Patent ID: 6153945
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: H02J,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
A generator regulator for an output voltage of a generator in a motor vehicle power supply system, said generator comprising an excitation winding; wherein said generator regulator comprisesa transistor power end stage (14) connected to the excitation winding (12) of the generator, said transistor power end stage comprising means for providing a pulsed excitation current passing through the excitation winding (12) during operation; andmeans for activating and deactivating the transistor power end stage (14) to provide a predetermined pulse width for the pulsed excitation current passing through the excitation winding (12) so as to maintain said output voltage of the generator at a fixed value;wherein said means for activating and deactivating the transistor power end stage (14) comprisemeans (16) for comparing a saturation voltage (U.sub.SAT) of the transistor power end stage (14) picked up at a node (K1) between said transistor power end stage and the excitation winding with a reference voltage (U.sub.ref) to provide a comparison output; anda pulse width modulation circuit (22) for controlling the transistor power end stage (14) to change and set the predetermined pulse width of the pulsed excitation current according to the comparison output,whereby damage to the transistor power end stage (14) due to a short circuit is prevented.