Patent ID: 7629710

Claim:
A control device for power supply bus voltage regulation, including: a first switch adapted, when in a closed position, to connect an electrical energy generator to an energy storage device; and a second switch adapted, when in a closed position, to short-circuit said generator; said generator being connected to said power supply bus when said first and said second switches are in an open position, the control device further including a control unit for generating a signal for controlling said first switch and a signal for controlling said second switch, wherein the control unit includes: first means for generating said signal for controlling said first switch as a function of a first signal indicating a voltage level of said power supply bus and a second signal indicating a charging voltage level of said energy storage device, said first means being adapted to generate a control signal for closing said first switch if said first signal indicates a voltage level of said power supply bus greater than a first reference level and said second signal indicates a charging voltage level of said energy storage device less than a second reference level, and to generate a control signal for opening said first switch in all other circumstances; and second means, separate from and independent of said first means, for generating said signal for controlling said second switch as a function of said first signal indicating a voltage level of said power supply bus, said second signal indicating a charging voltage level of said energy storage device, and a third signal indicating a closed or open state of said first switch, said second means being adapted to generate a control signal for closing said second switch if said second signal indicates a charging voltage level of said energy storage device greater than said second reference level and: said first signal indicates a voltage level of said power supply bus greater than said first reference level; or independently of the value of said first signal, said third signal indicates that said first switch is closed; and to generate a control signal for opening said second switch in all other circumstances.