Patent · US Active

Alternator regulator with variable rotor field frequency

US8330430B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
13References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 2008
Grant dateDec 11, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02P9/48
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An alternator comprises a regulator configured to control the electric current to a field coil. The regulator includes a field driver circuit, the field driver circuit configured to deliver the electric current to the field coil at a switching frequency. The regulator further includes a controller configured to vary the switching frequency of the field driver circuit between a plurality of different switching frequencies. The alternator further comprises a sensor configured to detect a predetermined alternator condition, and the controller is configured to adjust the switching frequency of the field driver circuit in response to the sensed predetermined condition such as, for example, a rotor speed, a pulse width from the field driver circuit, an efficiency of the alternator, a temperature within the alternator, a temperature outside of the alternator, or magnetic noise of the alternator.

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