Voltage regulator having enhanced regulation over vehicle charging system
First Claim
1. A voltage regulator that regulates the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and field winding and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage and recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising:
- a microcontroller operative for monitoring output voltages representative of monitored load changes of the vehicle; and
a power output circuit controlled by the microcontroller and that connects to a field winding of the vehicle wherein the microcontroller is operative for changing the field duty cycle of the generator or alternator by turning ON and OFF the power output circuit in a predetermined manner as established by the microcontroller based on monitored load changes within the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage regulator is part of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and field winding and connected to a vehicle battery and devices for supplying a voltage and powering vehicle devices. The voltage regulator includes a microcontroller operative for monitoring output voltages representative of monitored load changes within the vehicle. A power output circuit is operatively connected to the microcontroller and connects to a field winding. The microcontroller is operative for changing the field duty cycle of the generator or alternator by turning ON and OFF the power output circuit in a predetermined manner as established by the microcontroller based on monitored load changes.
24 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A voltage regulator that regulates the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and field winding and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage and recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising:
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a microcontroller operative for monitoring output voltages representative of monitored load changes of the vehicle; and
a power output circuit controlled by the microcontroller and that connects to a field winding of the vehicle wherein the microcontroller is operative for changing the field duty cycle of the generator or alternator by turning ON and OFF the power output circuit in a predetermined manner as established by the microcontroller based on monitored load changes within the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A voltage regulator that regulates the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and field winding and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage and recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising:
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a microcontroller operative for monitoring output voltages representative of monitored load changes of the vehicle;
a power output circuit operatively connected to a field winding, vehicle battery and controlled by said microcontroller and operable within the voltage regulator in a high voltage side drive configuration; and
a voltage step-up circuit operatively connected to the power output circuit and microcontroller and controlled from a common pin of the microcontroller such that the microcontroller measures voltage on the step-up circuit for determining temperature changes, wherein said microcontroller is operative for changing the field duty cycle of the generator or alternator by turning ON and OFF the power output circuit in a predetermined manner as established by the microcontroller based on monitored load changes and temperature fluctuations. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of regulating the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and a voltage regulator and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage for recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising the steps of:
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monitoring within a microcontroller of the voltage regulator the output voltage representative of monitored load changes within the vehicle; and
changing the field duty cycle of the generator or alternator by turning ON and OFF a power output circuit of the voltage regulator that is connected to the battery and a field winding in a predetermined manner as established by the microcontroller based on monitored load changes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of regulating the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and a voltage regulator and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage for recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising the steps of:
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monitoring within a microcontroller of the voltage regulator the output voltage representative of vehicle load changes by sensing battery voltage with the microcontroller;
powering a power output circuit connected to a field winding and configured in a high voltage side configuration from a voltage step-up circuit connected and controlled from a common pin of the microcontroller that controls the voltage step-up circuit and measures voltage on the step-up circuit to determine temperature changes; and
changing the field duty cycle of the generator or alternator by turning ON and OFF the power output circuit connected to the battery and field winding in a predetermined manner as established by the microprocessor based on monitored load changes and temperature fluctuations. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A voltage regulator that regulates the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and field winding and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage and recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising:
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a microcontroller operative for monitoring the duty cycle of an input signal representative of load changes of the vehicle; and
a power output circuit controlled by the microcontroller and that connects to a field winding of the vehicle wherein the microcontroller is operative for changing a set point voltage and controlling the generator or alternator. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of regulating the output voltage of a vehicle charging system having an alternator or generator and a voltage regulator and connected to a vehicle battery and vehicle devices for supplying a voltage for recharging the battery and powering vehicle devices comprising the steps of:
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monitoring within a microcontroller of the voltage regulator the duty cycle of an input signal representative of load changes of the vehicle; and
changing a set point voltage for controlling the generator or alternator. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification