Method for limiting an inrush current in an electrical power circuit of a motor vehicle starter, and corresponding electrical circuit, current limiter and starter

Abstract

A method for limiting an inrush current, which is implemented in an electrical power circuit (1) of a motor vehicle starter (15). The starter includes an electromagnetic contactor (12) and an electric motor (7) comprising motor windings (6) having a rated inductance (L0). The method consists in controlling the rate of variation of the inrush current by means of an inductive element (8) inserted in series into the electrical power circuit (1). According to the invention, an initial value of the variation rate is substantially separate from the rated inductance (L0). According to another feature, the initial value is a function of a coupling coefficient between a primary winding (8) and a secondary winding (10) of a transformer (9), the primary winding (8) of which constitutes the inductive element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.