# US 2014/0197842 A1 · Method for detecting an electrical fault in a generator assemblage, and means for implementation thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197842 A1 - Document ID: US20140197842A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/157,702 - Filed: 2014-01-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-17 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Paul MEHRINGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197842A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/343: {in operation} - G01R 31/005: {Testing of electric installations on transport means} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A method for identifying electrical faults in a generator assemblage, in particular of a motor vehicle, which assemblage includes a generator having a generator regulator and a rectifier having rectifier elements, the method encompassing ascertaining, in the context of at least one excitation current value of an excitation current through an excitation winding of the generator, at least one respective parameter that corresponds to a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements, and determining that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter deviates by more than a predetermined amount from an associated expected value. Also described is an apparatus for implementing the method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for identifying an electrical fault in a generator assemblage, the generator assemblage including a generator having a generator regulator and a rectifier having rectifier elements, the method comprising: ascertaining, in the context of at least one excitation current value of an excitation current through an excitation winding of the generator, at least one respective parameter that corresponds to a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements; and determining that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter deviates in more than predetermined fashion from an associated expected value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the expected value is derived respectively from a characteristic curve that indicates the values for the parameters for at least two excitation current values in the context of a generator assemblage known to be intact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic curve indicates current conduction time proportions and/or current conduction durations that are obtained in the context of at least two different excitation current values at a predetermined rotation speed of the generator and/or at a predetermined voltage drop between the DC-voltage-side terminals of the rectifier in the context of the generator assemblage known to be intact. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at a constant rotation speed of the generator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter indicates that a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements is, at a maximum excitation current, appreciably above or below 50%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is ascertained by evaluating at least one AC voltage present at an AC-voltage-side terminal of the rectifier, and at least one DC voltage present at a DC-voltage-side terminal of the rectifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter is ascertained based on a comparator-based comparison of at least one of the AC voltages with at least one of the DC voltages. ### Claim 8 A generator regulator of a generator, which is for a generator assemblage having a rectifier having rectifier elements, comprising: a comparator to compare at least one AC voltage present at at least one AC-voltage-side terminal of a rectifier with at least one DC voltage present at a DC-voltage-side terminal of the rectifier; and a computation unit with which the at least one parameter is determinable based on the comparison; wherein, in the context of at least one excitation current value of an excitation current through an excitation winding of the generator, the at least one parameter is determined that corresponds to a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements, and wherein it is determined that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter deviates in more than predetermined fashion from an associated expected value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The generator regulator of claim 8, wherein the expected value is derived respectively from a characteristic curve that indicates the values for the parameters for at least two excitation current values in the context of a generator assemblage known to be intact. ### Claim 10 A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising: a program code arrangement having program for identifying an electrical fault in a generator assemblage, the generator assemblage including a generator having a generator regulator and a rectifier having rectifier elements, by performing the following: ascertaining, in the context of at least one excitation current value of an excitation current through an excitation winding of the generator, at least one respective parameter that corresponds to a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements; and determining that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter deviates in more than predetermined fashion from an associated expected value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the expected value is derived respectively from a characteristic curve that indicates the values for the parameters for at least two excitation current values in the context of a generator assemblage known to be intact. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the generator assemblage is of a motor vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter indicates that a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements is, at a maximum excitation current, equal to less than 45%, 40%, 30%, or 20%, or more than 55%, 60%, or 70%. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining that an electrical fault exists if the at least one parameter indicates that a current conduction time proportion of at least one of the rectifier elements is, at a maximum excitation current, equal to or more than 55%, 60%, or 70%.