Apparatus and method for regulating a generator of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

The apparatus for controlling an output voltage of a generator of an internal combustion engine having a starter device, includes a charge control signaling device, an excitation coil for the generator and a voltage regulator controlling an excitation current in the excitation coil and an excitation current limiting device for limiting the excitation current during a predetermined starting phase (.DELTA.t1 ) connected to the voltage regulator. The excitation current limiting device detects whether the engine is in a starting phase. If the engine is in a starting phase, the excitation current limiting device reduces the excitation current so that a voltage is produce at generator terminal D+ which permits no load current and simultaneously guarantees that the charge control signalling device is shut off. After ending of the starting phase the excitation current limiting device is shut off and the excitation current is increased to its standard value, which results in a generator output voltage which is above the power supply voltage that charges the battery.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.