Controller for a Graetz switch bridge rectifier for an alternator

• US 6,195,276 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Sebille, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/172,954
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 363/126, 363/127, 363/84, 363/89, 363/69, 363/67, 363/34, 363/37, 363/70
• US Class Current: 363/127
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1492 by means of controlling devices between the generator output and the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/305 controlling voltage H02P9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence
• 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 device for rectifying the output voltage of a multiphase alternator including a controlled switch Graetz bridge adapted to be connected to different phase lines of the alternator and means for controlling said switches to generate a rectified voltage, in which the control means include a diode type component Graetz bridge which generates signals for controlling the switches of the controlled Graetz bridge.

Claims

1. A device for rectifying output voltage of a multiphase alternator, comprising:

a controlled switch Graetz bridge, adapted to be connected to different phase lines of the alternator, including switches; and

control means to control the switches to generate a rectified voltage, the control means including a Graetz diode bridge, adapted to connect to different phase lines of the alternator, to generate signals to control the switches.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diode type component bridge includes diode type components comprising base-emitter junctions of bipolar transistors.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein emitters of the bipolar transistors are connected to the phase lines and collectors of the bipolar transistors are connected to circuits for shaping collector voltages or currents for controlling the switches.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein bases of two bipolar transistors whose emitters are connected to the same phase line are connected between ground and a rectified output of the switch bridge.

5. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a voltage adjusting circuit having terminals which are connected to bases of two bipolar transistors whose emitters are connected to the same phase line.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the voltage adjusting circuit includes variable impedance means.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the variable impedance means includes variable resistance means.

8. The device according to claim 2, further comprising diodes for protecting the base-emitter junctions of bipolar transistors.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the switches are of the MOSFET type.

10. Device according to claim 3, wherein the switches are of the MOSFET type and the circuits for shaping the collector voltages or currents that control gates of positive switches of the switch Graetz bridge include voltage offsetting means.

11. A device for rectifying output voltage of a multiphase alternator, comprising:

a power bridge, adapted to connect to different phase lines of the alternator, to rectify voltage on the phase lines; and

an image bridge to generate signals to control the power bridge to generate the rectified voltage, the image bridge comprising a Graetz diode bridge adapted to connect to different phase lines of the alternator.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the power bridge includes switches controlled by the image bridge via the signals.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the switches comprise MOSFET-type switches.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the Graetz diode bridge includes diodes comprising base-emitter junctions of bipolar transistors.

15. The device according to claim 14, further comprising circuits for shaping collector voltages or currents of bipolar transistors, emitters of the bipolar transistors being connected to the phase lines and collectors of the bipolar transistors being connected to the circuits for shaping to control the switches.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the circuits for shaping include voltage offset means.

17. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a voltage adjusting circuit having terminals which are connected to bases of two transistors whose emitters are connected to the same phase line.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the image bridge controls the switches, via the signals, to enable open loop operation without electronic feedback.

19. A vehicle comprising:

an alternator; and

the device of claim 11.

20. A device for rectifying output voltage of a multiphase alternator, comprising:

means, adapted to connect to different phase lines of the alternator, for rectifying a voltage on the phase lines; and

a Graetz diode bridge, adapted to connect to different phase lines of the alternator, for generating signals to control the means for rectifying to rectify the voltage.

21. A method for rectifying output voltage of a multiphase alternator, comprising:

rectifying voltages on phase lines of an alternator through the use of a Graetz switch bridge; and

generating signals to control the Graetz switch bridge through the use of a Graetz diode bridge adapted to connect to different phase lines of the alternator.