Electricity: single generator systems – Automatic control of generator or driving means – With respect to a reference or master device or quantity
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-07
2004-03-02
Ramirez, Nestor (Department: 2834)
Electricity: single generator systems
Automatic control of generator or driving means
With respect to a reference or master device or quantity
C322S017000, C322S027000, C322S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06700355
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based on an incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-343646 filed on Nov. 10, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for controlling a vehicular generator, an external controller and a vehicular power generation controlling device for controlling a power-generating state of a vehicular generator mounted on a vehicle, a truck or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a vehicular generator supplies power to a battery while the vehicle engine is running. Additionally, the generator provides power for engine ignition, lighting, and other various electrical components, while a generator controller is connected thereto in order to maintain a constant output voltage, even under varying load conditions. In recent years, driving torque of vehicular generators have increased as vehicular electrical loads have increased. If the driving torque of a vehicular generator grows excessively large while an engine is at idle speed, the engine speed becomes unstable. Therefore, a technique is known to avoid such a situation by controlling a power generation condition of the vehicular generator by a generator controller.
For example, in JP-A No. 7-194023, there is disclosed a generator controller that adjusts an output voltage of a vehicular generator to any value based on a duty ratio of a signal transmitted from an external control unit. When a duty signal corresponding to an adjusted voltage is transmitted through a communication line from the external controller unit, a converter within the generator controller converts the duty ratio of the signal to a voltage level so as to control an output voltage of the vehicular generator corresponding to the voltage level thereof.
Moreover, in JP-A No. 8-98430, there is disclosed a generator controller that suppresses power generation of a vehicular generator during a predetermined period when a state of an external control signal is switched.
In the above-described generator controller disclosed in JP-A NO. 7-194023, a duty ratio is converted to a voltage level so that an output voltage of a vehicular generator is controlled corresponding to the voltage level. However, a variable range of the output voltage by the duty ratio is limited, and therefore, if it is left as it is, electrical power cannot be supplied during a high voltage load. Moreover, because a duty voltage converter has undesirable conversion accuracy, there is a problem that it is not possible to conduct a new duty setting.
Moreover, in the above-described power generating controlling device disclosed in JP-A No. 8-98430, in a case where a signal line connected with an external control unit is shorted out, there is a problem related to the possibility of an overcharged battery because the adjusted voltage transitions to a high level.
Additionally, in the external controller, if electrical power generation is set to be switched externally by using a special-purpose signal line in addition to a conventional signal line for a battery charge control, it leads to an addition of a harness and an extensive change of the external controller. Therefore, a substantial increase in cost may result.
Furthermore, in the above-described generator controller disclosed in JP-A No. 7-194023, in order to mutually convert between a duty ratio and a voltage level, a plurality of converters are necessary. Therefore, the problem of a particularly complicated circuit structure exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is created in view of these aspects, and its object is to provide compatibility with a conventional one, and transfer new information. Moreover, another object of the present invention is that by employing a signal condition that is conventionally unused, without changing the hardware of an external controller, a control value is set corresponding to a vehicle condition by updating software. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure without using such a complicated conversion circuit for sending a command value.
In order to solve the above-described problem, a controlling method of a vehicular generator of the present invention, in a case where a power generation state of the vehicular generator is controlled by transmitting a setting signal to a vehicular power generation controller from an external controller, on the external controller side, a command of a first controlling value is allocated to a steady state of the setting signal. Additionally, a command of a second controlling value is allocated to a change state of the setting signal, and on a vehicular power generation controlling device side, during a predetermined period after detecting the change state of the setting signal, the second controlling value being different from the first controlling value corresponding to the steady state is set as an output controlling value of the vehicular generator.
The external controller of the present invention controls a power generation state of a vehicular generator by transmitting a steady state of a setting signal expressing a command of a first controlling value and a change state of the setting signal expressing a command of a second controlling value for changing the first controlling value for a predetermined time.
A vehicular power generation controlling device of the present invention includes an external signal identifying means for identifying a steady state and a change state of a setting signal transmitted from an external controller, and a controlling value setting means for setting a second setting value different from a first controlling value corresponding to the steady state during a predetermined time after a change state of the setting signal is detected by the external signal identifying means.
A vehicular power generation controlling device of the present invention includes an external signal identifying circuit for identifying a steady state and a change state of a setting signal transmitted from an external controlled, and an adjustment voltage controlling circuit for setting a second controlling value as an adjustment voltage of a vehicular generator, the second controlling value being different from a first controlling value corresponding to the steady state, during a predetermined time after a change state of the setting signal is detected by the external signal identifying circuit, and controls a power generation state of the vehicular controller by using the first controlling value and the second controlling value set by the adjustment voltage controlling circuit.
When a state of the setting signal is change, the first controlling value used so far is change to a second controlling value. Because a change of a control value can be performed without using a converter of an undesirable conversion accuracy, it becomes possible to transfer new information, that has been impossible when using the converter. Moreover, on an information transmitting side, a timing of a state change of the setting signal is only controlled, and thus, hardware does not have to be changed, and it can be dealt with by simply updating software, thereby suppressing a significant increase of the cost. Moreover, the setting signal itself is the same as what is used in the conventional vehicular power generation controlling device, thus enabling to give compatibility with the conventional device.
The power generation state of the vehicular generator is controlled by using the first controlling value and the second controlling value, both being set by the adjustment voltage controlling circuit, and when a state of the setting signal changes, the adjustment voltage is change by using a second controlling value which is different from a first controlling value used up until then, and thus, it is, possible to shorten a response time for changing the adjustment voltage. Moreover, it is unnecessary to include a converter for converting a duty ratio to a voltage, and thus, it is po
Aoyama Tooru
Tanaka Koji
Cuevas Pedro J.
Denso Corporation
Ramirez Nestor
LandOfFree
Method for controlling a vehicular generator, an external... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for controlling a vehicular generator, an external..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for controlling a vehicular generator, an external... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3196971