Transition voltage start regulator
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorJack Douglas Harmon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for battery-based activation of a voltage regulator has a voltage detection circuit that measures the voltage produced by a battery, for example, an automotive system battery. The system further includes a voltage regulation unit, which is activated when the voltage that the battery produces is below a threshold value indicative of an attempt to start an engine. To begin regulation, a field current signal of a generator is strobed to create a battery voltage signal that exceeds the minimum reference value. If the battery voltage signal is above a minimum reference value, the battery voltage signal will be analyzed to ensure that neither voltage spiking nor a no load change condition caused the anomaly. Once these safety checks are complete, the battery voltage signal can be regulated.
Claims12
A method for battery-level activation of a voltage regulator comprising the steps of:
- measuring a level of battery voltage signal of a battery;
- generating an activation signal when said level is indicative of an attempt to start an engine;
- and
- applying said activation signal to an activation input of the voltage regulator to thereby activate said voltage regulator when said activation signal is applied.
A voltage regulation system comprising:
- a voltage regulation unit configured to control a field current of a generator;
- and
- a voltage detection circuit which activates said voltage regulation unit upon detecting a battery voltage signal below a predetermined voltage range.
A voltage regulator for regulating a voltage of a battery comprising:
- a voltage regulation unit configured to control a field current of a current generator, said generator having an output coupled to the battery, the voltage regulation unit having an activation input configured to receive an activation signal to activate the voltage regulation unit in response thereto;
- an activation apparatus configured to activate the voltage regulation unit by generating said activation signal in response to the battery voltage indicative of an attempt to start an engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.