Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

David Allan Peter

Leroy Ernest Lakey

Stephen Wayne Anderson

John Lewis Ayres

David A Chance

In an automobile electrical system having an alternator drivingly connected to a vehicle engine the alternator has a polyphase output winding producing a polyphase output in the form of a polyphase alternator voltage for each phase. A load dump apparatus and method for varying the output of the alternator employs a bridge coupled to the polyphase output winding and having a pair of direct voltage output terminals. The bridge has lower and upper switchable elements for each corresponding phase winding, the switchable elements are forward biased and connected in series across the output of the bridge and have a common or neutral input note connected to the corresponding phase winding. Each switchable element is controllable in accordance with a respective conduction signal applied thereto. A controller produces a plurality of conduction signals, which are applied to the switchable elements for controlling the conduction thereof for controlling the conduction timing for each of the lower switchable elements to render them conductive when the output voltage of the corresponding phase winding is above a selected over-voltage limit.

System and method for controlling load dump voltage of a synchronous machine

A circuit configuration for controlling the field current of an alternating current generator in a vehicle electrical generator system includes a digital to analog converter for converting a digital command signal to an analog voltage. A first comparator compares the system field current with the converted analog voltage. A switched component, operatively connected to a power switch, is switchable in response to the comparator output. A frequency generator, operatively connected to the switched component, provides timed pulses to periodically tell the switched component to turn on the power switch.

Alternating current generator field regulation control

An apparatus for controlling the output and torque of a synchronous alternator has a controlled bridge rectifier operable off synchronous for rectifying the alternating output and establishing a desired phase relationship between the alternating voltage and alternating current of the output winding. Phase locked loop control may be employed for establishing and maintaining a desired phase relationship to control the output and torque.

Output and torque control of an automotive alternator

An apparatus and method are disclosed for equalizing individual module voltages in a multiple module battery pack during recharging. Two individual module voltages are compared, and charge redistribution is caused to occur by way of switched mode converters when the voltages are not equivalent. Switched mode converters may be of unidirectional or bidirectional topologies.

Distributed multi-module battery equalization

A mechanization of a vehicular starter/generator machine having minimal impact on the vehicle powertrain. The powertrain includes an engine connected to drive the vehicle through a fluid torque converter and a power transmission. The rotor of the starter/generator machine is formed on the outer circumference of an input shell of the torque converter, and the stator of the machine is formed on the inner circumference of the torque converter housing. This mechanization affords the use of a relatively high capacity machine without appreciably affecting the powertrain packaging.

Torque converter mounted starter/generator for a motor vehicle

A high efficiency automotive electrical system and method of control employing an asynchronous induction machine for performing both starting and generating functions. The induction machine is coupled to the engine through a bimodal gearset which operates as a reduction drive during the starting mode and as a direct drive during the generating mode. A computer-based controller responsive to the battery voltage and the speed of the induction machine maintains given voltage/frequency ratios during both starting and generating to provide efficient operation, and smoothly controls the transition between starting and generating modes. The vehicle electrical loads are supplied at one or more stable voltages produced by a load converter powered by the battery.

Automotive electrical system having a starter/generator induction machine

A method and apparatus for controlling ultrasonic welding and determining whether the weld is of acceptable quality. Power input to ultrasonic welding apparatus is detected and converted to a signal indicative of energy input. When power input exceeds a power threshold level a timer begins to measure elapsed time and energy input begins to be monitored. Welding power is terminated when both elapsed time and energy level have exceeded predetermined values. If either elapsed time or energy level exceeded reject limit values when the weld was made the weld is rejected as being of unacceptable quality.

Ultrasonic welding control

Accurate dimensional control in ultrasonic welding or upsetting of plastic parts is accomplished by the method and apparatus for monitoring the ultrasonic head displacement and sensing when a predetermined trigger force is applied to the part or parts, turning on the ultrasonic energy at the trigger point and terminating the ultrasonic energy when head displacement from the trigger point reaches an empirically established value, holding the force for a hold time and measuring the maximum displacement value at the end of the hold time, releasing the force when the force returns to the trigger point, measuring the overall displacement, and determining whether the overall displacement is within allowable tolerance values. Weld time and weld energy as well as the overall head displacement are monitored for comparison with preset tolerance values to determine acceptability of the part being processed.

Growing community of inventors

Anderson, IN, United States of America

David Allan Peter