor;

first and second diodes coupled in series with a collector and an emitter of said transistor and in a series connection with said indicator lamp;

a voltage divider circuit having a voltage-division junction point coupled to a base of said transistor, one end coupled to said first output terminal and the other end coupled to said output of said start-up detecting means; and

a resistor for supplying an initial start-up current to said field coil.

6. The control apparatus for a charging generator of claim 5, wherein said output from said diagnostic circuit means is coupled to a junction point between said indicator lamp and said switching circuit.

7. A control apparatus for a charging generator comprising:

a bridge rectifying circuit coupled to outputs of an armature winding of a charging generator for rectifying an alternating voltage generated in said armature winding, said rectifying circuit having first, second and third rectified voltage output terminals, said first output terminal being coupled to a battery to be charged, said second output terminal being coupled to a field coil of said generator, and said third output terminal being coupled to a local ground;

voltage regulating means for controlling an amount of current flow in said field coil in response to a voltage across said first and third output terminals, wherein said voltage regulating means comprises means for maintaining an output voltage at said second output terminal at a first predetermined value;

diagnostic circuit means for detecting conditions of (a) a non-generating state of said generator, (b) an uncontrolled state of said generator, and (c) a break in connection between said bridge rectifying circuit and said first output terminal, said diagnostic circuit being coupled to said local ground, wherein said diagnostic circuit means comprises means for supplying second and third predetermined values, said second predetermined value being smaller than said first predetermined value, said third predetermined value corresponding to an output voltage of said generator above which said generator is assumed to be operating in said non-controlled state, and said second predetermined value corresponding to a peak level of said output voltage on said second output terminal below which it is assumed a break in connection has occurred between said bridge rectifying circuit and said first output terminal, said third predetermined value being larger than said first predetermined value;

start-up detecting means for detecting a start-up condition of said generator, wherein said start-up detecting means comprises means for supplying a fourth predetermined value which is smaller than said second predetermined value, and means for comparing said output voltage from said generator on said second output terminal with said fourth predetermined value; and

a charge indicator lamp and switching circuit means coupled in series between said first and second output terminals, said switching circuit means being coupled to outputs of said diagnostic circuit means and said start-up detecting means for turning on said lamp when said diagnostic circuit means detects any of said conditions (a) to (c) and for preventing said lamp from turning on when said start-up detecting means detects said start-up condition.