Patent · US Expired

Power converter system

US5066866A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
15References
11Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 26, 1989
Grant dateNov 19, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 26, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/70
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical apparatus for use with a motor vehicle electrical system, which includes an engine-driven alternator, provides a switching circuit for switching the system between a normal-power state and a high-power state. In the normal-power state, the apparatus provides the nominal electrical power needed by the vehicle electrical system and battery. In the high-power state, the apparatus causes the engine-driven alternator to produce a higher voltage and a higher power output for external loads, while still providing the nominal electrical power for the vehicle electrical system and the vehicle battery. In the normal-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator. In the high-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees only a reduced portion of the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator. The increased power output from the alternator can be rectified into a high-voltage DC current or can be converted to 60 HZ 110-volt AC power by means of a cycloconverter, for example. A control circuit senses load current in the high-power mode of operation and causes the engine to operate at an increase…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.