Electronic device, in particular an alternator regulator, and method for regulating such a device

A method for regulating an alternator, in which the inductor of the alternator is connected to the outputs of a regulator comprising:

• a power stage comprising:
• a first pair of power transistors connected in parallel between a terminal of a DC bus and a first terminal of the inductor;
• a second pair of transistors connected in parallel between a second terminal of the inductor and an opposite terminal of the DC bus;
• at least one diode connecting the second terminal of the inductor to the terminal of the DC bus;
• at least one flyback diode connecting the opposite terminal of the DC bus to the first terminal of the inductor;
• a control circuit configured to generate a pulsed control signal for regulating the current in the inductor and for detecting a failure of one of the transistors,
• in which method:
• during normal operation of the regulator, at least one of the transistors of the second pair is controlled by the control circuit so as to be in the on-state, the control signal is sent to one of the transistors of the first pair, while maintaining the other transistor of said pair in an off-state;
• in the event of a request for rapid cancellation of the current in the inductor for the purposes of the regulation, the transistors of the first pair and the transistors of the second pair are controlled in the off-state;
• in the event of the failure of a transistor of the first pair causing it to remain in an open circuit, the pulsed control signal is sent to the other transistor of said pair for the purposes of regulating the current in the inductor;
• in the event of the failure of one of the transistors of the second pair causing it to remain in an open circuit, the other transistor of said pair is controlled in order to saturate said transistor;
• and
• in the event of the failure of a transistor of the first pair causing it to remain in an open circuit, the second transistor of said pair is controlled in order to saturate said transistor, a transistor of the other pair is maintained in the off-state and the pulsed control signal is sent to the other transistor of said second pair for the purposes of regulating the current in the inductor.