The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 19, 1977
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1976
Gerald T Fattic, Anderson, IN (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A fault indicator for a motor vehicle battery charging system of the type in which a diode-rectified alternating current generator supplies charging current to the vehicle battery and supplies other loads on the vehicle. The fault indicator is capable of detecting certain faults in the diode-rectified alternator and is capable of detecting certain faults in the generator voltage regulating system. The fault indicator system utilizes current difference operational amplifiers, one of which is connected to detect sharp negative voltage transitions caused by certain faults in the system. The fault indicator also has Zener diodes connected to provide an indication of faults that cause abnormally low or high voltage outputs of the diode-rectified alternator such as an open or shorted voltage regulator. The signal indicator utilized is a light emitting diode and the fault indicator circuit is arranged so as to cause continuous illumination of the light emitting diode under certain fault conditions and a blinking of the light emitting diode during other fault conditions.