Method and system for protecting voltage regulator driver circuitry during field coil short circuit condition
US7583062B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H7/065
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for protecting voltage regulator driver circuitry during a short circuit condition of an alternator field coil includes passively detecting a drop in field coil voltage during an on-portion of a duty cycle of the field coil voltage, wherein the passive detection of the drop in field coil voltage signifies an interrupt event. Responsive to the interrupt event, a logical state of a driver enable control signal is changed so as to deactivate driver circuitry associated with a switching device used to pass field current through the field coil, wherein the driver circuitry, when deactivated, prevents the switching device from passing current regardless of the state of a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal applied to the driver circuitry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.