Power generation control apparatus for motorcar power distributor

• US 5,905,357 A
• Filed: 03/18/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Nozomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US08/819,800
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 322/19, 322/27, 322/28
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1446 in response to parameters of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/24 using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A power generation control apparatus to be used for a motorcar power distributor can effectively prevent any excessive charging current from flowing into the battery and consequently protect the battery against degradation. Additionally, it can minimize fluctuations in the supply voltage and functional failures in the loads of the electric equipment of the motorcar. The power generation control apparatus to be used for a motorcar power distributor comprises an alternator for generating an alternating current to be subjected to full-wave rectification by means of a rectifier to produce a direct current, said alternator being connected to the power supply route from the battery by way of an alternator supply line at a point immediately upstream relative to the branch point for branching the power supply so that the battery may be charged with power generated by the alternator and the loads may be fed respectively with the branched power supply. A power supply control means determines the relationship between the current detected by a load feeding current sensor and the current detected by a generated current sensor by comparing their intensities and controlling the rate of power generation of said alternator according to the determined relationship.

Claims

1. A power generation control apparatus to be used for a motorcar power distributor comprising an alternator for generating an alternating current to be subjected to full-wave rectification by means of a rectifier to produce a direct current, said alternator being connected to the power supply route from the battery by way to an alternator supply line at a point immediately upstream relative to the branch point for branching the power supply so that the battery may be charged with power generated by the alternator and the loads may be fed respectively with the branched power supply, comprising:

a load feeding current sensor for detecting the intensity of the electric current flowing through said power supply route at a point immediately upstream relative to the branch point;

a generated current sensor for detecting the intensity of the electric current flowing through said alternator supply line; and

a power supply control means for determining the relationship between the current detected by said load feeding current sensor and the current detected by said generated current sensor by comparing their intensities and controlling the rate of power generation of said alternator according to the determined relationship, wherein said power supply control means increases the rate of power generation of said alternator when the intensity of current detected by said generated current sensor is lower than the intensity of current detected by said load feeding current sensor.

2. A power generation control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the liquid of the battery and transmitting a temperature signal representing the detected temperature, wherein said power supply control means monitors the charged condition of the said battery by way of the temperature signal from said liquid temperature sensor when the intensity of current detected by said generated current sensor is higher than the intensity of current detected by said load feeding current sensor and reduces the rate of power generation of the alternator according to the temperature rise in the liquid of the battery.

3. A power generation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternator has a switching means arranged on the power supply route at a point closer to the battery than the point of connection of the alternator supply line and said power supply control means cuts said battery off the power supply route by turning off said switching means when the intensity of current detected by said generated current sensor is excessively higher than the intensity of current detected by said load feeding current sensor.

4. A power generation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply control means receives data on the switching operations conducted for turning on and off loads and increases the rate of power generation of said alternator when it detects any increase in the number of operating loads.

5. A power generation control apparatus to be used for a motorcar power distributor including an alternator having an AC generator including a stator coil for generating an alternating current to be subjected to full-wave rectification by means of a rectifier to produce a direct current, a field coil and a regulator for regulating the excitation current flowing to said field coil in order to electromotive force of said alternator, said alternator being connected to the power supply route from the battery by way of an alternator supply line at a point immediately upstream relative to the branch point for branching the power supply so that the battery may be charged with power generated by the alternator and the loads may be fed respectively with the branched power supply, comprising:

a load feeding current sensor for detecting the intensity of the electric current flowing through said power supply route at a point immediately upstream relative to the branch point;

a generated current sensor for detecting the intensity of the electric current flowing through said alternator supply line; and

a power supply control means for determining the relationship between the current detected by said load feeding current sensor and the current detected by said generated current sensor by comparing their intensities and controlling the intensity of the excitation current flowing to said field coil by controlling said regulator according to the determined relationship, wherein said power supply control means increases the rate of power generation of said alternator when the intensity of current detected by said generated current sensor is lower than the intensity of current detected by said load feeding current sensor.