The invention relates to a voltage regulator (43) for a motor vehicle alternator (44). The device comprises a control module (I) for controlling an excitation current (lexc) in an excitation winding (3) of the alternator (44) according to a difference (5) between a setpoint voltage (DO) and a control voltage (Dbat) of an on-board network (9). The on-board network (9) of the vehicle is powered by a battery (10) to which the alternator (44) is connected. According to the invention, the voltage regulator (43) further comprises a safety module (30) that monitors the control voltage (Ubat) and which is separate from the control module (I). In a particular embodiment, the control module (I) and the safety module (30) are connected electrically by external bonding interconnections.

An output of a generator may vary according to the speed of the engine, physical characteristics of the engine, or other factors. A profile for a generator that describes a periodic fluctuation in an operating characteristic for the generator is identified. A field current of an alternator associated with the generator is modified based on the profile for the generator in order to counter variations in the output of the generator.

A generator control unit (GCU) includes a fault detection system configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage signal based on a difference of a DC-equivalent voltage between the positive and negative exciter gate drive signals. The fault detection system further outputs a fault detection signal indicating the fault status of the gate drive integrated circuits based on a comparison between the DC average voltage signal and a threshold value.

The excitation circuit according to the invention controls an excitation current (lexc) in an excitation winding (2) of an alternator by means of an on-board network voltage control loop (Vbat+, 3) of the vehicle, and comprises a first MOS power transistor (9) which is connected between a first positive supply terminal Vbat+ (6), and a first excitation terminal (7), and is controlled by the control loop by means of a first control circuit (10), a second MOS power transistor (11), which is connected between the first excitation terminal and a second excitation terminal (8) which is connected to a ground terminal (5) and acts as a free wheel diode, whilst being controlled by means of a second control circuit (12). According to the invention, the circuit additionally comprises a control loop (15) of a drain-source voltage (Vds) of the second transistor.

The invention relates to a cascade activation method and mechatronic system for simultaneous generation and consumption. The system includes a non-return diode connected to an electric generator; a first voltage regulator connected to a microcontroller; a voltage converter; and an actuator, which has an activation voltage greater than the first activation voltage of the first voltage regulator. The actuator is configured to simultaneously consume a portion of the electrical energy generated by the electric generator. The method includes the steps of listing the elements of the mechatronic system that require power; calculating the activation sequence of the elements based on the minimum activation voltage and the activation time interval; selecting the electric generator based on the energy/power that needs to be provided to the mechatronic system; and programming the microcontroller with the activation sequence.

A voltage fluctuation suppressing device for an alternating current generator provided in the alternating current generator and configured to suppress voltage fluctuation by excitation control based on an output voltage includes a processor, and a memory configured to be able to communicate with the processor. The processor is configured to: detect a load current of each of output terminals; identify in-use output terminals based on the detection of the load current; detect inter-terminal voltages of the output terminals including the identified output terminals; and control excitation by using an output voltage calculated from the detected inter-terminal voltages.

A power generator includes an engine configured to provide mechanical energy. A shaft is mechanically coupled to the engine to transmit the mechanical energy. An alternator is mechanically coupled to the shaft and configured to cover the mechanical energy into electrical energy. A control panel is configured to manage the operation of the engine and the alternator. A power conditioning device is disposed between one or more circuit breakers and an outlet of the control panel.

A permanent magnet alternator (PMA) includes a rotatable shaft, windings, a shunt regulator circuit, and a speed detection circuit. The rotatable shaft is connected electromagnetically to the windings. The shunt regulator circuit is electrically connected to the windings. A current sense transformer with a primary coil is electrically connected to the shunt regulator circuit. A secondary coil is electrically connected to a comparator circuit with reference voltage and generates voltage pulse indicating PMA speed. The voltage pulses form an output corresponding to and indicative of rotation speed of the shaft suitable for processing by a processor to present a PMA speed indication for use in the overall system architecture as a measurement parameter.

An integrated starter-generator (ISG) utilizes a dedicated, properly sized start box for the starting function, and a fully controllable hybrid homopolar machine with a generator control unit (GCU) for the generate function. The hybrid homopolar machine may comprise a permanent magnet (PM) section that is supplemented by a homopolar field section, which results in a regulated output voltage by either boosting or bucking the voltage out of the PM section vectorially through a common stator.

The invention relates to an on-board assembly for producing and storing electricity, including at least one hydrogenerator having an output line connected to at least one electrical battery having predetermined electrical load parameters. The hydrogenerator includes a load-bearing structure onto which a generator and an impeller, secured to a shaft for driving a rotor of the generator, are mounted. Said assembly is characterized in that the generator is an excitation generator, and the hydrogenerator includes a rectifier circuit, connecting the generator to the output line, and at least one circuit for exciting the generator. The excitation circuit is connected to an excitation current regulator controlled by a control unit set up so that the generator provides a load current consistent with the electrical load parameters on the basis of a resisting torque of the generator, said torque being predetermined so as to limit drag of the impeller.