Generator apparatus with active load dump protection

• US 8,093,870 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seg Automotive Germany GMBH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mueller, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/303,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 322/24, 322/28, 361/3, 701/103, 702/74
• US Class Current: 322/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/102 for limiting effects of transients

Abstract

A generator apparatus includes a generator, a generator controller, and a rectifier bridge. A detector unit for recognizing a load shutoff is also provided. When a load shutoff is recognized, a switch is controlled to be transmissive so that energy produced by the load shutoff is stored in an energy reservoir. From there it can be fed back into the vehicle electrical system.

Claims

1. A generator apparatus, comprising:

a generator including an exciter winding and phase windings;

a generator controller adapted to furnish a control voltage to the generator;

a rectifier bridge adapted to rectify phase voltages made available by the generator to make available a DC supply voltage for a switchable load on a DC supply voltage lead;

a detector unit adapted to recognize a load shutoff;

an energy reservoir; and

a first switch controllable by the detector unit and arranged between the DC supply voltage lead and the energy reservoir;

wherein the detector unit is adapted to switch the first switch to transmissivity after a load shutoff is recognized, so that energy produced by the load shutoff is stored in the energy reservoir.

2. The generator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector unit includes a measured data acquisition module, an evaluation module, and a switch control module.

3. The generator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the measured data acquisition module is adapted to sense at least one of (a) a generator current and (b) the DC supply voltage.

4. The generator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation module is adapted to detect load shutoffs by evaluating a gradient of at least one of (a) a generator current and (b) the DC supply voltage.

5. The generator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switch control module is adapted to control the first switch.

6. The generator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein energy stored in the energy reservoir is deliverable to the load via at least one switch.

7. The generator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector unit is adapted to signal to the generator controller a detected load shutoff, and once a predetermined time interval after the detection of a load shutoff has elapsed, the generator controller furnishes to the generator a control voltage such that a generator current is reduced.

8. The generator apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second switch, arranged in the DC supply voltage lead, adapted to reduce a generator current flowing from the generator to the load.

9. The generator apparatus according to claim 7, wherein energy stored in the energy reservoir is deliverable to the load after reduction of the generator current has been accomplished.