Dynamically controlled switching alternator system

• US 7,026,794 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BRP US Incorporated (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BRP US Incorporated (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koerner, Scott A., French, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/708,084
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 322/26, 322/28, 322/89, 322/90, 290/1.A, 290/7
• US Class Current: 322/90
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/30 using semiconductor devices

Abstract

A system and method to dynamically control a switching alternator is disclosed. A switching alternator system is disclosed that includes a plurality of windings configured to deliver an AC power and a plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical configuration of the plurality of windings. A processor is included that is programmed to control the plurality of switches to deliver a desired DC power.

Claims

1. An outboard motor comprising:

a powerhead having a combustion engine configured to drive a multi-mode alternator, a midsection configured for mounting the outboard motor to a watercraft, and a lower unit powered by the combustion engine to propel a watercraft;

a switching regulator configured to receive an AC power from a plurality of windings of the multi-mode alternator and deliver an operational DC power; and

an engine control unit (ECU) configured to control the switching regulator according to a first operation scheme upon receiving a first interrupt and a second operation scheme upon receiving a second interrupt.

2. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein the first operation scheme includes a first configuration of the plurality of windings and the second operation scheme includes a second configuration of the plurality of windings.

3. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein the ECU is selectively configurable to control the switching regulator according to at least one of a configuration of the outboard motor and a set of environmental parameters.

4. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein the first interrupt is a zero-cross interrupt and the second interrupt is a voltage regulation interrupt.

5. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein the ECU is further configured to determine at least one of a phase of the AC power generated by the combustion engine, a number of phase transitions of the AC power generated by the combustion engine, a winding load on each of the plurality of windings, and a revolutions per minute (RPM) of the combustion engine.