VOLTAGE REGULATOR, OPERATION METHOD THEREOF, VOLTAGE REGULATING SYSTEM, AND MOBILE VEHICLE

• US 20140361610A1
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Global Scientific Industrial Company Limited (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.), Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Universal Global Scientific Industrial Company Limited (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.), Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: WU, HSIN-HUNG
• Granted Patent: US 9,748,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/302 Brushless excitation

Abstract

A voltage regulator, an operation method thereof, and a voltage regulating system, and a mobile vehicle are provided. The voltage regulator coupled to an alternator and a battery includes a voltage detection unit which is coupled to the alternator and a startup assisting unit. The voltage detection unit operatively generates an enable signal responsive to an output voltage of the alternator. The startup assisting unit is coupled to the alternator, the battery, and the voltage detection unit. The startup assisting unit operatively generates a first exciting current to excite a rotor coil according to the enable signal. When the voltage detection unit detects that the output voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold, the voltage detection unit outputs the enable signal causing the startup assisting unit to generate the first exciting current to the rotor coil, thereby facilitating the alternator to establish voltage under low rotational speed.

Claims

1. A voltage regulator, coupled to an alternator and a battery, the voltage regulator comprising:

a voltage detection unit coupled to the alternator and the battery, operatively detecting an output voltage of the alternator and generating an enable signal; and

a startup assisting unit coupled to the voltage detection unit, a rotor coil (131) of the alternator, the battery, the startup assisting unit receiving a supplying voltage from the battery and operatively generating a first exciting current responsive to the enable signal for exciting the rotor coil;

wherein when the voltage detection unit detects that the output voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold, the voltage detection unit outputs the enable signal to cause the startup assisting unit to generate the first exciting current to the rotor coil of the alternator, so that the alternator is able to establish voltage under low rotational speed.

2. The voltage regulator according to claim 1, wherein the startup assisting unit comprises:

a first resistor, the first terminal of the first resistor being coupled to the battery;

a second resistor, the first terminal of the second resistor being coupled to the battery and the second terminal of the second resistor being coupled to the voltage detection unit;

a current amplifying unit having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal being coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, the output terminal being coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator, and the control terminal being coupled to the voltage detection unit to receive the enable signal; and

a first diode, an anode thereof being coupled to the output terminal and an cathode thereof being coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator;

wherein the current amplifying unit generates the first exciting current according to the enable signal.

3. The voltage regulator according to claim 2, wherein the current amplifying unit is a Darlington transistor.

4. The voltage regulator according to claim 1, wherein when the output voltage increases to a cut-off voltage of the startup assisting unit, the startup assisting unit automatically stops to operate.

5. The voltage regulator according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detection unit is coupled to one of multiple exciting diodes in a rectifying unit of the alternator to receive the output voltage.

6. The voltage regulator according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detection unit is coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator to receive the output voltage.

7. The voltage regulator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage regulating driver unit coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator, operatively controlling the operation of a power switch according to the output voltage for correspondingly generating a second exciting current to excite the rotor coil, so as to regulate the output voltage of the alternator.

8. A voltage regulating system, comprising:

an alternator, comprising a rotor coil, operatively generating an output voltage;

a battery coupled to the alternator, configured for outputting a supply voltage;

a starter unit coupled to the battery and the alternator; and

a voltage regulator coupled to the alternator and the battery, the voltage regulator comprising;

a voltage detection unit coupled to the alternator, operatively detecting the output voltage of the alternator and generating an enable signal; and

a startup assisting unit coupled to the alternator, the rotor coil of the alternator, and the battery, the startup assisting unit receiving the supply voltage from the battery and operatively generating a first exciting current responsive to the enable signal for exciting the rotor coil;

wherein, when the voltage detection unit detects that the output voltage of the alternator is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold, the voltage detection unit outputs the enable signal to cause the startup assisting unit to generate the first exciting current to the rotor coil of the alternator, so that the alternator is able to establish voltage under a low rotational speed.

9. The voltage regulating system according to claim 8, wherein the startup assisting unit comprises:

a first resistor, the first terminal of the first resistor being coupled to the battery;

a second resistor, the first terminal of the second resistor being coupled to the battery and the second terminal of the second resistor being coupled to the voltage detection unit;

a current amplifying unit having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal being coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, the output terminal being coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator, and the control terminal being coupled to the voltage detection unit to receive the enable signal; and

a first diode, an anode thereof coupled to the output terminal and a cathode thereof coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator;

wherein the current amplifying unit generates the first exciting current according to the enable signal.

10. The voltage regulating system according to claim 9, wherein the current amplifying unit is a Darlington transistor.

11. The voltage regulating system according to claim 8, wherein the voltage detection unit is coupled to one of multiple exciting diodes in a rectifying unit of the alternator to receive the output voltage.

12. The voltage regulating system according to claim 8, wherein the voltage detection unit is coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator to receive the output voltage.

13. The voltage regulating system according to claim 8, wherein when the output voltage increases to a cut-off voltage of the startup assisting unit, the startup assisting unit automatically stops to operate.

14. A mobile vehicle, comprising:

a main body;

an alternator mounted on the main body, the alternator comprising a rotor coil, and operatively generating an output voltage;

a battery coupled to the alternator, configured for outputting a supply voltage;

a starter unit comprising a starter switch, the starter switch being coupled to the battery; and

a voltage regulator mounted on the main body, the voltage regulator coupled to the alternator and the battery, the voltage regulator comprising;

a voltage detection unit coupled to the alternator, and operatively detecting the output voltage of the alternator and generating an enable signal; and

a startup assisting unit coupled to the alternator, the rotor coil of the alternator, and the battery, the startup assisting unit receiving the supply voltage from the battery and operatively generating a first exciting current responsive to the enable signal for exciting the rotor coil;

wherein, when the voltage detection unit detects that the output voltage of the alternator is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold, the voltage detection unit outputs the enable signal to cause the startup assisting unit to generate the first exciting current to the rotor coil of the alternator, so that the alternator is able to establish voltage under a low rotational speed.

15. The mobile vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the startup assisting unit comprising:

a first resistor, the first terminal of the first resistor being coupled to the battery;

a second resistor, the first terminal of the second resistor being coupled to the battery while the second terminal of the second resistor being coupled to the voltage detection unit;

a current amplifying unit having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal being coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, the output terminal being coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator, and the control terminal being coupled to the voltage detection unit to receive the enable signal; and

a first diode, an anode thereof coupled to the output terminal and a cathode thereof coupled to the rotor coil of the alternator;

wherein the current amplifying unit generates the first exciting current according to the enable signal.

16. The mobile vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the current amplifying unit is a Darlington transistor.

17. The mobile vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the voltage detection unit is coupled to one of multiple exciting diodes in a rectifying unit of the alternator to receive the output voltage.

18. The mobile vehicle according to claim 14, wherein when the output voltage increases to a cut-off voltage of the startup assisting unit, the startup assisting unit automatically stops to operate.

19. An operation method of a voltage regulator, comprising:

detecting an output voltage of an alternator;

determining whether the output voltage of the alternator is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold; and

when the output voltage is greater than the predetermined voltage threshold, causes a startup assisting unit to generate a first exciting current to a rotor coil of the alternator.

20. The operation method according to claim 19, wherein the step after generating the first exciting current to the rotor coil of the alternator, further comprises:

when the output voltage rises to a cut-off voltage of the startup assisting unit, the startup assisting unit automatically stops to operate.