Dual or single voltage vehicular power supply with improved switch driver and load pump
First Claim
1. In an electrical system for a vehicle, said system being of the type including a DC generator, a storage battery, a first load circuit including said storage battery and one or more load devices designed to be powered by electricity at a voltage in a first voltage range corresponding to the rated voltage of the battery, and a second load circuit including one or more load devices designed to be powered by electricity at a voltage in a second voltage range substantially higher than the rated voltage of said battery, a first regulator comprising a first switch having a control element and having an input coupled with an output of said DC generator and having an output coupled with said first load circuit, the improvement comprising:
- means for providing a mode signal,means responsive to said mode signal for controlling said first regulator to operate either in a first mode or in a second mode,when operating in said first mode said first regulator being adapted to convert DC power from said DC generator at a voltage in said second voltage range to DC power at a voltage in said first voltage range and to supply said converted power to said first load circuit,and when operating in said second mode said first regulator being adapted to maintain a constant direct connection between said alternator and said first load circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual voltage power supply is disclosed for vehicles equipped with a DC generator, a single storage battery, a low voltage load circuit including the storage battery, and a high voltage load circuit including load devices designed to be powered by voltages higher than the battery voltage. At times when higher voltage power is required a low voltage regulator that includes a high current semiconductor switch converts power at the generator output voltage to power at a lower voltage for charging the battery and supplying the low voltage load circuit. There is a single voltage mode of operation when higher voltage power is not required in which the alternator is regulated to supply power at the voltage required by the low voltage load circuit and the high current semiconductor switch is held in its closed state to directly connect the generator output with the low voltage load circuit. The low voltage regulator is a switching DC to DC voltage converter with an N channel mosfet power transistor switch controlled by an improved driver circuit. The driver circuit has a floating totem pole output and a capacitively coupled input and is assisted by a pull down circuit and current from a low current supply. An input accepts a signal controlling whether the system operates in dual or single voltage mode. One or more transient absorbing semiconductors and a circuit for rapidly decreasing rotor current limit the duration of alternator overvoltage.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In an electrical system for a vehicle, said system being of the type including a DC generator, a storage battery, a first load circuit including said storage battery and one or more load devices designed to be powered by electricity at a voltage in a first voltage range corresponding to the rated voltage of the battery, and a second load circuit including one or more load devices designed to be powered by electricity at a voltage in a second voltage range substantially higher than the rated voltage of said battery, a first regulator comprising a first switch having a control element and having an input coupled with an output of said DC generator and having an output coupled with said first load circuit, the improvement comprising:
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means for providing a mode signal, means responsive to said mode signal for controlling said first regulator to operate either in a first mode or in a second mode, when operating in said first mode said first regulator being adapted to convert DC power from said DC generator at a voltage in said second voltage range to DC power at a voltage in said first voltage range and to supply said converted power to said first load circuit, and when operating in said second mode said first regulator being adapted to maintain a constant direct connection between said alternator and said first load circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A circuit for driving, in accordance with a control signal, the control electrode of a power transistor having a control electrode and first and second power electrodes,
said circuit comprising an inverter, said inverter having an input terminal, an output terminal, and first and second power supply terminals, said circuit also comprising a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a diode, said output terminal of said inverter being connected with said control electrode, said second power supply terminal of said inverter being connected with said second power electrode, said first capacitor being connected between said first and second power supply terminals of said inverter, said diode having a first terminal adapted for connection to a first source of voltage and having a second terminal connected with said first power supply terminal of said inverter, and said second capacitor having a first terminal adapted for connection to said control signal and a second terminal connected with said input terminal of said inverter.
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12. In an electrical system for a vehicle, said system being of the type including a DC generator,
said DC generator having a magnetic flux generating means energized by DC current, a freewheeling diode connected in series with said flux generating means for conducting said DC current at certain times, the improvement comprising: -
voltage sensing means for sensing when the output voltage of said generator is excessive and generating an overvoltage signal indicating excessive output voltage, means responsive to said overvoltage signal by impeding the flow of current through the series combination of said freewheeling diode and said flux generating means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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18. In an electrical system of a vehicle having a window having a heating element and means for sensing the resistance of said heating element, the improvement comprising,
a SENSEFET transistor having a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, and a sense electrode, said source electrode being connected with a first terminal of said heating element, said sense electrode being connected with a first terminal of a resistor, said resistor having a second terminal and said heating element having a second terminal and said second terminals being connected, voltage sensing means adapted to sense the voltage difference between said source electrode and said sense electrode, and said means for sensing the resistance of said heating element comprises said SENSEFET transistor, said resistor, and said voltage sensing means.
Specification