Patent ID: 6936996
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: H02H,H02P

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for an electrical generator of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising switch means coupled to supply a drive current to display means which indicate a power generating status of said electrical generator, said switch means operable for interrupting said supply of drive current, current detection means for detecting a level of current flow through said switch means, reference value generating means for determining a reference value, to be compared with said detected level of current, and current limiting means for comparing said level of current with said reference value, and for limiting a current supplying operation of said switch means in accordance with a result of said comparison; wherein said reference value generating means successively outputs a plurality of reference values, including a first reference value corresponding to a current value which is greater than a maximum value of surge current which flows in said switch means, and a second reference value which corresponds to a current value that is greater than a normal value of current which flows in said switch means.