System and method for vehicle voltage regulation

• US 6,624,618 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chronowski, David, Halseth, Mark Allen, Kernahan, Andrew James, Maynard, Roger William
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US09/769,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 322/28, 322/90, 322/11, 322/22, 318/139
• US Class Current: 322/90
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method of operating an alternator of a motor vehicle includes the steps of monitoring an amount of stored electrical energy available to operate the vehicle, estimating a vehicle electrical load, and regulating an output of the alternator based at least in part on the amount of electrical energy available to the vehicle and the estimated vehicle electrical load.

Claims

1. A method for operating an alternator of a motor vehicle, the alternator having a controllable output, the method comprising:

monitoring an amount of stored electrical energy available to operate the vehicle;

estimating a vehicle electrical load;

generating an alternator setpoint control signal based at least in part on the amount of electrical energy available to the vehicle and the estimated electrical load of the vehicle; and

using the setpoint control signal to control the alternator output so as to track the electrical load requirements of the vehicle and minimize the amount of excess electrical energy generated by the alternator, and

deriving a schedule of operation of vehicle electrical components; and

estimating the vehicle electrical load based on the scheduled operation of the vehicle components.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring operation of vehicle electrical components; and

estimating the vehicle electrical load based on the monitored operation of the vehicle components.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring step comprises the step of monitoring a battery state of charge.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said regulating step comprises selecting an alternator setpoint voltage based on at least in part on the battery state of charge and the estimated vehicle electrical load.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of selecting an alternator voltage comprises:

deriving a plurality of voltage regulation classifications; and

selecting one of a plurality of voltage regulation strategies corresponding to the voltage regulation classifications.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of providing a battery temperature, and further wherein each of the voltage regulation strategies are a function of battery temperature.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring operation of critical vehicle loads; and

selecting one of said voltage regulation strategies based at least in part on the operation of the critical vehicle loads.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of selecting a setpoint transition strategy to transition operation between the voltage regulation strategies.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps:

obtaining information indicative of vehicle electrical load;

communicating the vehicle load information to a controller;

estimating the vehicle electrical load using the vehicle load information communicated to the controller.

9. A method for operating an alternator of a motor vehicle having a battery coupled to the alternator for storing electrical energy, the alternator having a controllable output, the method comprising:

monitoring a battery state of charge;

monitoring operation of vehicle electrical components;

estimating a vehicle electrical load based on the operation of the vehicle components;

generating an alternator setpoint control signal based at least in part on the battery state of charge and the estimated vehicle electrical load; and

using the setpoint control signal to control the alternator output so as to track the electrical load requirements of the vehicle and minimize the amount of excess electrical energy generated by the alternator,

wherein said regulating step comprises selecting an alternator setpoint voltage based at least in part on the battery state of charge and the estimated vehicle electrical load; and

deriving a plurality of voltage regulation classifications; and

selecting one of a plurality of voltage regulation strategies corresponding to the voltage regulation classifications.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a battery temperature, and further wherein each of the voltage regulation strategies are a function of battery temperature.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring operation of critical vehicle loads; and

selecting one of said voltage regulation strategies based at least in part on the operation of the critical vehicle loads.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of selecting a setpoint transition strategy to transition operation between the voltage regulation strategies.

13. A system for operating an alternator of a motor vehicle, the alternator having a controllable output, the system comprising:

a first monitor for indicating an amount of stored electrical energy available to operate the vehicle;

a second monitor for indicating operation of vehicle electrical components; and

a controller coupled to the first and second monitors for estimating a vehicle electrical load based on operation of vehicle electrical components, generating an alternator setpoint control signal based at least in part on the indicated amount of stored electrical energy and the estimated vehicle electrical load, and using the setpoint control signal to control the alternator output so as to track the electrical load requirements of the vehicle and minimize the amount of excess electrical energy generated by the alternator,

means for deriving a schedule of operation of the vehicle electrical components; and

means for estimating the vehicle electrical load based on the scheduled operation of the vehicle components.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first monitor comprises a battery state of charge monitor.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said second monitor comprises means coupled to the vehicle electrical components for communicating information indicative of vehicle electrical load.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said controller comprises:

means for monitoring operation of the vehicle electrical components; and

means for estimating the vehicle electrical load based on the operation of the vehicle components.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein said controller comprises means for selecting an alternator setpoint voltage based on the amount of electrical energy available to operate the vehicle and the estimated vehicle electrical load.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said controller comprises:

means for deriving a plurality of voltage regulation classifications; and

means for selecting one of a plurality of voltage regulation strategies corresponding to the voltage regulation classifications.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a sensor for providing a battery temperature and further wherein each of the voltage regulation strategies are a function of battery temperature.

21. The system according to claim 13, wherein said controller comprises:

means for selecting a plurality of alternator voltage regulation strategies based at least in part on the stored amount of electrical energy available to operate the vehicle and the estimated vehicle load; and

means for selecting a setpoint transition strategy to transition alternator operation between the voltage regulation strategies.