Patent ID: 6812675
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: H02P

Abstract:
A control apparatus for a vehicle a.c. generator having a field winding and a switching device connected in series with the field winding, the control apparatus comprising:regulator means for turning on and off the switching device in a variable duty ratio within a predetermined range at every predetermined cycle period thereby to regulate an output voltage of the generator; output means for outputting a power generation ratio output signal in a pulse-width modulated form, the output signal having a duty ratio corresponding to the duty ratio of the switching device; detection means for detecting an abnormality in the generator and producing an abnormality signal; and mask means for masking a part of the output signal by the abnormality signal and applying a masked signal to an external apparatus that cooperates with the control apparatus through a signal wire to control the generator, wherein the output means outputs a signal to the external apparatus.