US4950972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alternator system for automotive vehicles
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-14
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Granted: 1990-08-21
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Expires: 2008-12-14
Abstract
Abstract An automatic alternator is coupled to both a step up and a step down transformer. The outputs from the transformer are rectified and connected respectively to a windshield heater and to a circuit comprising the normal 14 volt car loads and the battery. A switch is coupled to the output of the step up transformer to control the energization of the windshield heater. Output leads from the alternator also bypass the transformer and are rectified with its DC output connected through switched to a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity heater and to the normal car load circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter G. Berg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:45
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/2401; B; B60; B60L; B60L1/00; B60L1/02; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1438; B60L2220/00; B60L2220/10; B60L2220/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
An alternator system for an automotive vehicle having an engine and a plurality of electrical loads, an alternator having a field winding drivable by an engine to provide electrical power for a plurality of electrical loads, a voltage regulator for controlling the field winding energization, a battery for supplementing the electrical power provided by the alternator where needed and for turning over the engine upon start up, the alternator having a stator with three stator windings, the stator windings coupled together to provide a three phase output on three output lines, the output lines connected to a first rectifier which has a DC output line connected to a circuit including the plurality of electrical loads and the battery through a first switch, the three output lines also coupled to a step up transformer and a step down transformer, the output of the step up transformer connected to a second rectifier through a second switch to turn on and off the output of the step up transformer, the output of the second rectifier coupled to a windshield heater, the output of the step down transformer connected to a third rectifier whose output in turn is connected to the electrical loads, the third rectifier will turn off if the output of the step down transformer is below a selected minimum value, the DC output line also connected to an electrical resistance heater through a third switch, the voltage regulator controlling the level of energization of the alternator field winding in order to provide a selected voltage level in the circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
An alternator system for an automotive vehicle having an engine and a plurality of electrical loads, an alternator having a field winding drivable by an engine to provide electrical power for a plurality of electrical loads, a voltage regulator for controlling the field winding energization, a battery for supplementing the electrical power provided by the alternator where needed and for turning over the engine upon start up, the alternator having a stator with three stator windings, the stator windings coupled together to provide a three phase output on three output lines, the output lines connected to a first rectifier which has a DC output line connected to a circuit including the plurality of electrical loads and the battery through a first switch, the three output lines also coupled to a step up transformer and a step down transformer, the output of the step up transformer connected to a second rectifier through a second switch to turn on and off the output of the step up transformer, the output of the second rectifier coupled to a windshield heater, the output of the step down transformer connected to a third rectifier whose output in turn is connected to the electrical loads, the third rectifier will turn off if the output of the step down transformer is below a selected minimum value, the DC output line also connected to an electrical resistance heater through a third switch, the voltage regulator controlling the level of energization of the alternator field winding in order to provide a selected voltage level in the circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which the regulator controls the alternator to provide through the step down transformer approximately 14 volts in the circuit including the plurality of electrical loads and the step up transformer provides the equivalent of approximately 75 volts DC when the first switch is open.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which the regulator controls the alternator to provide approximately 14 volts in the circuit including the plurality of electrical loads through the first rectifier when the first switch is closed and the step down transformer provides less than the selected minimum value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which the regulator controls the alternator to provide approximately 14 volts in the circuit including the plurality of electrical loads through the first rectifier when the first and second switches are closed and the third switch is open and the step down transformer provides less than the selected minimum value and the step up transformer provides the equivalent of approximately 32 volts DC.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 4 in which the windshield heater is rated at approximately 75 volts DC.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which full power is applied to the windshield heater when the first and third switches are open and the second switch is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which full power is applied to the electric resistance heater when the first and second switches are open and the third switch is closed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which low power is applied to the windshield heater when the first and second switches are closed and the third switch is open.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automotive vehicle according to claim 1 in which no power is applied to the windshield heater and the electric resistance heater and normal regulator voltage is applied to the electrical loads when the first switch is closed and the second and third switches are open.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
214 words
An automotive vehicle having an engine and a plurality of electrical loads, an alterntor having a field winding driven by the engine to provide electrical power for such loads, a voltage regulator for controlling the field winding energization, a battery for supplementing the electrical power provided by the alternator where needed and for turning over the engine upon start up, the alternator having a stator with at least three stator windings, the stator windings coupled together to provide a polyphase output on AC output lines, the AC output lines connected to a first rectifier which has a DC output line connected to a circuit including the plurality of electrical loads and the battery through a first switch, the DC output line also connected to an electrical resistance heater through another switch, the AC output lines also coupled to a step down transformer, the output of the step down transformer connected to another rectifier whose output in turn is connected to the electrical loads, the said another rectifier will turn off if the output of the step down transformer is below a selected minimum value, the voltage regulator controlling the level of energization of the alternator field winding in order to provide a selected voltage level in the circuit including the plurality of electrical loads.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
An automotive vehicle having an engine and a plurality of electrical loads, an alterntor having a field winding driven by the engine to provide electrical power for such loads, a voltage regulator for controlling the field winding energization, a battery for supplementing the electrical power provided by the alternator where needed and for turning over the engine upon start up, the alternator having a stator with at least three stator windings, the stator windings coupled together to provide a polyphase output on AC output lines, the AC output lines connected to a first rectifier which has a DC output line connected to a circuit including the plurality of electrical loads and the battery through a first switch, the DC output line also connected to an electrical resistance heater through another switch, the AC output lines also coupled to a step down transformer, the output of the step down transformer connected to another rectifier whose output in turn is connected to the electrical loads, the said another rectifier will turn off if the output of the step down transformer is below a selected minimum value, the voltage regulator controlling the level of energization of the alternator field winding in order to provide a selected voltage level in the circuit including the plurality of electrical loads.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |