System and method for detecting alternator condition
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting alternator condition, comprising the steps of:
- sampling battery voltage;
calculating an average battery voltage, a maximum battery voltage and a minimum battery voltage;
calculating a differential battery voltage from the maximum battery voltage minus the minimum battery voltage;
detecting the engine speed; and
comparing the differential battery voltage at different engine speeds.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting alternator condition is provided. Information is taken from the vehicle powerline and the communication links, and processed by the vehicle ECU, such as the vehicle antilocking brake system ECU, to obtain data. The battery voltage ripple amplitude is then calculated and compared at different engine speeds. If the difference in the ripple amplitude at the different engine speeds is greater than a predetermined threshold value, a signal is sent indicating that the alternator has failed.
149 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for detecting alternator condition, comprising the steps of:
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sampling battery voltage;
calculating an average battery voltage, a maximum battery voltage and a minimum battery voltage;
calculating a differential battery voltage from the maximum battery voltage minus the minimum battery voltage;
detecting the engine speed; and
comparing the differential battery voltage at different engine speeds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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6. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined threshold value is approximately 12 volts.
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13. A system for detecting alternator condition comprising:
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an alternator;
a battery;
an ECU incorporating a software plug-in for determining alternator condition; and
one or more communication buses for obtaining parameters or reporting alternator status. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of detecting alternator condition on a commercial vehicle comprising the steps of:
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sampling powerline voltage from the commercial vehicle battery in predetermined intervals;
calculating an average voltage, a maximum voltage, a minimum voltage, and a differential voltage using the antilocking braking system ECU;
detecting the engine speed; and
comparing the differential voltage at different engine speeds. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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- 24. A software plug-in that determines the condition of an alternator by measuring the voltage of a battery at different engine speeds and comparing the ripple amplitude of said voltage measurement at the different engine speeds.
Specification