Control apparatus and method of electric rotating machine for vehicle

• US 7,034,412 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuribayashi, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/434,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 318/156, 180/270, 290/24
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/52 by progressive increase of frequency of supply to motor
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/04 using variable-frequency supply voltage, e.g. inverter or converter supply voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/30 using semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/305 controlling voltage H02P9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

A control apparatus and method for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle reduces shock at the time of switching power generation mode. The control apparatus include an electric rotating machine functioning as a starter motor and a charging generator 1, an inverter comprised of switching elements 14 to 19, a field current controller 5 for controlling an electric current of a field coil 4 of the electric rotating machine 1, and a controller 24 by which power is generated in an inverter generation mode in a low-speed rotation range and in an alternator generation mode in a high-speed rotation range. A hysteresis is established between a rotating speed in switching from the inverter generation mode to the alternator generation mode and a rotating speed in switching from the alternator generation mode to the inverter generation mode under the control of the controller 24.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle comprising:

an electric rotating machine having an armature coil and a field coil, being connected to an internal combustion engine for vehicle, and functioning as a starter motor as well as a charging generator;

an inverter for supplying an alternating current to said armature coil of said electric rotating machine;

field current control means for controlling electric current of said field coil; and

control means for controlling operation of said electric rotating machine, when said electric rotating machine functions as a charging generator, in such a manner that power is generated in an inverter generation mode in which a phase-controlled alternating current is applied from said inverter to said armature coil and a generated voltage is subject to step-up chopper control in low-speed rotation range, and that power is generated in an alternator generation mode by controlling the electric current of said field coil in high-speed rotation range;

wherein said control means establishes a hysteresis between a first rotating speed of said rotating electric machine at which said rotating electric machine is switched from said inverter generation mode to said alternator generation mode by said control means and a second rotating speed of said rotating electric machine at which said rotating electric machine is switched from said alternator generation mode to said inverter generation mode by said control means.

2. The control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control means variably selects the first rotating speed for switching from said inverter generation mode to said alternator generation mode and the second rotating speed for switching from said alternator generation mode to said inverter generation mode on the basis of an amount of electric load of said electric rotating machine.

3. The control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating speed for switching from said alternator generation mode to said inverter generation mode is controlled by said control means in such a manner that a generated output in said alternator generation mode is at least higher than a generated output in said inverter generation mode.

4. The control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electric current applied to said field coil is temporarily stopped when said control means switches to the inverter generation mode or the alternator generation mode, and the control means applies a gradually increasing electric current on the basis of a predetermined time constant after the switchover of the power generation mode.

5. The control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, at the time of switching to the inverter generation mode or the alternator generation mode, said control means controls the electric current of said field coil and said alternating current applied by said inverter to said armature coil in such a manner as to reduce a difference between a driving torque of said electric rotating machine in said alternator generation mode and a driving torque of said electric rotating machine in said inverter generation mode when the same amount of power is generated in said inverter generation mode and said alternator generation mode.

9. The control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first rotating speed is less than said second rotating speed.

10. The control apparatus for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control means switches said rotating electric machine from said inverter generation mode to said alternator generation mode at said first rotating speed when a rotating speed of said rotating electric machine increases and switches said rotating electric machine from said alternator generation mode to said inverter generation mode at said second rotating speed when said rotating speed of said rotating electric machine decreases.

6. A control method for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle, in which when an electric rotating machine, which is connected to the internal combustion engine for vehicle to function as a starter motor as well as a charging generator, acts as a charging generator, power is generated in an inverter generation mode in which phase-controlled alternating current is applied by an inverter to an armature coil of said electric rotating machine and generated voltage is subject to step-up chopper control in a low-speed rotation range, and power is generated in an alternator generation mode in which electric current of a field coil of said electric rotating machine is controlled in a high-speed rotation range;

the control method comprising;

switching the power generation mode from said inverter generation mode to said alternator generation mode at a first predetermined rotating speed when the rotating speed is increased; and

switching the power generation mode from said alternator generation mode to said inverter generation mode at a second predetermined rotating speed when the rotating speed is reduced;

whereby a difference is established between said first predetermined rotating speed and said second predetermined rotating speed.

7. The control method for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said second predetermined rotating speed is lower than said first predetermined rotating speed.

8. The control method for controlling an electric rotating machine for vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said first predetermined rotating speed and said second predetermined rotating speed are set on the basis of an amount of electric load of said electric rotating machine.