Vehicle Alternator Voltage Regulator Safety Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern motor vehicle alternator regulators, despite their digital control capabilities, lack protection against failures, leading to excess voltage generation on the vehicle's on-board network when the regulation function is compromised.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator with a separate safety module that monitors the regulation voltage and controls semiconductor switches to prevent excess voltage by detecting anomalies and implementing a strategy to re-establish a safe state, including alarm functions for critical failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-chip ASIC regulation module is used to control excitation current, then the regulator can be programmable and adaptable to multiple applications, but the system becomes vulnerable to failure without protection against excess voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is divided into two separate functional modules: a regulation module (ASIC) for controlling excitation current and a safety module for monitoring and protection. This segmentation allows the regulation module to remain programmable and adaptable while the safety module provides dedicated protection functions, resolving the contradiction between versatility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety module acts as an intermediary between the regulation module and the excitation winding. It monitors the regulation voltage and can block the excitation current by controlling a second semiconductor switch, providing protection without interfering with the normal operation of the programmable regulation module.
2Reliability
If the regulation function fails, then the regulator cannot maintain set voltage, but excess voltage is generated on the on-board network
Solution Approach 1:
The safety module continuously monitors the regulation voltage and provides feedback control. When excess voltage is detected (indicating regulation failure), the safety module activates to block the excitation current, preventing further excess voltage generation. This feedback mechanism ensures reliability by automatically correcting regulation failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety module is designed to preemptively block the excitation current when regulation failure is detected, preventing the harmful effect of excess voltage before it can damage the on-board network. This preliminary protective action addresses the contradiction by preventing harm while maintaining normal regulation function.
3Reliability
If a safety module is added to monitor regulation voltage and prevent excess voltage, then protection against failure is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety module shares common components with the regulation module, including the voltage divider bridge, measurement terminal, and semiconductor switches. By merging these components, the safety function is added without proportionally increasing device complexity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor switches and voltage divider bridge serve dual functions: the regulation module uses them for normal voltage control, while the safety module uses them for protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, adding safety capability while minimizing complexity increase.
Data Source
AI summary
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.