Patent ID: 7015594
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: H02J,H02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An electric generator control apparatus for controlling an electric generator of a vehicle, the electric generator having a voltage supply terminal connected to a battery and an electrical load, the apparatus including a bridge circuit coupled between said voltage supply terminal and a field winding of said electric generator, with said bridge circuit having a first pair of opposing arms comprising respective diodes and a second pair of opposing arms comprising respective power transistors, said generator control apparatus further including operating mode selector means for selectively establishing (a) a back current mode of operation wherein a first one of said power transistors is held continuously in an on state and a second one of said power transistors is repetitively switched between said on state, for applying a drive voltage to said field winding, and an off state, for disconnecting said drive voltage from said field winding, whereby an induced current which flows from said field winding during said off state is returned directly to said field winding, and (b) a regenerative current mode of operation wherein synchronized on and off switching of said first and second power transistors is performed, whereby said induced current is passed as a regenerative current into said battery; wherein said electric generator control apparatus comprises generation capacity judgement means for judging a currently available electrical generating capacity of said electric generator, and said operating mode selector means is responsive to said generation capacity judgement means for selecting said regenerative current mode when said electrical generating capacity is judged to be below a predetermined level.