Vehicle generator control system

Claim 2

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value to said output control device in order to suppress the generator output when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating means; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command value after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means.

Claim 3

The generator control system according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means comprises detecting means for producing a detection signal indicative of an engine speed, said discriminating means having a detection level which is set between an upper limit speed when the engine is cranked and a lower limit speed under idling where the engine rotates by itself, and wherein said discriminating means discriminates between said engine cranking state and said engine self-rotating state based on a comparison between said detection level and said detection signal produced by said detecting means.

Claim 4

The generator control system according to claim 2, wherein said detecting means produces said detection signal based on the generator output outputted as a function of the engine speed.

Claim 5

The generator control system according to claim 1, wherein said output control device is an element which controls an exciting current of the generator in response to the output command value.

Claim 6

The generator control system according to claim 1, further comprising display means which changes a display state when said engine self-rotating state is discriminated by said discriminating means.

Claim 7

A generator control system for charging a battery by means of an output of an alternator driven by a vehicle engine, comprising: a supply circuit for supplying the alternator with an exciting current depending on a control signal; a control circuit for outputting the control signal of said supply circuit so that a voltage of the battery converges to a given target value; a suppressing circuit for outputting a fixed control signal, said fixed control signal suppressing the output of the alternator to a small value such that no charging current to the battery is generated; a gradually exciting circuit for liming an increasing rate of the control signal given to said supply circuit; a discriminating circuit for discriminating between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state based on an output from the alternator determined depending on the fixed control signal from said suppressing circuit; and a control characteristic changing circuit for giving the control signal from said suppressing circuit to said supply circuit when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating circuit, and for giving the control signal from said control circuit to said supply circuit under the limitation by said gradually exciting circuit when said engine self-rotating state is discriminated by said discriminating circuit.

Claim 8

A generator control system for charging a battery by means of an output of an alternator driven by a vehicle engine, comprising: a supply circuit for supplying the alternator with an exciting current depending on a control signal; a control circuit for outputting the control signal of said supply circuit so that a voltage of the battery converges to a given target value; a suppressing circuit for outputting a fixed control signal, said fixed control signal suppressing the output of the alternator to a small value such that no charging current to the battery is generated; a gradually exciting circuit for liming an increasing rate of the control signal given to said supply circuit; a discriminating circuit for discriminating between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state based on an output from the alternator determined depending on the fixed control signal from said suppressing circuit; and a control characteristic changing circuit for giving the control signal from said suppressing circuit to said supply circuit when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating circuit, and for giving the control signal from said control circuit to said supply circuit under the limitation by said gradually exciting circuit when said engine self-rotating state is discriminated by said discriminating circuit.

Claim 9

The generator control system according to claim 6, wherein said gradually exciting circuit comprises an integrating circuit for integrating an exciting current supply amount by said supply circuit, and a limiting circuit for limiting the control signal given to said supply circuit depending on an integration output from said integrating circuit.

Claim 10

The generator control system according to claim 6, wherein said discriminating circuit has a detection level which is set between an upper limit speed when the engine is cranked and a lower limit speed under idling where the engine rotates by itself, and wherein said discriminating circuit discriminates between said engine cranking state and said engine self-rotating state based on a comparison between said detection level and the output of the alternator.

Claim 11

The generator control system according to claim 8, wherein said suppressing circuit feeds the fixed control signal corresponding to an exciting current which can be continuously supplied to the alternator in a state where the alternator is not rotated.

Claim 12

The generator control system according to claim 9, wherein said suppressing circuit feeds the fixed control signal representing the duty of said supply circuit of no more than 20%.

Claim 13

The generator control system according to claim 10, wherein said suppressing circuit feeds the fixed control signal representing the duty of said supply circuit of about 15%.

Claim 14

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state, said discriminating means includes detecting means for producing a detection signal based on the generator output as a function of engine speed and a detection level set between an upper limit speed, representative of an engine cranking state, and a lower limit speed, representative of an engine self-rotating state, wherein discriminating means discriminates between said engine cranking state and engine self-rotating state by comparing said detection signal with said detection level; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value to a fixed value in order to suppress the generator output, wherein discriminating means discriminates between discriminates between said engine cranking state and engine self-rotating state based on the generator output achieved by the suppressed output command value; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command value to said output control device after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means.

Claim 15

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state, said discriminating means includes detecting means for producing a detection signal based on the generator output as a function of engine speed and a detection level set between an upper limit speed, representative of an engine cranking state, and a lower limit speed, representative of an engine self-rotating state, wherein discriminating means discriminates between said engine cranking state and engine self-rotating state by comparing said detection signal with said detection level; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value to a fixed value in order to suppress the generator output, wherein discriminating means discriminates between discriminates between said engine cranking state and engine self-rotating state based on the generator output achieved by the suppressed output command value; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command value to said output control device after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means.

Claim 16

The generator control system according to claim 12, wherein said increasing means gradually increases the output command value starting from a value which is greater than the fixed output command value given by said suppressing means.

Claim 17

The generator control system according to claim 13, wherein said increasing means comprises control means for giving the output command value to said output control device so that the output of the generator converges to a given target value, integrating means for integrating the output command value given to said output control device, and limiting means for limiting the output command value given to said output control device depending on an integration output from said integrating means, and wherein said integrating means is arranged to further integrate a control amount of said output control device determined depending on the fixed output command value given by said suppressing means.

Claim 18

The generator control system according to claim 14, wherein said integrating means is arranged to integrate a control amount of said output control device determined depending on the output command value given to said output control device.

Claim 19

The generator control system according to claim 12, wherein said detecting means is inputted with an output of the generator at one end of stator coils of the generator.

Claim 20

The generator control system according to claim 12, wherein said suppressing means feeds the fixed output command value corresponding to an exciting current which can be continuously supplied to the generator in a state where the generator is not rotated.

Claim 21

The generator control system according to claim 17, wherein said suppressing means suppresses the output command value to said output control device to no more than 20%.

Claim 22

The generator control system according to claim 17, wherein said suppressing means suppresses the output command value to said output control device to about 15%.

Claim 23

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state, said discriminating means includes detecting means with an engine speed sensor signal for producing a detection signal based on the generator output as a function of engine speed and a detection threshold level set between an upper limit speed, representative of an engine cranking state, and a lower limit speed, representative of an engine self-rotating state, wherein discriminating means discriminates between said engine cranking state and engine self-rotating state by comparing said detection signal with said detection level; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value to a fixed value in order to suppress the generator output when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating means; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command value to said output control device after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means.

Claim 24

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state, said discriminating means includes detecting means with an engine speed sensor signal for producing a detection signal based on the generator output as a function of engine speed and a detection threshold level set between an upper limit speed, representative of an engine cranking state, and a lower limit speed, representative of an engine self-rotating state, wherein discriminating means discriminates between said engine cranking state and engine self-rotating state by comparing said detection signal with said detection level; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value to a fixed value in order to suppress the generator output when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating means; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command value to said output control device after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means.

Claim 25

The generator control system according to claim 20, further comprising means for detecting an operation of an engine starter, and wherein said discriminating means includes first discriminating means for discriminating said engine self-rotating state when the engine speed exceeds said detection level during the engine starter being operated, and second discriminating means for discriminating said engine self-rotating state when the engine speed exceeds said lower limit idling speed during the engine starter being stopped.

Claim 26

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value in order to suppress the generator output when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating means; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means, said increasing means includes control means for supplying said output command value to said output control device so that the generator output converges to a given target value and a limiting means for limiting an increasing rate of said output command value supplied by control means.

Claim 27

A generator control system for controlling an output of a generator driven by an engine, comprising: means for producing an output command value; an output control device for changing the generator output in response to said output command value; discriminating means for detecting a rotating state of said generator in order to discriminate between an engine cranking state and an engine self-rotating state; suppressing means for suppressing the output command value in order to suppress the generator output when said engine cranking state is discriminated by said discriminating means; and increasing means for gradually increasing the output command after a shift from said engine cranking state to said engine self-rotating state is detected by said discriminating means, said increasing means includes control means for supplying said output command value to said output control device so that the generator output converges to a given target value and a limiting means for limiting an increasing rate of said output command value supplied by control means.

Claim 28

The generator control system according to claim 22, wherein said control means is integrated with the generator.

Claim 29

The generator control system according to claim 23, wherein said control means includes a microcomputer.