Method of diagnosing component failure in a DC voltage regulator
First Claim
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1. A method of diagnosing component failure in a DC voltage regulator means having terminals connected to sense the voltage level output from and control the field current supplied to an associated mechanically driven DC voltage generator means including the steps of:
- defining a fundamental frequency as the frequency of rotation of the mechanically driven rotor field winding of the generator means multiplied by the number of poles on the rotor;
providing means for sensing predetermined harmonics of said fundamental frequency;
selectively connecting said sensing means to terminals of said regulator means; and
comparing the presence or absence of harmonic frequencies sensed at each terminal with a predetermined fault table to determine the specific faulty component in said DC voltage regulator.
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Abstract
The determination of specific faulty components in an automotive type DC voltage regulator is accomplished by detecting the presence or absence of harmonic frequencies, of the base operating frequency of an associated DC voltage generator, on terminals of the regulator in its operating environment.
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12 Claims
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1. A method of diagnosing component failure in a DC voltage regulator means having terminals connected to sense the voltage level output from and control the field current supplied to an associated mechanically driven DC voltage generator means including the steps of:
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defining a fundamental frequency as the frequency of rotation of the mechanically driven rotor field winding of the generator means multiplied by the number of poles on the rotor; providing means for sensing predetermined harmonics of said fundamental frequency; selectively connecting said sensing means to terminals of said regulator means; and comparing the presence or absence of harmonic frequencies sensed at each terminal with a predetermined fault table to determine the specific faulty component in said DC voltage regulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification