System and method for detecting an operating motor

• US 10,060,404 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhou, Mingshe, Kirk, Michael E., Wachowski, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Antony M
• Application Number:
  US15/422,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20180216595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 1231791, 12317925, 1231793, 320104, 320165, 417 10, 7311459, 74139, 74550, 307 106, 200 4303, 31840001, 31840021, 31840022, 31840023, 318701, 318727, 180287, 363 46
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0825 related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/043 Starter voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system for detecting operation of a motor includes a ripple voltage detector module including a ripple voltage detector unit, an input operatively connected to the ripple voltage detector unit and connectable to an alternator, and an output operatively connected to the ripple voltage detector unit and connectable to a starter motor control system. The ripple voltage detector module provides a motor operation signal to the starter motor control system upon detection of a ripple voltage produced by the alternator.

Claims

1. A system for detecting operation of a motor comprising:

a ripple voltage detector module including a ripple voltage detector unit;

an input operatively connected to the ripple voltage detector unit and connectable to an alternator; and

an output operatively connected to the ripple voltage detector unit and connectable to a starter motor control system, wherein the ripple voltage detector module provides a motor operation signal to the starter motor control system upon detection of a ripple voltage produced by the alternator.

2. The system for detecting operation of a motor according to claim 1, wherein the ripple voltage detector unit includes a voltage divider circuit.

3. A motor system comprising:

a motor;

a starter motor mechanically connected to the motor;

a starter motor control system operatively connected to the starter motor;

an alternator operatively connected to the motor, the alternator being operable through operation of the motor to produce a voltage; and

a motor operation detector system operatively connected to the motor, the motor operation detector system being operable to detect motor operation and comprises;

a ripple voltage detector module including a ripple voltage detector unit;

an input operatively connected to the ripple voltage detector unit and the alternator; and

an output operatively connected to the ripple voltage detector unit and the starter motor control system, wherein the ripple voltage detector module provides a motor operation signal to the starter motor control system upon detection of ripple voltage produced by the alternator.

4. The motor system according to claim 3, wherein the ripple voltage detector unit includes a voltage divider circuit.

5. The motor system according to claim 3, wherein the motor is part of a vehicle.

6. The motor system according to claim 3, wherein the starter motor control system is operable to prevent operation of the starter motor upon receipt of the motor operation signal.

7. The motor system according to claim 3 wherein the alternator includes a B+ output terminal operatively connected to the input.