Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A voltage regulator for regulating an output voltage of an alternator which is driven by an internal combustion engine and supplies a variable load with electric power, and also has an exciter winding connected in series with switching means and conducting a portion of the output current, wherein the switching means is switched on or off so that a substantially constant output voltage of the alternator is adjusted regardless of a loading of the alternator, the voltage regulator comprising a circuit which determines an exciter current duty cycle and shapes it to form a signal which adopts a first state when the exciter current duty cycle lies above a first given value and adopts a second state when the exciter current duty cycle lies below a second given value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A voltage regulator for regulating an output voltage of an alternator which is driven by an internal combustion engine and supplies a variable load with electric power, and also has an exciter winding connected in series with switching means and conducting a portion of the output current, wherein the switching means is switched on or off so that a substantially constant output voltage of the alternator is adjusted regardless of a loading of the alternator, the voltage regulator comprising a circuit which determines an exciter current duty cycle and shapes it to form a signal which adopts a first state when the exciter current duty cycle lies above a first given value and adopts a second state when the exciter current duty cycle lies below a second given value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes at least one integrator and a switching stage connected downstream of said integrator so that an output signal of said integrator influences a switching state of said switching stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 2, wherein said circuit includes a pulse shaping stage arranged upstream of said integrator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 2, wherein said switching stage is formed so that an output signal of said switching state is boosted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit is integrated in the voltage regulator; and further comprising a connection arranged so that said signal can be tapped at the voltage regulator via said connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a control device of a internal combustion engine; and a connection which connects said circuit with said control device so that said signal is fed to said control device and is used by said control device to regulate a speed of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 6, wherein said control device is formed so that it regulates an idling speed of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a control device of the internal combustion engine, said circuit being formed so that it works only when a speed of the internal combustion engine lies below a given value, a speed level being determined by said control device which transmits corresponding trigger pulses to said circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 8; and further comprising a threshold value stage formed as a Schmitt trigger with an adjustable switching hysteresis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A voltage regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein said Schmitt trigger is formed so that switching thresholds of said Schmitt trigger are adjusted depending on the exciter current duty cycle, with an upper threshold lying in the range of 95% and a lower threshold lying in the range of 75%.