# US 10,870,465 B2 · Power boost regulator

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- Number: US 10,870,465 B2
- Document ID: US10870465B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/819,691
- Filed: 2017-11-21
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-22
- Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Applicants: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen G. Crain; Derek D. Zimney
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870465B2

## CPC

- B62M 27/02: power driven
- B60L 15/007: {Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles}
- B60L 15/2045: {for optimising the use of energy}
- B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)}
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- H02K 1/2788: the rotor consisting of a single magnet or two or more axially juxtaposed single magnets
- H02K 7/02: Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels
- H02K 7/1807: {Rotary generators (H02K7/006 takes precedence)}
- H02K 7/1815: {structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines (general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04)}
- H02K 9/06: with fans or impellers driven by the machine shaft
- H02M 3/04: by static converters
- H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
- H02M 7/04: by static converters
- H02M 7/219: in a bridge configuration
- B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters
- B60L 2220/50: Structural details of electrical machines
- B60L 2240/427: Voltage
- B60L 2240/429: Current
- B60L 2240/441: Speed
- B60L 2240/445: Temperature
- H02K 7/085: {radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor (H02K7/086, H02K7/09 take precedence)}
- H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)}
- H02M 1/0085: {Partially controlled bridges}
- H02M 3/1586: {switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved}
- Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
- Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A power generation system is provided including a power boost regulator operative to provide load matched voltage operation of an AC power source.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of electrical power generation in a vehicle, the method including:
receiving, by a power boost regulator, alternating current (AC) power from an AC generator coupled to an output of an engine of a vehicle, the engine being operatively coupled to a ground engaging member of the vehicle to move the vehicle, a speed of the engine varying during an operation of the vehicle;
providing, by the power boost regulator, an output direct current (DC) power for use by an electrical system of the vehicle;
monitoring, remote from the power boost regulator, a voltage input to a first electrical load of a plurality of electrical loads of the vehicle;
controlling, by the power boost regulator, the AC generator to generate the AC power at a target current level and a target voltage level based on the monitored voltage input to the first electrical load of the plurality of electrical loads of the electrical system of the vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing, by the power boost regulator, the direct current (DC) power for use by the electrical system of the vehicle includes the steps of converting the received alternating current (AC) power to a first direct current (DC) power and boosting the first direct current (DC) power to provide the output direct current (DC) power.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining, by an electronic controller of the power boost regulator, a target current level and a target voltage level of the alternating current (AC) power output by the AC generator based on a rotational speed of the engine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of selectively distributing, by a current steering stage of the power boost regulator, the output direct current (DC) power to the first electrical load and a second electrical load of the plurality of electrical loads of the electrical system of the vehicle based on a priority distribution schedule.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the first electrical load of a plurality of electrical loads of the vehicle has a highest priority in the priority distribution schedule.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrical load is a fuel injection system controlled by an engine controller and the monitored voltage input is a high side voltage of the injector.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical loads of the electrical system of the vehicle includes an engine controller, at least one pump, and at least one chassis load.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further including, in response to a startup event of the engine, distributing the output direct current (DC) power to the engine controller prior to distributing power to the at least one pump and the at least one chassis load.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further including distributing output direct current (DC) power to the at least one pump in response to the power to the engine controller exceeding a power level threshold.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further including distributing output direct current (DC) power to the at least one chassis load in response to the power to the engine controller exceeding a first power level threshold and the power to the at least one pump exceeding a second power level threshold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the startup event includes a manual recoil start by an operator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the engine controller has a higher priority than the at least one pump, and the at least one pump has a higher priority than the at least one chassis load.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one pump includes a fuel pump and an oil pump, and the at least one chassis load includes at least one of a taillight, a handwarmer device, and a power relay for vehicle accessories.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring an internal voltage of the power boost regulator;
controlling, by the power boost regulator, the AC generator to generate the AC power at the target current level and the target voltage level based on the monitored internal voltage of the power boost regulator when the voltage input to the first electrical load of the plurality of electrical loads of the electrical system of the vehicle has a first characteristic.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the first characteristic is being below a first threshold value.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
coupling the electrical system of the vehicle to a first connector interface of the power boost regulator, the power boost regulator providing the output direct current (DC) power through the first connector interface; and
coupling a sense line to a second connector interface of the power boost regulator, the monitored voltage input to the first electrical load of the plurality of electrical loads of the vehicle being received by the power boost regulator through the second connector interface, the second connector interface being spaced apart from the first connector interface.

### Claim 17

A vehicle for riding by a rider, the vehicle including:
a chassis;
a front suspension coupled to the chassis;
a pair of front skis coupled to the front suspension;
an endless track assembly coupled to the chassis including an endless belt;
a straddle seat supported by the chassis for supporting an operator;
an engine supported by the chassis and providing power to the endless track assembly;
an electrical system supported by the chassis and operatively coupled to the engine to control an operation of the engine, the electrical system including a plurality of electrical loads;
an alternating current (AC) generator operatively coupled to the engine to generate alternating current (AC) power; and
a power boost regulator operatively coupled to the alternating current (AC) generator to rectify the alternating current (AC) power and to boost the alternating current (AC) power to provide an output direct current (DC) power, the power boost regulator configured to monitor, remote from the power boost regulator, a voltage input to a first electrical load of the plurality of electrical loads of the electrical system and to control the alternating current (AC) generator to generate the alternating current (AC) power at a target current level and a target voltage level based on the monitored voltage input to the first electrical load of the plurality of electrical loads of the electrical system.