System and method for generator phase signal monitoring and control of electrical current distribution

• US 8,283,810 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
• Original Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
• Inventors: Becker, James, Jabaji, Issam, Patterson, Ciaran
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US12/592,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 307/140, 307/9, 307/1
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence

Abstract

An electrical system comprises a generator and a control device coupled with the generator and operable to control electrical current through the electrical system via a switch module. The control device determines a loss of symmetry between two alternating phase signals generated by a first and second phase windings of a single or multiple stator generator. Specifically, the control device determines a first and second average values of two of the two or more alternating phase signals and operates to control electrical current distribution throughout the electrical system, via one or more switch modules, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value. The control device may be further configured to sense average magnitudes of the electrical current in either direction between two electrical components, coupled with a switch module, and switch on/off the electrical current in either direction, via the switch module, to insure that the average magnitude of electrical current between the electrical components in either direction does not exceed one or more default average magnitudes.

Claims

1. A vehicle electrical system comprising:

(a) a generator comprising two or more phase windings associated with one or more stators, said two or more phase windings operative to generate two or more alternating phase signals; and

(b) a control device responsive to the two or more alternating phase signals and operative to determine a first and second average values of two of the two or more alternating phase signals, and to control electrical current through the vehicle electrical system, via a switch module, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to a control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch;

wherein the control device is further configured to sense the average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sensor, and, in response to the sensed average magnitude, to controllably switch on/off the electrical current in either direction by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch so that the average magnitude does not exceed one or more default average magnitudes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the bi-directional switch comprises a bi-directional semiconductor switch.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises an electrical current sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to apply a control signal to the switch module to control the electrical current through the vehicle electrical system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to a control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch;

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(iii) a processor, including a programmable code operable on the processor;

wherein the processor is responsive to the control signal and configured to sense the average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sensor, and, in response to the sensed average magnitude, to controllably switch on/off the electrical current in either direction by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch so that the average magnitude does not exceed one or more default average magnitudes.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to a control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch;

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(iii) a processor, including a programmable code operable on the processor;

wherein the processor is responsive to the control signal and configured to sense the average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sensor, and, in response to the sensed average magnitude, to controllably switch off the electrical current flowing into the generator by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control signal is applied when a ratio between the first and second average values is outside of a predetermined range.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle electrical system, said system comprising a generator, said method comprising:

(a) generating two or more alternating phase signals via two or more phase windings associated with one or more stators included in the generator;

(b) determining a first and second average values of two of the two or more alternating phase signals; and

(c) controlling electrical current through the vehicle electrical system, via a switch module, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to a control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch;

said method further comprising;

(d) sensing the average magnitude, via the sensor;

wherein (c) comprises, in response to the sensed average magnitude, controllably switching on/off the electrical current in either direction by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch so that the average magnitude does not exceed one or more default average magnitudes.

11. A control device for a vehicle electrical system including a generator, said generator comprising two or more phase windings associated with one or more stators, said two or more phase windings operative to generate two or more alternating phase signals, said control device comprising:

(i) a switch module; and

(ii) a processor, including a programming code operable on the processor, coupled with the two or more phase windings and the switch module;

wherein said processor is configured to;

(a) measure the two or more alternating phase signals, via two or more lines;

(b) determine a first and second average values of two of the two or more alternating phase signals; and

(c) apply a control signal to the switch module to control electrical current through the vehicle electrical system, via a control line, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value.

12. The control device of claim 11, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to the control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch;

wherein said processor is further configured to measure the average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via a sense line, and, in response to the measured average magnitude, to controllably switch on/off the electrical current in either direction by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch, via the control line, so that the average magnitude does not exceed one or more default average magnitudes.

13. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing an instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, and wherein the processor is further configured to measure the instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sense line, and, in response to the measured instantaneous magnitude, to switch off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the instantaneous magnitude is greater than one or more surge magnitudes.

14. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing an instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, and wherein the processor is further configured to measure the instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sense line, and, in response to the measured instantaneous magnitude, to determine a time interval beginning at a time when the instantaneous magnitude rises above one or more overflow magnitudes and ending at a time when the instantaneous magnitude falls below the one or more overflow magnitudes, and to switch off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the time interval is substantially equal to one or more overflow time intervals.

15. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing a difference magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between two consecutive instantaneous magnitudes of the electrical current obtained a difference time interval apart, and wherein the processor is further configured to measure the difference magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sense line, and, in response to the measured difference magnitude, to switch off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the difference magnitude is greater than one or more change magnitudes.

16. The control device of claim 12, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing a temperature of the bi-directional switch module, and wherein the processor is further configured to measure the temperature, via the sense line, and, in response to the measured temperature, to switch off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the temperature is greater than one or more overheat temperatures.

17. A method for controlling electrical current through a vehicle electrical system including a generator, said generator comprising two or more phase windings associated with one or more stators, said two or more phase windings operative to generate two or more alternating phase signals, said method comprising:

(a) measuring the two or more alternating phase signals, via two or more lines;

(b) determining a first and second average values of two of the two or more phase signals; and

(c) applying a control signal to a switch module to control the electrical current through the vehicle electrical system, via a control line, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to the control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch;

said method further comprising;

(d) measuring the average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via a sense line;

wherein (c) comprises, in response to the measured average magnitude, controllably switching on/off the electrical current in either direction by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch, via the control line, so that the average magnitude does not exceed one or more default average magnitudes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing an instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction:

wherein (d) comprises measuring the instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sense line;

wherein (c) comprises, in response to the measured instantaneous magnitude, switching off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the instantaneous magnitude is greater than one or more surge magnitudes.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing an instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction:

wherein (d) comprises measuring the instantaneous magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sense line;

said method further comprising;

(e) determining a time interval beginning at a time when the instantaneous magnitude rises above one or more overflow magnitudes and ending at a time when the instantaneous magnitude falls below the one or more overflow magnitudes, in response to the measured instantaneous magnitude;

wherein (c) comprises switching off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the time interval is substantially equal to one or more overflow time intervals.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing a difference magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between two consecutive instantaneous magnitudes of the electrical current obtained a difference time interval apart:

wherein (d) comprises measuring the difference magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via the sense line;

wherein (c) comprises, in response to the measured difference magnitude, switching off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the difference magnitude is greater than one or more change magnitudes.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is further capable of sensing a temperature of the bi-directional switch module, said method further comprising:

(e) measuring the temperature of the bi-directional switch module, via the sense line;

wherein (c) comprises, in response to the measured temperature, switching off the electrical current in either direction by applying a second signal to the control terminal, via the control line, when the temperature is greater than one or more overheat temperatures.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein (b) comprises filtering the two or more alternating phase signals and calculating a first and second DC values from two of the two or more filtered alternating phase signals.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the switch module comprises:

(i) a bi-directional switch capable of switching on/off the electrical current in either direction between a first and a second terminal of the bi-directional switch in response to the control signal applied to a control terminal of the bi-directional switch; and

(ii) a sensor capable of sensing an average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction between the first and the second terminal of the bi-directional switch;

said method further comprising;

(d) measuring the average magnitude of the electrical current in either direction, via a sense line;

wherein (c) comprises, in response to the measured average magnitude, controllably switching off the electrical current flowing into an electrical load by applying a first signal to the control terminal of the bi-directional switch.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the control signal is applied when a ratio between an absolute value of a difference between the first and second average values and the first average value is greater than a threshold value.