Alternator control with temperature-dependent safety feature
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling an alternator, comprising:
- determining a temperature-dependent first value associated with a battery, coupled to an alternator;
determining an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent first value associated with the battery, wherein the excitation emergency threshold comprises a temperature-dependent second value that indicates that a controller of the alternator is failing to regulate a voltage associated with the battery to a voltage set point; and
initiating, by the controller of the alternator, at least one safety measure upon a determination that a voltage associated with the battery exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold.
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Abstract
A method for controlling an alternator includes determining a temperature-dependent value associated with a battery coupled to an alternator and determining an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent value associated with the battery. The method further includes initiating, by a controller of an alternator, at least one safety measure upon a determination that a voltage associated with the battery exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an alternator, comprising:
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determining a temperature-dependent first value associated with a battery, coupled to an alternator; determining an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent first value associated with the battery, wherein the excitation emergency threshold comprises a temperature-dependent second value that indicates that a controller of the alternator is failing to regulate a voltage associated with the battery to a voltage set point; and initiating, by the controller of the alternator, at least one safety measure upon a determination that a voltage associated with the battery exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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an output configured to provide a charging voltage as a feedback; and a control circuit coupled to the output, the control circuit operable to; determine a temperature-dependent first value associated with a battery coupled to an alternator; determine an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent first value associated with the battery, wherein the excitation emergency threshold comprises a temperature-dependent second value that indicates that the control circuit is failing to regulate the charging voltage to a voltage set point; and initiate at least one safety measure upon a determination that the charging voltage exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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an alternator configured to provide an output voltage to a vehicle battery; an engine control unit coupled to the alternator via an interface; wherein the alternator comprises a circuit to control the alternator and the circuit is configured to; determine, based on information received from the engine control unit via the interface, a temperature-dependent first value associated with a battery coupled to the alternator; determine an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent first value associated with the battery, wherein the excitation emergency threshold comprises a temperature-dependent second value that indicates that a controller of the alternator is failing to regulate a voltage associated with the battery to a voltage set point; and initiate at least one safety measure upon a determination that the output voltage exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification