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:
Jul. 14, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1995
Giampietro Maggioni, Agrate Brianza, IT;
Mirco Contucci, Sant' Arcangelo, IT;
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A circuit for regulating the charging voltage to a battery and connected to the field inductor (IND) of an alternator (ALT) which supplies that voltage. It is connected by a control cable to the battery and comprises an electric path, extending between a terminal for connection to the alternator and ground, which is only activated when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold value. This electric path comprises a switch (TSW) driven from a control circuit (COMP1,T4) which sense the battery voltage, and when activated, the voltage drop across the path is substantially equal to that of the regulated voltage. The control circuit also senses breakage in the battery sensing cable, and ceases driving the alternator when this occurs.