Temperature feedback control of alternator output power

• US 6,222,349 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Inventors: LeRow, Kevin E., Eisenhaure, David, Tolikas, Mary, Donegan, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/309,451
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 322/28, 322/33, 322/34
• US Class Current: 322/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/2434 with pulse modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A charging system including an alternator, and a controller for controlling the output of the alternator to provide a required output to be in tolerance with a measured load, the controller having at least one temperature sensor, and a temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device calculates the slope of temperature variance over time and, in a state of overtemperature, decreases the value provided to the controller representing the required output.

Claims

1. A charging system comprising an alternator, and a controller for regulating an output voltage of the alternator, the controller comprising at least one temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the alternator and a temperature control device, wherein

said temperature control device calculates a slope of temperature variance over time, and said controller regulates the alternator output voltage based on the calculated slope of temperature variance.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said controller regulates the alternator output voltage in accordance with a voltage set point value, and wherein said temperature control device decreases the voltage set point value when the calculated slope of temperature variance indicates a state of over-temperature.

3. The charging system of claim 2, wherein the temperature control device further comprises a reset device for resetting the voltage set point value when the calculated slope of temperature variance is decreasing.

4. A method for controlling the output of a charging system comprising an alternator comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring voltage from a single phase of the alternator for determining an alternator output;

(b) determining a required output of the alternator;

(c) adjusting the output of the alternator to be in tolerance with the required output;

(d) measuring a temperature of the alternator;

(e) calculating a slope of temperature variance over time; and

(f) adjusting the required output of the alternator output based on the calculated slope of temperature variance.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of adjusting the output of the alternator further comprises the steps of:

(g) determining if the slope calculated in step (e) is decreasing; and

(h) reducing the required output of the alternator when the slope calculated in step (e) is other than decreasing.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(i) reversing any previous reduction of the required output of the alternator from step (h) when the slope calculated in step (e) is decreasing.