System and method for vehicle diagnostics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017331402-A1
Application number	US-201615150896-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	May 10, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes an alternator having a field coil and a plurality of output windings, a field current controller configured to receive an AC input and convert the AC input into a regulated DC output that is supplied to the field coil of the alternator, and a controller configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the field current controller and to compare a monitored value of the at least one operating parameter to a threshold range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
an alternator having a field coil and a plurality of output windings; a field current controller configured to receive an AC input and convert the AC input into a regulated DC output that is supplied to the field coil of the alternator; and a controller configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the field current controller and to compare a monitored value of the at least one operating parameter to a threshold range.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one operating parameter is a duty-cycle of the field current controller; and the threshold range is a duty-cycle range of the field current controller established during normal operation of the alternator.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the alternator is a main traction alternator of a vehicle.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the alternator is an auxiliary alternator of a vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to control at least one of the alternator, the field current controller, or a vehicle in which the alternator is disposed responsive to one of: the at least one operating parameter falling outside of the threshold range; or receipt of a signal from a remote monitoring system that is sent to the controller responsive to the controller sending a notification to the remote monitoring system of the at least one operating parameter falling outside of the threshold range.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to generate a notification if the monitored value of the at least one operating parameter falls outside of the threshold range for the at least one operating parameter.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the threshold range is established in dependence upon normal operation of the alternator.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the notification includes at least one of a visual alert, an audible alarm, or a notification to a remote monitoring system.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the field current controller includes at least one thyristor.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one operating parameter is a switching pattern of the at least one thyristor of the field current controller; and the controller is configured to compare the switching pattern of the at least one thyristor to a switching pattern of the at least one thyristor established during normal operation of the alternator.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one thyristor is a silicon controlled rectifier.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one parameter is a percent of time the least one thyristor of the field current controller is turned on.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the threshold range is approximately 5 percent turned on to approximately 40 percent turned on.

14 . A control method for an alternator, comprising the steps of:
monitoring at least one operating parameter of a field current controller of an alternator; comparing a determined value of the at least one operating parameter to a threshold range for the at least one operating parameter; and generating a control signal if the determined value falls outside of the threshold range for the at least one operating parameter.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the control signal is configured to control at least one of the field current controller, the alternator, a vehicle in which the alternator is deployed, a communication device, or a notification device.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
establishing the threshold range for the at least one operating parameter in dependence upon normal operation of the alternator.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein:
the at least one operating parameter is a duty-cycle of the field current controller; and the threshold range is a duty-cycle range of the field current controller established during normal operation of the alternator.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein:
the field current controller includes at least one thyristor; and the at least one operating parameter is a switching pattern of the at least one thyristor of the field current controller; wherein comparing the determined value to the threshold range includes comparing the switching pattern of the at least one thyristor to a switching pattern of the at least one thyristor established during normal operation of the alternator.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein:
the field current controller includes at least one thyristor or controlled rectifier device; and the at least one parameter is a percent of time the least one thyristor or controlled rectifier device of the field current controller is turned on.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein:
the threshold range is approximately 5 percent turned on to approximately 40 percent turned on.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein:
the control signal is configured to control at least one of: the notification device for generating a visual alert on-board the vehicle on which the alternator is deployed or generating an audible alert on-board the vehicle on which the alternator is deployed; or the communication device for transmitting a message to a remote monitoring system for the vehicle.

22 . A system, comprising:
an alternator having a field coil and a plurality of output windings; an alternator control device configured to receive an AC input and to convert the AC input into a regulated DC output that is supplied to the field coil of the alternator; and a controller configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the alternator control device; wherein the controller is configured to generate a control signal if a value for the at least one operating parameter of the alternator control device exceeds a threshold value.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein:
the alternator control device includes a controlled rectifier device; and the at least one operating parameter is a percent of time the controlled rectifier device is turned on; wherein the threshold value is approximately 40 percent turned on.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Smith Mark Douglas
• Agrawal Neeraj

Classifications

• H02P9/48 Primary

  Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle (H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02P9/02

  Details {of the control} · CPC title

• H02P9/302 Primary

  Brushless excitation · CPC title

• H02P9/30

  using semiconductor devices · CPC title

• H02P29/0241

  the fault being an overvoltage · CPC title