Energy supply device for an electromagnetic valve control of an internal combustion engine

• US 6,329,797 B1
• Filed: 07/22/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Gross, Christof, Bluemel, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US09/359,428
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 322/7, 322/28, 322/90, 322/77, 320/140, 320/17, 363/23, 363/22, 363/101
• US Class Current: 322/28
• 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 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/45 for motor vehicles, e.g. car alternators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/305 controlling voltage H02P9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

An energy supply device for an electromagnetic valve control of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle. The supply device has a generator which can be mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine. A rectifier circuit which is assigned to the generator, has a first diode arrangement, as an anode part, and a second diode arrangement, as a cathode part, and to which a supply output is connected, and an electrical energy store. The electrical energy store is connected to the output of the third diode arrangement, and the energy supply device has a controllable DC/DC converter, which is connected on the one hand to the third diode arrangement and on the other hand to the supply output. As an alternative to the third diode arrangement, the DC/DC converter may be coupled in parallel with a voltage regulator and a diode to the first diode arrangement.

Claims

1. An energy supply device for an electromagnetic valve control of an internal combustion engine comprising:

a generator mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine;

a rectifier circuit connected to receive an output of the generator, said rectifier circuit comprising a first diode arrangement arranged as an anode part, and a second diode arrangement arranged as a cathode part, and to which a supply output is connected;

an electrical energy store connected to an output of a third diode arrangement, which forms a second anode part and is also connected parallel to the first diode arrangement, wherein the diodes of the third diode arrangement conduct at lower conducting-state voltages than the diodes of the first diode arrangement, and

a controllable DC/DC converter which is connected to the output of the third diode arrangement and to the supply output.

2. An energy supply device according to claim 1, wherein a voltage regulator is connected to an output of the diodes of the first diode arrangement.

5. An energy supply device according to claim 1, wherein the energy store is formed by a battery and a storage capacitor, which are connected in parallel.

6. An energy supply device according to claim 5, wherein an anode of the battery is protected by means of a damping diode.

7. An energy supply device according to claim 1, wherein the DC/DC converter is bi-directional and is operated to feed energy from the energy store to the supply output in operating phases with inadequate generator power and feeding energy back into the energy store in operating phases with excessive generator power.

8. An energy supply device according to claim 1, wherein a voltage regulator is connected to an output of the diodes of the first diode arrangement.

9. An energy supply device according to claim 1, wherein the energy store is formed by a battery and a storage capacitor, which are connected in parallel.

10. An energy supply device according to claim 2, wherein the energy store is formed by a battery and a storage capacitor, which are connected in parallel.

3. An energy supply device for an electromagnetic valve control of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a generator mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine;

a rectifier circuit connected to an output of the generator, comprising a first diode arrangement, as an anode part, and a second diode arrangement, as a cathode part, and to which a supply output is connected; and

an electrical energy store connected to the output of the first diode arrangement;

a controllable DC/DC converter which is connected in parallel with the energy store and is connected to the output of the first diode arrangement and to the supply output; and

a diode connected parallel to the DC/DC converter.

4. An energy supply device according to claim 3, wherein the diode, together with a voltage regulator connected between said first diode arrangement and said diode, is connected parallel to the DC/DC converter.

11. An energy supply device according to claim 3, wherein the energy store is formed by a battery and a storage capacitor, which are connected in parallel.

12. An energy supply device according to claim 4, wherein the energy store is formed by a battery and a storage capacitor, which are connected in parallel.

13. An energy supply device according to claim 3, wherein the DC/DC converter is bi-directional and can be operated to feed energy from the energy store to the supply output in operating phases with inadequate generator power and feeding energy back into the energy store in operating phases with excessive generator power.

14. A system for supplying a required electrical current flow to a valve control unit of an internal combustion engine over a range of engine operating speeds, comprising:

a generator mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine;

a rectifier circuit connected to the generator, the rectifier circuit comprising a first diode arrangement which functions as an anode, and a second diode arrangement which functions as a cathode;

a third diode arrangement which functions as a second anode and is connected in parallel with the first diode arrangement with respect to a current supply output wherein the diodes of the third diode arrangement conduct at lower conducting-state voltages than the diodes of the first diode arrangement,

an electrical energy storage device connected to an output of the third diode arrangement; and

a controllable DC/DC converter connected to the third diode arrangement and the current supply output.

15. A method for supplying an electrical current flow to a valve control of an internal combustion engine over a range of engine operating speeds, comprising:

arranging at least two energy providing devices so as to selectively supply the electrical current flow to the valve control, wherein one of the at least two energy providing devices is a generator;

supplying a first low voltage electrical current flow to the valve control from at least one of the at least two energy providing devices other than the generator during start up of the internal combustion engine;

monitoring induced electrical current in the generator to determine when a desired second high voltage electrical current flow is reached to operate the valve control during normal engine operation while supplying at least a portion of the induced electrical current to the first low voltage electrical current flow; and

stopping supply of the first lower voltage electrical current flow to the valve control when the desired second higher voltage electrical current flow from the generator has been reached, and simultaneously switching from the first lower voltage electrical current flow to the second higher voltage electrical current flow to operate the control valve during normal engine operation.