VOLTAGE REGULATOR INDICATING CIRCUIT FOR UNDERVOLTAGE, NORMAL VOLTAGE AND OVERVOLTAGE CONDITIONS

• US 3,673,588 A
• Filed: 01/14/1970
• Issued: 06/27/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Riff
• Original Assignee: James A. Riff
• Inventors: Riff, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US05/002,890
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 324/51,72.5,133 340/248,249
• US Class Current: 340/455
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

An indicating circuit for use in a vehicular electrical system having a DC power source and a dynamoelectric machine to supply a charging current to the DC power source. One or more indicating lamps are provided to give visual indication of the various operating conditions of the dynamoelectric machine to indicate failure of an alternator or regulator components or to indicate below normal, normal, and above normal voltage outputs therefrom. Where two or more indicating lamps are used, they are controlled by voltage differential amplifiers having gated outputs therefrom connected to a third amplifier. The third amplifier control energization of the indicating lamp which indicates the normal voltage output of the dynamoelectric machine, and energization of either of the two voltage differential amplifier circuits will render the third amplifier inoperative by a signal through the associated gate circuit.

Claims

1. A voltage regulator indicating circuit for use in a vehicular system which has a DC power source and a dynamoelectric machine for supplying charging current to the DC power source, comprising in combination:

first and second indicators, voltage value responsive circuit means having first and second inputs, said first input being coupled to the DC power source and said second input to the output of said dynamoelectric machine, said voltage value responsive circuit means comparing said inputs and being coupled to said first indicator to energize the same with said first and second inputs being substantially unequal, a switching circuit coupled in circuit with the DC power supply, said voltage value responsive circuit means and said second indicator, said switching circuit energizing said second indicator with said voltages of said first and second inputs of said voltage value circuit means being substantially equal, and said switching circuit further being disabled with said first and second inputs of said voltage value responsive circuit means being substantially unequal.

2. The voltage regulator indicating circuit according to claim 1 including said voltage value responsive circuit energizing said first indicator over a first predetermined range of voltage differences between said first and second input voltages, a third indicator, second voltage value responsive circuit means having a first and second inPut and an output, said first input being coupled to the DC power source and second input being coupled to said dynamoelectric machine, said second voltage value responsive circuit comparing said first and second inputs thereof and being coupled to said third indicator to energize the same in response to said inputs being substantially unequal over a second predetermined range of voltage differences, said first and second voltage ranges being different, said second voltage value responsive circuit further being coupled to said switching circuit to disable the same over said second range of voltage differences.

3. A voltage regulator indicating circuit to be connected to a battery charging circuit within an electrical system of a motor vehicle to indicate the operating conditions of the dynamoelectric machine used to charge the battery, comprising:

a first voltage differential amplifier circuit having a first current control device which has a pair of load electrodes and a control electrode;

a first indicating lamp connected in circuit with the load electrodes of said first current control device to be energized in response to conduction thereof;

a first reference voltage means coupled to said control electrode of said first current control device, said first reference voltage means arranged for connection to the battery charging circuit within the electrical system of the motor vehicle, said first reference voltage means being rendered operative in response to a first abnormal voltage output condition of the dynamoelectric machine within the electrical system of the motor vehicle, a second voltage differential amplifier circuit having a second current control device which has a pair of load electrodes and a control electrode;

a second indicating lamp connected in circuit with the load electrodes of said second current control device to be energized in response to the conduction thereof;

a second reference voltage means coupled to said control electrode of said second current control device, said second reference voltage means arranged for connection to the battery charging circuit within the electrical system of the motor vehicle, said second reference voltage means being rendered operative in response to a second abnormal voltage condition at the output of the dynamoelectric machine within the electrical system of the motor vehicle;

a switching circuit including a third current control device having load electrodes and a control electrode, a third indicating lamp connected in circuit with the load electrodes of said third current control device to be energized in response to the conduction thereof to indicate a normal voltage condition of the electrical system;

resistance means connected to the control electrode of said third current control device to provide an operating bias by forming a control electrode to load electrode current path from the battery to ground which, in turn, renders said third current control device highly conductive to energize said third indicating lamp; and

gate means coupled between the output of each of said first and second current control devices to the control electrode of said third current control device to disable said third current control device upon conduction of either said first or second current control device.

4. The voltage regulator indicating circuit of claim 3 wherein said first reference voltage circuit means is responsive to a below normal voltage output of the dynamo-electric machine to energize said first indicating lamp in response thereto;

said second reference voltage circuit means is responsive to an above normal voltage output of the dynamoelectric machine to energize said second indicating lamp in response thereto; and

said third indicating lamp is energized by said switching circuit in response to a normal voltage output of the dynamoelectric machine.

5. The voltage regulator indicating circuit of claim 3 including fourth and fifth current control devices, each of said first and second current control devices being coupled to said fourth and fifth current control devices respectively, a direct current coupled to the control electrode of each of said fourth and fifth current control devices, and said first and second reference voltage means being coupled to the control electrode of said fourth and fifth current control devices respectively, which are connected in circuit with said first and second current control devices.

6. The voltage regulator indicating circuit of claim 5 wherein said first reference voltage means includes a zener diode connected in circuit in one polarity direction and said second reference voltage means includes a zener diode connected in circuit in the opposite polarity direction.

7. The voltage regulator indicating circuit of claim 3 wherein said gate means includes a first diode direct current coupled between the output of said first current control device and the control electrode of said third current control device, and a second diode direct current coupled between the output of said second current controlled device and the control electrode of said third current control device.