Common pin voltage regulator
First Claim
1. A voltage regulator for an automotive alternator battery charging system, said automotive alternator battery charging system further comprising a battery and an alternator coupled to the battery, and an operator-controlled switch connected between the battery and said voltage regulator for activating said voltage regulator upon closure of the operator-controlled switch, wherein the alternator is further drivingly coupled to a vehicle engine and provides a rectified output charging signal for charging the battery in accordance with an excitation signal provided by said voltage regulator to a field coil of the alternator, said voltage regulator comprising:
- a first module responsive to the battery voltage for providing a sensed signal representative of the battery voltage;
a field terminal;
a second module for providing an excitation signal to the alternator field coil in response to said sensed signal, wherein said excitation signal is provided at said field terminal;
an input terminal;
an I/F terminal connected via a unidirectional switch to said input terminal and further connected to said field terminal; and
wherein said I/F terminal provides a signal representative of the excitation signal when said unidirectional switch is open and provides a bypass circuit around said input terminal when said unidirectional switch is closed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage regulator having a single I/F terminal is disclosed. According to the teachings of the present invention, the I/F terminal of the present invention precludes the use of an I terminal alternator model and a separate F terminal model. The I/F terminal provides the function of both the I and F terminal which were heretofore provided in separate voltage regulator models.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A voltage regulator for an automotive alternator battery charging system, said automotive alternator battery charging system further comprising a battery and an alternator coupled to the battery, and an operator-controlled switch connected between the battery and said voltage regulator for activating said voltage regulator upon closure of the operator-controlled switch, wherein the alternator is further drivingly coupled to a vehicle engine and provides a rectified output charging signal for charging the battery in accordance with an excitation signal provided by said voltage regulator to a field coil of the alternator, said voltage regulator comprising:
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a first module responsive to the battery voltage for providing a sensed signal representative of the battery voltage;
a field terminal;
a second module for providing an excitation signal to the alternator field coil in response to said sensed signal, wherein said excitation signal is provided at said field terminal;
an input terminal;
an I/F terminal connected via a unidirectional switch to said input terminal and further connected to said field terminal; and
wherein said I/F terminal provides a signal representative of the excitation signal when said unidirectional switch is open and provides a bypass circuit around said input terminal when said unidirectional switch is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification