Systems and method for boosting output of an alternator
First Claim
1. An automotive electrical system comprising:
- a storage battery having a positive terminal connected to a positive bus and a negative terminal connected to a negative bus;
an alternator having its output connected to a rectifier bank, wherein the output terminals of the rectifier bank are connected to the positive bus and the negative bus;
a voltage regulator configured to control a field current of the alternator in response to the voltage between the positive bus and the negative bus; and
a neutral switch comprising a first switching device and a second switching device, wherein the first switching device is connected between a neutral terminal of the alternator and the positive bus and wherein the second switching device is connected between the neutral terminal of the alternator and the negative bus, the neutral switch being configured to allow third harmonic current generated by the alternator to flow to one or more loads connected between the positive bus and the negative bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are two techniques, neutral point switching and field voltage boost, that will increase the output of today'"'"'s 12 volt automotive electrical systems in vehicle idle conditions solely by the addition of circuitry. Neutral point switching enables the flow of a third harmonic current, which does not normally flow at low speeds, but only at high speed. Boosting the field voltages can be obtained by integrating a field voltage boost circuit and voltage regulator to increase the field voltage, and consequently the field current, above the level obtained from the battery. Furthermore, the transient response of the alternator to a change in load is improved by temporarily increasing the field voltage above the level needed to sustain the load. These two techniques are compatible, and thus may be implemented together, or may be implemented independently. No changes to a standard alternator are required to accommodate the proposed additional circuitry.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An automotive electrical system comprising:
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a storage battery having a positive terminal connected to a positive bus and a negative terminal connected to a negative bus; an alternator having its output connected to a rectifier bank, wherein the output terminals of the rectifier bank are connected to the positive bus and the negative bus; a voltage regulator configured to control a field current of the alternator in response to the voltage between the positive bus and the negative bus; and a neutral switch comprising a first switching device and a second switching device, wherein the first switching device is connected between a neutral terminal of the alternator and the positive bus and wherein the second switching device is connected between the neutral terminal of the alternator and the negative bus, the neutral switch being configured to allow third harmonic current generated by the alternator to flow to one or more loads connected between the positive bus and the negative bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of increasing the output current of an alternator in an automotive electrical system, the method comprising:
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providing a switched current path between a neutral terminal of the alternator and at least one bus of the automotive electrical system; operating at least one switch corresponding to the switched current path to allow third harmonic current to flow from the neutral terminal of the alternator to the at least one bus at an idle condition. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification