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US 9,866,053 B2Granted
Method for compensating alternator regulation to control remote battery voltage utilizing adaptive variable
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorTimothy J. Alfermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for compensating for alternator to battery voltage drop in charging systems lacking external remote sensing capabilities and utilizing serial communications. A controller utilizes an adaptive variable for determining an alternator output voltage setpoint that compensates for battery cable voltage losses, and adjusting the setpoint to achieve substantially constant battery voltage of the entire range of alternator loads.
Claims20
A method for regulating the output voltage setpoint (VCONTROL,ADAPT) of an alternator, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a first voltage setpoint of the alternator corresponding to a first alternator load level (VSet0) and an initial value (V100,INIT) for a second voltage setpoint of the alternator corresponding to a second alternator load level (V100) greater than the first load level;
- serially communicating information identifying the voltage level of a battery (VBAT,ADAPT) charged by the alternator through a battery cable continually to a controller;
- using the controller to incrementally increase the second voltage setpoint (V100) from its initial value (V100,INIT) until a desired relationship is reached between the battery voltage (VBAT,ADAPT) and the first voltage setpoint (VSet0), and to then define an end value (V100,END) for the second voltage setpoint (V100);
- using the controller to determine an adaptive variable (RADAPT) based on the first voltage setpoint (VSet0) and the defined end value (V100,END) for the second voltage setpoint (V100), and to determine, utilizing the adaptive variable (RADAPT), offsetting levels of the alternator output voltage setpoint (VCONTROL,ADAPT) that compensate for battery cable voltage losses estimated to occur over a range of alternator load levels between the first and second alternator load levels;
- and
- continually regulating the alternator output voltage setpoint (VCONTROL,ADAPT) to an offsetting level that compensates for the respective battery cable voltage drop between the alternator and the battery and maintain the battery voltage (VBAT,ADAPT) at a substantially constant level.
3 more elements
A method for regulating the output voltage setpoint of an alternator, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a first output voltage setpoint corresponding to a 0% alternator load level (VSet0) and an initial value (V100,INIT) for a second output voltage setpoint corresponding to a 100% alternator load level (V100);
- serially communicating information regarding the voltage level of a battery (VBAT,ADAPT) charged by the alternator through a battery cable continually to a controller;
- using the controller to incrementally increase the second output voltage setpoint level (V100) from its initial value (V100,INIT) until the serially communicated battery voltage level (VBAT,ADAPT) is substantially equal to the first output voltage setpoint level (VSet0), and to then define an end value (V100,END) for the second output voltage setpoint level (V100);
- using the alternator controller to determine an adaptive variable (RADAPT) based on the first output voltage setpoint level (VSet0) and the defined end value (V100,END) for the second output voltage setpoint level (V100), and to determine the offsetting level of alternator output voltage setpoint (VCONTROL,ADAPT) that compensates for the battery cable voltage drop relative to the first output voltage setpoint level (VSet0) at a respective alternator load level in a range between the 0% and 100% alternator load levels;
- and
- regulating the alternator output voltage setpoint (VCONTROL,ADAPT) to its offsetting level to maintain the battery voltage (VBAT,ADAPT) at a substantially constant value equivalent to the first output voltage setpoint level (VSet0).
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.