System and method for electric current and power monitoring and control of a generator

• US 20090302809A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Pourkermani, Nisvet Basic
• Original Assignee: Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Pourkermani, Nisvet Basic
• Inventors: Patterson, Ciaran, Pourkermani, Mahmood, Basic, Nisvet
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/64 Controlling or determining the temperature of the winding

Abstract

A control device measures a voltage drop across a conductor in a generator to determine and control the total generator output current. A temperature of the conductor is also measured to improve the accuracy. The control device may further improve on the accuracy by compensating for the electrical current through a field coil that may power the generator. The control device may be used in combination with a generator in a vehicle electrical system. Other system parameters may be monitored to improve on the system monitoring, diagnostics, and control. The generator may include a conductor comprising a process-controlled geometric shape.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a generator, comprising:

(a) generating a first signal indicative of an electrical potential across a conductor included in the generator, said conductor comprising a process-controlled geometric shape, and wherein a total electrical output current generated by the generator is substantially proportional to the electrical potential; and

(b) at least one of limiting and ceasing the total electrical output current, via a generator output power controller, according to the first signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises limiting the total electrical output current when a DC component of the first signal is greater than V₁ and less than V₂, and ceasing the total electrical output current when the DC component is equal to or greater than V₂, wherein V₁ and V₂ are predetermined values.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) generating a second signal indicative of an output voltage of the generator; and

(d) regulating the output voltage, via the output power controller, according to the second signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(e) generating a third signal indicative of a temperature of a battery;

wherein (d) comprises regulating the output voltage, via the output power controller, according to at least one of the second and third signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein (d) comprises regulating the output voltage, via the output power controller, according to a default voltage when the temperature of the battery is substantially outside of a predetermined range.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(e) generating a third signal indicative of a voltage of a battery;

wherein (d) comprises regulating the output voltage, via the output power controller, according to at least one of the second and third signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein (d) comprises regulating the output voltage, via the output power controller, according to a default voltage when a difference between the output voltage and battery voltage is substantially above a predetermined value.