Programmable system and method for regulating an alternator

• US 6,426,607 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV), STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV), STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Swanson, David F., Merlo, Mauro
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/434,051
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 320/150, 320/137, 320/152, 320/132, 320/136
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

A system and method regulates an alternator charging system and includes a memory for storing and regulating voltages used at specific temperatures for the specific alternator charging system requirements of an alternator. A circuit generates a digital signal indicative of both temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system and the charging system voltage. A digital comparator receives the digital signal and compares the digital signal with the regulating voltage stored within the memory for the specific temperature that is indicative of the temperature of the battery supplied by the alternator charging system to generate a regulator control signal.

Claims

1. A system for regulating an alternator charging system comprising:

a programmable memory for storing the regulating voltages used at specific temperatures for the specific alternator charging system requirements of an alternator and generating a data signal indicative of the regulating voltage;

a circuit for generating a digital signal indicative of both the temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system and the charging system voltage and comprising an n-bit latch circuit for receiving digitally multiplexed data representative of the temperature and charging system voltage and outputting latched signals, one of said latched signals being input to said memory; and

a digital comparator for receiving a latched signal from said n-bit latch circuit and data signal from said memory and comparing the latched signal with the data signal indicative of the regulating voltage stored within the memory for the specific temperature indicative of the temperature of the battery supplied by the alternator charging system and generating a regulator control signal.

2. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a thermal measuring circuit for measuring the temperature of the battery supplied by the alternator charging system and generating an analog temperature signal corresponding to the measured temperature.

3. A system according to claim 2, and further comprising a multiplexer for receiving the analog temperature signal and an analog signal indicative of the charging system voltage and multiplexing the two signals into a multiplexed signal.

4. A system according to claim 2, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog temperature signal and an analog signal indicative of charging system voltage into a digital signal.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said n-bit latch circuit comprises an 8-bit latch.

6. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising an error amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying an analog signal indicative of the charging system voltage.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said memory further comprises a nonvolatile memory.

8. A system for regulating an alternator charging system comprising:

a nonvolatile programmable memory for storing the regulating voltages used at specific temperatures for the specific alternator charging system requirements of an alternator and generating a data signal indicative of the regulating voltage;

a temperature measuring circuit for generating an analog temperature signal corresponding to the measured temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system;

a multiplexer for receiving and multiplexing the analog temperature signal and an analog signal indicative of the charging system voltage into a multiplexed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter for receiving the multiplexed signal and converting the multiplexed signal into a digital signal and comprising an n-bit latch circuit for receiving digitally multiplexed data representative of the temperature and charging system voltage and outputting latched signals, one of said latched signals being input to said non-volatile memory; and

a digital comparator for receiving a latched signal from said n-bit latch circuit and data signal from said non-volatile memory and comparing the latched signal with the data signal indicative of regulating voltage stored within the nonvolatile memory for the specific temperature that is indicative of the temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system and generating regulator control signal.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said temperature measuring circuit further comprises a sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery supplied by the alternator charging system and generating an analog temperature signal corresponding to the measured temperature.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said n-bit latch circuit comprises an 8-bit latch.

11. A system according to claim 8, and further comprising an error amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying an analog signal indicative of the charging system voltage.

12. A method for regulating an alternator charging system comprising the steps of:

storing in a programmable memory the regulating voltages used at specific temperatures for the specific alternator charging system requirements of an alternator and generating a data signal indicative of the stored regulating voltage;

generating a digital signal indicative of the temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system and the charging system voltage by generating digitally multiplexed data representative of the temperature and charging system voltage into an n-bit latch circuit and outputting latched signals into the memory and into a digital comparator; and

digitally comparing the latched signal from said n-bit latch circuit with the data signal indicative of the regulating voltage stored within the nonvolatile memory for the specific temperature that is indicative of the temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of generating a digital signal indicative of the temperature of a battery comprises the step of measuring the temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system and generating an analog temperature signal corresponding to the measured temperature.

14. A method according to claim 12, and further comprising the step of multiplexing the analog temperature signal with an analog signal indicative of the charging system voltage.

15. A method according to claim 14, and further comprising the step of digitally converting the multiplexed analog temperature signal and analog signal indicative of the charging system voltage into the digital signal indicative of the temperature of a battery supplied by the alternator charging system and the charging system voltage.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said n-bit latch circuit comprises an 8-bit latch.

17. A method according to claim 12, and further comprising the step of amplifying a charging system voltage signal through an error amplifier circuit.

18. A method according to claim 12, and further comprising the steps of storing the regulating voltages within a nonvolatile memory.