Alternator control for battery charging
First Claim
1. An electrical system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- an electrical generating machine having a voltage output set by a set point voltage, a battery coupled to the voltage output of the electrical generating machine and an electronic control unit (ECU) that sets the set point voltage; and
the ECU selecting one of a plurality of control modes to control the electrical generating machine based on vehicle operating parameters, setting a range for the set point voltage based on the selected control mode and setting the set point voltage based on a feedback parameter for that control mode, wherein the control modes include a trickle charge mode wherein the feedback parameter is battery charge current and the ECU sets the set point voltage to maintain the battery charge current at a predetermined level and a regeneration mode wherein one of the vehicle operating parameters that the ECU bases determining whether to branch to the regeneration mode is whether a vehicle brake has been applied and the ECU determining to branch to the regeneration mode only if the vehicle brake has been applied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical system for an automotive vehicle has an electrical generating machine and a battery. A set point voltage, which sets an output voltage of the electrical generating machine, is set by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU selects one of a plurality of control modes for controlling the alternator based on an operating state of the vehicle as determined from vehicle operating parameters. The ECU selects a range for the set point voltage based on the selected control mode and then sets the set point voltage within the range based on feedback parameters for that control mode. In an aspect, the control modes include a trickle charge mode and battery charge current is the feedback parameter and the ECU controls the set point voltage within the range to maintain a predetermined battery charge current.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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an electrical generating machine having a voltage output set by a set point voltage, a battery coupled to the voltage output of the electrical generating machine and an electronic control unit (ECU) that sets the set point voltage; and the ECU selecting one of a plurality of control modes to control the electrical generating machine based on vehicle operating parameters, setting a range for the set point voltage based on the selected control mode and setting the set point voltage based on a feedback parameter for that control mode, wherein the control modes include a trickle charge mode wherein the feedback parameter is battery charge current and the ECU sets the set point voltage to maintain the battery charge current at a predetermined level and a regeneration mode wherein one of the vehicle operating parameters that the ECU bases determining whether to branch to the regeneration mode is whether a vehicle brake has been applied and the ECU determining to branch to the regeneration mode only if the vehicle brake has been applied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling an electrical generating machine in an electrical system of an automotive vehicle, the electrical generating machine having a voltage output set by a set point voltage, a battery coupled to the voltage output of the electrical generating machine and an electronic control unit (ECU) that sets the set point voltage, the method comprising:
selecting with the ECU one of a plurality of control modes to control the electrical generating machine based on vehicle operating parameters, setting with the ECU a range for the set point voltage based on the selected control mode and setting with the ECU the set point voltage based on a feedback parameter for that control mode, wherein the control modes include a trickle charge mode wherein the feedback parameter is battery charge current and setting the set point voltage with the ECU includes setting the set point voltage to maintain the battery charge current at a predetermined level, the control modes also including a regeneration mode and one of the vehicle operating parameters used by the ECU in determining whether to branch to the regeneration mode is whether a vehicle brake has been applied and selecting with the ECU to branch to the regeneration mode only if the vehicle brake has been applied. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification