Method and apparatus for detecting alternator rectifier diode short fault
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- sampling a field winding signal of an alternator, during operation of the alternator;
determining a fault ripple period at which the field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold; and
detecting a short fault of an electronic component of a rectifier coupled to an output of the alternator in the event that the fault ripple period closely matches an armature period of the alternator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for detecting a short fault of an alternator rectifier electronic component include sampling a field winding voltage or current signal of an alternator, during operation of the alternator, and determining a fault ripple period at which the alternator field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold. A short fault of an electronic component of a rectifier coupled to the alternator is detected in the event that the fault ripple period closely matches an alternator armature period. Alternatively or additionally, the sampled field winding signal is band pass filtered, and a short fault is detected in the event that an amplitude of the band pass filtered field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold. The methods can be implemented, for example, by an apparatus that includes a hysteresis frequency counter, a frequency comparator, and a countdown timer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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sampling a field winding signal of an alternator, during operation of the alternator; determining a fault ripple period at which the field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold; and detecting a short fault of an electronic component of a rectifier coupled to an output of the alternator in the event that the fault ripple period closely matches an armature period of the alternator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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sampling a field winding signal of an alternator, during operation of the alternator; band pass filtering the field winding signal that is sampled; and detecting a short fault of an electronic component of a rectifier coupled to an output of the alternator in the event that an amplitude of the band pass filtered field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a hysteresis frequency counter that is operatively connected to sample a field winding signal of an alternator and to output a value indicative of a fault ripple frequency, based on a ripple of the field winding signal exceeding a fault threshold; a countdown timer; and a frequency comparator that is operatively connected to compare the fault ripple frequency to an alternator armature frequency, and to actuate the countdown timer in the event that the fault ripple frequency closely matches the armature frequency; wherein the countdown timer is operatively connected to be actuated by the frequency comparator, and is configured to signal a short fault of an electronic component of a rectifier coupled to an output of the alternator in the event that the fault ripple frequency closely matches the armature frequency for a countdown time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification