Patent ID: 7023102
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: B60W,F02D,H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A power generation controller for an alternator that is only capable of supplying power to a vehicle battery, wherein the alternator is driven by rotation of a crank pulley of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle through a belt entrained around the crank pulley to charge the battery, said power generation controller controls the output of the alternator according to a duty value which is determined by a ratio between the duration the alternator is deactivated and the duration the alternator is activated, the alternator being deactivated to stop power generation when an external input signal is received and being activated to generate power when the external input signal is not received and to a battery voltage, which change in accordance with a running state of the vehicle and/or a driving state of said engine, wherein a current detector detects a current to be used by an electric load on the vehicle, a control unit comprises a field current control section, a field current monitor section, and an output control section, said field current control section controlling a field current of said alternator, said field current monitor section monitoring a field current value which is a controlled state of the field current of said alternator, and said output control section correcting the power output by said alternator according to the field current duty value monitored by said field current monitor section, and/or a load current value detected by said current detector.