Charging system diagnostic device

• US 4,583,036 A
• Filed: 08/30/1985
• Issued: 04/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Morishita, Mitsuharu, Kouge, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce, Patrick R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ault, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US06/771,157
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 320/39, 320/48, 320/59
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00

Abstract

A diagnostic system for a charging system includes a microcomputer made integral with the generator and which receives and processes data from plural points in the system to diagnose system faults. Various sensors such as current detectors and a battery electrolyte testing sensor may be used to input data to the microcomputer for processing.

Claims

1. In a charging system diagnostic device comprising:

a generator driven by an engine;

a rectifier, having first and second output terminals, for rectifying the output of the generator;

a voltage regulator for controlling the generator so that its output has a predetermined value;

a battery which is charged by the output of the rectifier;

means, connected to said battery, for monitoring charge and discharge currents of said battery;

a charging system diagnostic microcomputer for reading, at a predetermined frequency, at least data representing a terminal voltage of said battery, data representing a generated voltage of said generator, and data representing charge and discharge currents of said battery, to diagnose said charging system; and

a display unit for displaying the results of the diagnosis made by said microcomputer;

the improvement wherein said voltage regulator comprises;

a first regulator terminal connected to said second output terminal of said rectifier;

a second regulator terminal connected to a field coil;

a third regulator terminal connected to an input terminal of said rectifier;

a fourth regulator terminal connected to said second output terminal of said rectifier and to a positive terminal of said battery;

a voltage divider comprising first and second resistors serially connected, one end of said voltage divider being connected to said first regulator terminal, the other end being connected to said third regulator terminal;

a Zener diode having one end connected to a junction point between said first and second resistors;

a first transistor having a base connected to the other end of said Zener diode and an emitter connected to said third regulator terminal;

a third resistor having one end connected to said fourth regulator terminal and the other end connected to a collector of said first transistor;

a second transistor having a base connected to a collector of said first transistor and a collector connected to said second regulator terminal;

a third transistor having a base connected to an emitter of said second transistor, an emitter connected to said third regulator terminal, and a collector connected to said second regulator terminal; and

a diode having one end connected to said second regulator terminal and to said collectors of said second and third transistors, and the other end connected to said first regulator terminal.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said microcomputer is integral with said generator.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, said microcomputer being built into said generator.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, further including at least one sensor for outputting data representing an electrochemical condition of said battery to said microcomputer.