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. 09, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1998
Thomas Edward Brefeld, Dearborn, MI (US);
Eric Steven Schaeffer, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
David Paul Kaminski, Warren, MI (US);
Ford Global Tech., Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A motor vehicle charging system comprises a first alternator including a first power output and a discrete alternator enabling input, a second alternator including a second power output and an electronic controller having a switchable output. The switchable output is coupled to the alternator enabling input. A method for controlling a motor vehicle charging system having a first alternator, a second alternator and a source of switched system voltage having an ON state and an OFF state comprises providing continual enabling power to the first alternator whenever the source of system voltage is in the ON state. The method also includes providing switchable enabling power to the second alternator whenever the source of system voltage is in the ON state. Alternatively, the method for controlling a motor vehicle charging system comprises providing continual enabling power to the first alternator whenever the vehicle's engine is running and providing switchable enabling power to the second alternator, also whenever the vehicle's engine is running.