Regulator

Abstract

A regulator (10) supplies power generated by a three-phase AC generator to a load and has: current detection units (13U, 13V, 13W) that are provided in a connection line of at least one phase, among connection lines in the supply path of the three-phase power outputted from the three-phase AC generator, and that detect the current in the connection line; a signal generation unit (14) that generates a cross signal corresponding to the relationship in which a current value, representing the current detected by the current detection units (13U, 13V, 13W), crosses a reference value; and an angle detection unit that detects the rotational angle of the rotor of the AC generator on the basis of the cross signal generated by the signal generation unit (14).

Description

regulator

[0001] The present invention relates to a regulator.

[0002] A phase-controlled regulator is a product that maintains a constant charging voltage by controlling the advance or delay of the energized phase, but to control this phase, it is necessary to recognize the phases of the U, V, and W phases of the ACG (AC Generator: three-phase alternating current generator), and the phase control is performed by receiving signals from an external sensor that correlates with the U, V, and W phases of the ACG.The external sensor uses a protruding reluctor attached to the ACG to detect a reference phase based on the detection results from a Hall IC and pickup coil, and based on this, predicts the current of each of the U, V, and W phases.

[0003] JP 2013-207968 A

[0004] However, when providing such a phase-control regulator, the specifications of the reluctor vary depending on the customer and the model, resulting in multiple sensor specifications. This makes it difficult to standardize the sensor specifications. Furthermore, when an external sensor is attached, wiring is also required to connect the external sensor to the control device. When phase-control regulators are provided to multiple customers, the wiring specifications also differ, making it difficult to standardize the wiring specifications. If the wiring specifications cannot be standardized, individual wiring specifications must be created to match the customer's specifications, which hinders sales to other companies.

[0005] A regulator according to one aspect of the present invention is a regulator that supplies power generated by a three-phase AC generator to a load, and includes: a current detection unit that is provided on at least one of the connection lines in a supply path of three-phase power output from the three-phase AC generator and detects the current in the connection line; a signal generation unit that generates a cross signal in accordance with the relationship where a current value representing the current detected by the current detection unit intersects with a reference value; and an angle detection unit that detects the rotation angle of the rotor of the AC generator based on the cross signal generated by the signal generation unit.

[0006] According to the present invention, the current in at least one of the connecting wires of the three-phase AC generator is detected, and a cross signal is generated based on the relationship between the detected current value and a reference value. This allows the cross signal to be treated as the detection value of a position sensor that detects the rotational position of the rotor. This eliminates the need for an external sensor, and therefore eliminates the need to consider the specifications of the external sensor, simplifying the configuration and allowing the regulator specifications to be standardized.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a regulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a power supply control circuit for a vehicle using the regulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the regulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the regulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of a signal generating unit in the regulator according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a regulator 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The regulator 10 is configured using a phase control system. As shown in Fig. 1, the regulator 10 includes a control unit 11, a rectifier 12, current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W, a signal generation unit 14, a power supply unit 15, and a switch 16.

[0009] The control unit 11 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, etc., and controls each part of the regulator 10. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 also functions as an angle detection unit that detects the rotation angle of the rotor of the three-phase AC generator based on the cross signal generated by the signal generation unit 14.

[0010] The rectifier 12 includes six MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors) (MOSFET Q1, MOSFET Q2, MOSFET Q3, MOSFET Q4, MOSFET Q5, and MOSFET Q6), and converts three-phase AC power input from ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13 into DC power.

[0011] Current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W are located in the supply paths of the three-phase AC power (U, V, and W phases) input from ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13, and detect the current of each phase of the three-phase AC power. Shunt resistors are used as current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W.

[0012] The signal generating unit 14 generates a cross signal indicating the phase of each phase of the three-phase AC power input from the ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13, based on the current values ​​of each phase detected by the current detecting units 13U, 13V, and 13W and the reference signal. The cross signal generated by the signal generating unit 14 is sent to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 advances or delays the phase of the gate signal of at least one of the MOSFETs MOSFETQ1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and Q6, based on the cross signal generated by the signal generating unit 14, thereby controlling the conduction of the MOSFET to be controlled among the MOSFETQ1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and Q6.

[0013] The power supply unit 15 supplies power to each unit. The power supply unit 15 receives power from a power input terminal P31 and controls the switch 16.

[0014] The regulator 10 according to the first embodiment also has ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13, battery terminals P21 and P22, and a power supply input terminal P31.

[0015] ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13 are connected to the U-, V-, and W-phase power outputs of a three-phase AC generator. Battery terminals P21 and P22 are connected to the positive and negative poles of a battery. Power for operating each component is input to power input terminal P31.

[0016] Next, an example of use of the regulator 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. The regulator 10 is used to convert three-phase AC power generated by a generator of a vehicle into predetermined DC power and supply it to a load or a battery. Figure 2 shows an example of a power supply control circuit for a vehicle using the regulator 10.

[0017] 2, a three-phase AC generator 20 is mounted on a vehicle and generates three-phase AC power in response to engine rotation. The three-phase AC power from the three-phase AC generator 20 is input to the regulator 10 via ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13.

[0018] The positive and negative electrodes of the battery 30 are connected to the battery terminal P21 and the battery terminal P22. The battery terminal P21 is connected to a load 50 via a main switch 40. More specifically, the load 50 may be at least one of lights, an ignition device, various actuators, and the like.

[0019] When the main switch 40 is turned on, power is supplied to the load 50 and also to the regulator 10. When the vehicle engine is driven, three-phase AC power having U, V, and W phases is output from the three-phase AC generator 20 as the engine rotates. This three-phase AC power is input from ACG terminals P11, P12, and P13. This three-phase AC power is converted into DC power by the rectifier 12 and output from battery terminals P21 and P22. This DC power is supplied to the battery 30 and also to the load 50.

[0020] The output voltage of the three-phase AC generator 20 varies depending on the engine speed. Therefore, the control unit 11 controls the output voltage to a predetermined voltage using a phase control method. That is, the control unit 11 monitors the voltage of the output power supply and controls the phases of the gate signals to MOSFETs Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and Q6 so that the voltage of the output power supply becomes the predetermined voltage. This allows the regulator 10 to supply DC power of a constant voltage to the battery 30 and the load 50.

[0021] Such a phase control method requires phase information for each of the U, V, and W phases of the three-phase AC power supply output from the three-phase AC generator 20. The three-phase AC power supply is generated in accordance with the rotation of the three-phase AC generator 20. Therefore, the phase of each phase of the three-phase AC power supply corresponds to the rotation phase of the rotor of the three-phase AC generator 20. Usually, the phase information for each phase of the three-phase AC power supply is obtained from a sensor 23 that detects the rotation of the rotor of the three-phase AC generator 20.

[0022] In contrast to this, in this embodiment, current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W detect the current values ​​of each phase of the three-phase AC power supply input into regulator 10, so that phase control can be performed without acquiring information from sensor 23 of three-phase AC generator 20.

[0023] That is, current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W detect the current values ​​of the U, V, and W phases of the three-phase AC power supply. The current of each phase is detected because the voltage of each phase is affected by phase control. The current values ​​of each phase detected by current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W are sent to signal generation unit 14.

[0024] The signal generating unit 14 generates a signal indicating the phase of each phase from the current value of each phase. More specifically, the signal generating unit 14 compares the input current value of each of the U, V, and W phases with a reference value using a comparator. The reference value is, for example, a level corresponding to a zero crossing. This allows the zero crossing points of each of the U, V, and W phases of the three-phase AC power supply from the three-phase AC generator 20 to be detected. The signal generating unit 14 sends a signal indicating the zero crossing points of each phase of the three-phase AC power supply to the control unit 11 as a signal indicating the phase. Based on this signal, the control unit 11 advances or delays the phases of the gate signals of MOSFETs Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and Q6 to maintain a constant output voltage. In this case, the control unit 11 functions as an angle detecting unit that detects the rotation angle of the rotor of the AC generator based on the crossing signal generated by the signal generating unit 14.

[0025] In this example, the current values ​​of the U, V, and W phases input from the three-phase AC generator 20 are detected by the current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W, but it is not necessary to detect the currents of all phases. In a three-phase AC system, the phases of the U, V, and W phases are shifted by 120 degrees. Using this relationship, if the phase of at least one of the U, V, and W phases can be detected, the phases of the other two phases can be estimated. For example, the signal generation unit 14 can detect the phase of the zero-crossing point of the U phase by comparing the current detection value of the U phase with the zero level. The control unit 11 can detect the zero-crossing points of the V and W phases by calculating a phase 120 degrees ahead of and a phase 120 degrees behind the phase of the zero-crossing point of the U phase.

[0026] Of course, the current values ​​of any two phases out of the current values ​​of the U phase, V phase, and W phase input from the three-phase AC generator 20 may be used.

[0027] In this embodiment, the shunt resistors constituting the current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W are located between the ACG terminal P11, which is a connection part connectable to the three-phase AC generator 20, and the front stage of the rectifier 12. By providing the current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W at the front stage of the rectifier 12, it is possible to obtain current values ​​at a stage that is not affected by other circuits. When affected by other circuits, processing such as correction is necessary, but by locating the shunt resistors constituting the current detection units 13U, 13V, and 13W at the front stage of the rectifier 12, this correction processing is not necessary.

[0028] 3 and 4 illustrate the effects of the regulator 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows an example of use of the regulator 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 shows an example of use of a normal regulator 100 configured to acquire phase information from a sensor.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, when the regulator 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used, the signal generating unit 14 inside the regulator 10 can generate a signal indicating the phase of each phase of the three-phase AC power supply, so information from the sensor 23 of the three-phase AC generator 20 is not necessary. In contrast, as shown in Fig. 4, in the case of a typical regulator 100, it is necessary to connect the sensor 23 to the terminal P41 with a signal line 41. The sensor 23 is a Hall IC or a pickup coil provided in the three-phase AC generator 20. In this case, wiring of the signal line 41 is necessary, and the signal generating unit 14a must be designed according to the type of sensor 23, which hinders standardization.

[0030] In contrast, when the regulator 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used, there is no need for the terminal P41 or the signal line 41. Furthermore, the connection between the three-phase AC generator 20 and the regulator 10 can be completed using only the supply lines of the three-phase AC power supply, so that it is possible to accommodate the specifications of various models and manufacturers.

[0031] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] In a regulator 10a according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a signal generating unit 14 generates a signal indicating the phase of the input three-phase AC power supply by comparing current values ​​of two phases of the three-phase AC power supply, namely, U phase, V phase, and W phase, and detecting a cross point. Note that the figure shows only the main parts of the regulator 10a, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

[0033] 5, this embodiment includes a current detector 13U that detects a U-phase current value and a current detector 13V that detects a V-phase current value. The current detectors 13U and 13V are shunt resistors. The signal generator 14 includes an amplifier 141U, an amplifier 141V, and a comparator 142.

[0034] A U-phase current value is detected from both ends of current detection unit 13U. This U-phase current value is amplified by amplifier 141U and then sent to comparator 142. Similarly, a V-phase current value is detected from both ends of current detection unit 13V. This V-phase current value is amplified by amplifier 141V and then sent to comparator 142. Comparator 142 compares the U-phase current value with the V-phase current value. A cross signal indicating the intersection of the U-phase and V-phase current values ​​is obtained from the comparison output of comparator 142.

[0035] 6 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the signal generating unit 14. In FIG. 6, Su indicates the detected waveform of the U-phase current value, Sv indicates the detected waveform of the V-phase current value, and CMP indicates the output of the comparator 142.

[0036] 6, from time T1 to time T2, the V-phase current value Sv is greater than the U-phase current value Su. During this period, the output CMP of the comparator 142 is at a low level.

[0037] At time T2, the V-phase current value Sv and the U-phase current value Su cross each other. After this crossover point, the U-phase current value Su becomes greater than the V-phase current value Sv. As a result, the output CMP of the comparator 142 rises from low to high.

[0038] At time T3, the U-phase current value Su and the V-phase current value Sv cross each other. After this crossing point, the V-phase current value Sv becomes greater than the U-phase current value Su. As a result, the output CMP of the comparator 142 falls from high to low.

[0039] Similarly, at cross points (times T2, T4, ...) where the U-phase current value Su becomes greater than the V-phase current value Sv, the output CMP of the comparator 142 rises from low level to high level, and at cross points (times T1, T3, T5, ...) where the V-phase current value Sv becomes greater than the U-phase current value Su, the output CMP of the comparator 142 falls from high level to low level.

[0040] The comparison output of the comparator 142 is sent to the control unit 11 as a signal indicating the phase of each phase of the three-phase AC power supply.

[0041] The control unit 11 obtains, from the comparison output of the comparator 142, phase information on the crossing point where the U-phase current value is greater than the V-phase current value and phase information on the crossing point where the V-phase current value is greater than the U-phase current value. The control unit 11 then calculates the phases of the U-phase and V-phase of the input three-phase AC power supply from this phase information. That is, since the phases of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase of the three-phase AC power supply are shifted by 120 degrees each, the phases of the U-phase and V-phase are determined from the crossing point of the U-phase and V-phase using this relationship. The control unit 11 then calculates the phase of the W-phase from the phases of the U-phase and V-phase. This allows the control unit 11 to estimate the rotation angle of the rotor of the three-phase AC generator.

[0042] In the above example, the crossing point of the U phase and the V phase is detected from the detection value of the U phase and the detection value of the V phase, but the current values ​​for detecting the crossing point may be any two phases (any combination of U phase and V phase, V phase and W phase, W phase and U phase, etc.).

[0043] In the second embodiment described above, phase information for each phase can be obtained by detecting the current values ​​of two phases and comparing them with a comparator, and phase detection can be performed with a simpler configuration than when the phase of each phase is detected individually. Furthermore, since the relationship between the cross points of the two phases is less likely to be disrupted, there is little possibility of erroneous phase detection due to the intrusion of external noise, and there is an advantage that it is less susceptible to the effects of noise.

[0044] All or part of the regulator 10 in the above-described embodiment may be implemented by a computer. In this case, a program for implementing this function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be loaded into a computer system and executed. Note that the term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" may also include media that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs via networks such as the Internet or telephone lines, or media that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within a computer system that serves as a server or client. The program may be designed to implement part of the above-described functions, or may be capable of implementing the above-described functions in combination with a program already stored in the computer system, or may be implemented using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA.

[0045] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0046] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Regulator 11 Control unit 12 Rectifier 13 Current detection unit 14 Signal generation unit 20 Three-phase AC generator 30 Battery 50 Load

Claims

1. A regulator that supplies power generated by a three-phase AC generator to a load, comprising: a current detection unit that is provided on at least one of the connection lines in a supply path for three-phase power output from the three-phase AC generator and detects the current in the connection line; a signal generation unit that generates a cross signal in accordance with the relationship where a current value representing the current detected by the current detection unit crosses a reference value; and an angle detection unit that detects the rotation angle of the rotor of the three-phase AC generator based on the cross signal generated by the signal generation unit.

2. The regulator according to claim 1, wherein the current detection unit detects the current in each of the connection wires of a first phase of the three phases and a second phase of the three phases, and the signal generation unit generates a cross signal according to the relationship at which a current value representing the current detected from the signal wire of the first phase crosses a current value representing the current detected from the connection wire of the second phase, which is used as the reference value.

3. The regulator according to claim 2, wherein the signal generating unit determines the magnitude relationship between the current value of the first phase and the current value of the second phase, and generates a cross signal that rises or falls at the time when the difference based on the result of the magnitude relationship determination falls within a reference range.

4. A regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the current detection unit detects the current at any position in a current path between a connection unit connectable to the three-phase AC generator and a rectifier provided in the regulator.

5. The regulator according to claim 4, wherein the current detection unit detects the current value based on a current flowing through a shunt resistor provided in the connection line.

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