JP5983485B2 - Alternator and rectifier - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an alternator for charging electric power to a battery, and a rectifier used for the alternator.

  In general, in a vehicle, mechanical kinetic energy is converted into electric energy and used as a drive power source for a control system device or the like in the vehicle. An example of this type of generator is shown in Patent Document 1. In the technical idea shown in Patent Document 1, a conventional diode is used as the rectifying element of the rectifier, but instead of this, an FET (corresponding to a semiconductor switch) is used, and the phase current detection means generates a current larger than a predetermined value. When detected, it is determined that the power generation state is from the armature winding, and the FET is turned on. Thereby, in the FET, the rectification operation using only the parasitic diode is switched to the rectification operation with a low conduction resistance in the ON state of the FET.

JP 2010-283921 A

  When the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied, a parasitic diode exists between the drain and source of the FET. For this reason, when an abnormality such as overheating or overcurrent occurs in the FET, the generated current flows through the parasitic diode even if the FET is turned off. The power consumption increases as the generated current flows through the parasitic diode. For this reason, there is a risk of deterioration due to heat generation.

  Therefore, in order to suppress the generated current, for example, it is necessary to notify the regulator from the rectifier to suppress the excitation current of the rotor coil (so-called cooperative control), but if you try to respond by increasing the dedicated diagnostic communication line This causes inconveniences such as inability to use existing regulators. Although the problem of applying a semiconductor switch in which a parasitic diode is added to an FET has been shown, the same problem arises if an abnormality occurs on the rectifier side even without providing a semiconductor switch.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to increase the number of dedicated diagnostic communication lines for transmitting a rectifier abnormality between the regulator and the rectifier as much as possible, and to increase the electronic power in the event of a rectifier abnormality. To provide an alternator and a rectifier capable of notifying a control device of a diagnosis.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the regulator suppresses and controls the exciting current of the rotor coil through the output terminal when an abnormality is detected inside. The rectifier rectifies a plurality of phases of AC voltage generated in the stator coil according to the exciting current of the rotor coil energized through the output terminal of the regulator using the first diode and charges the battery.

  The abnormality detection circuit of the rectifier detects an abnormality of the rectifier body, and transmits an abnormality detection signal to the regulator through its output terminal after the abnormality detection circuit detects the abnormality. When the abnormality detection signal is notified from the rectifier, the regulator notifies the electronic control device of a diagnosis signal corresponding to the abnormality detection signal.

Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs on the rectifier side, the abnormality can be notified from the rectifier through the output terminal of the regulator, and further, the regulator can be notified to the electronic control unit. For this reason, a diagnosis signal can be transmitted to the electronic control unit when a rectifier abnormality occurs, without increasing the number of dedicated diagnosis communication lines for separately transmitting the abnormality of the rectifier as much as possible. The invention according to claim 10 also has substantially the same effect.

The block diagram which shows the electrical connection relation which concerns on the abnormality detection notification aspect of a rectifier about 1st Embodiment of this invention Basic electrical configuration of alternator Timing chart showing an example of the operation of the alternator Configuration example of overcurrent detection circuit Configuration example of overheat detection circuit Timing chart showing operation from power generation start to power generation stop Flow chart showing operation Explanatory diagram showing regenerative current during normal operation FIG. 2 equivalent view showing the second embodiment of the present invention Partial equivalent diagram of FIG. FIG. 1 is a partial equivalent diagram of FIG. 1 illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partial equivalent diagram of FIG. 1 illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the alternator 1 is configured by connecting a regulator 3, a rotor coil 4, stator coils 5 </ b> U, 5 </ b> V, 5 </ b> W, a rectifier (including a rectifier 6 a) 6, and the like that are supplied with power from a battery 2. Yes.

  The alternator 1 is a rotating field type electromagnetic synchronous generator that is used as an AC generator and has a rotor coil 4 as a rotor, and is a U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase stator coil 5U, 5V, 5W electric machine. The three-phase AC power is acquired by the child. The rectifier 6 includes a rectifying unit 6 a, and rectifies the three-phase AC power to convert it into DC power to charge the battery 2.

  The rectifier 6a of the rectifier 6 performs rectification using a diode such as a silicon diode. However, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, an N-channel MOS transistor 6uu is used for the U phase, V phase, and W phase. , 6vu, 6wu, 6ud, 6vd, 6wd, and parasitic diodes (body diodes) connected in reverse parallel to these transistors, Duu, Dvu, Dwu, Dud, Dvd, Dwd (first diode, first parasitic diode) May be used. In the following, the rectifier 6 will be described by taking as an example a configuration using the MOS transistors 6uu, 6vu, 6wu, 6ud, 6vd, and 6wd.

  In the present embodiment, the rectifying unit 6a is configured by connecting these MOS transistors 6uu, 6vu, 6wu, 6ud, 6vd, 6wd (parasitic diodes Duu, Dvu, Dwu, Dud, Dvd, Dwd) in a three-phase bridge connection. Yes.

  In the following description, each transistor or group of transistors of “U-phase, V-phase, W-phase MOS transistors 6 uu, 6 vu, 6 wu, 6 ud, 6 vd, 6 wd” is simply referred to as “MOS transistor 6 T”. The description of each diode or group of transistors of “parasitic diodes (body diodes) Duu, Dvu, Dwu, Dud, Dvd, Dwd” will be simply described as “parasitic diode DT”.

  The alternator 1 is added with a regulator 3 for adjusting the power generation capacity. The regulator 3 is connected to an electronic control unit (ECU: Electronic Control Unit) A via a vehicle network (for example, LIN (Local Interconnect Network)). LIN is a standard for communication in a master-slave system, and a LIN frame includes a header (Break field, Synch field, Protected ID field) and a response (data field, checksum).

  The electronic control unit A performs various controls such as a start instruction and a stop instruction by setting various data in the data field with the regulator 3. The regulator 3 sets and transmits data in the data field when transmitting information to the electronic control unit A. The regulator 3 can transmit a diagnosis signal indicating an abnormality by setting a flag in the data field when communicating with the electronic control unit A. Note that the communication form between the electronic control unit A and the regulator 3 is not limited to LIN, but may be another connection form (for example, wire connection using an open collector), and this communication is also performed using a PWM signal or the like. There may be.

  The regulator 3 has a function of increasing or decreasing the amount of power generation according to excess or deficiency of electric power in the vehicle after an activation instruction is issued from the electronic control unit A. The electronic control device A is a device that includes, for example, a microcomputer and performs various controls in the vehicle. The method of increasing or decreasing the amount of power generation is controlled by increasing or decreasing the excitation current of the rotor coil 4 by increasing or decreasing the duty ratio of the voltage applied to the output terminal 3a of the regulator 3. In addition, a protection function is provided to reduce the voltage at the output terminal 3a when an abnormality occurs in the regulator 3, for example, when an overvoltage such as an overcurrent or a power supply is present.

  FIG. 3 shows a description of the basic rectification operation of the rectifier. The rectifier 6a of the rectifier 6 clamps the sinusoidal AC voltage of the stator coils 5U, 5V, 5W by the MOS transistor 6T or the parasitic diode DT and charges the battery 2. Here, as shown in the right column of FIG. 3, when the MOS transistor 6T is turned off (no control), the battery 2 is charged in a state where the forward voltage (for example, 0.7V) of the body diode drops. The

  As shown in the left column of FIG. 3, when the MOS transistor 6T is on-controlled, a voltage drop (for example, 1 mΩ × 200 A = 0.2 V) corresponding to the multiplication value of the on-resistance Ron of the MOS transistor 6T and its charging current. Can be charged. Therefore, by charging the MOS transistor 6T by turning it on, loss due to a voltage drop can be reduced and charging efficiency can be improved.

  FIG. 1 mainly shows the connection configuration between the regulator and each block. The regulator 3 includes a control circuit 7, a gate circuit 8, a drive transistor 9, an abnormality detection circuit 10, a freewheeling diode 11, a voltage detection circuit 12, and an interface circuit 13, and outputs an excitation current to the rotor coil 4 through an output terminal 3a.

  The control circuit 7 outputs a PWM drive signal adjusted to a duty ratio corresponding to the power generation amount to the control terminal of the drive transistor 9 via the gate circuit 8. The drive transistor 9 is an N-channel power MOS transistor, the source of which is connected to the ground from the output terminal 3 a via the rotor coil 4, and the drain of which is connected to the battery 2. The control circuit 7 applies a PWM signal to the gate of the drive transistor 9 to turn the drive transistor 9 on and off.

  When an excitation current is supplied from the battery 2 to the rotor coil 4 via the drive transistor 9 in the ON section, the excitation current increases. On the other hand, in the off section, the supply of the excitation current that is energized from the battery 2 to the rotor coil 4 is stopped. At this time, the return current generated in the rotor coil 4 is returned through the return diode 11, and the drive current supply to the rotor coil 4 is continued.

  An abnormality detection circuit 10 is configured in the regulator 3. 4 and 5 show configuration examples of the abnormality detection circuit. FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of an abnormality detection circuit that detects overcurrent, and FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of an abnormality detection circuit that detects overheating.

  In the configuration example of the overcurrent detection abnormality detection circuit shown in FIG. 4, a sensing transistor 10 a is provided in parallel with the drive transistor 9, and the drive transistor 9 is detected by detecting a sensing current proportional to the energization current of the drive transistor 9. Is estimated. The comparator 10b compares the detection voltage corresponding to the sense current of the sensing transistor 10a with a predetermined comparison target voltage Vr, and determines whether or not an overcurrent has flowed by determining whether or not the comparison target voltage Vr is below. judge.

  When an overcurrent is detected, the abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality detection signal to the control circuit 7, and the control circuit 7 reduces the gate drive signal at the time of abnormality (duty ratio is reduced as compared with normal time, but slightly over 0%) Is output to the control terminal of the drive transistor 9. When the abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality detection signal to the control circuit 7, the control circuit 7 notifies the external electronic control unit A via the interface circuit 13.

  In the configuration example of the abnormality detection circuit for detecting overheating shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of diode groups D connected in series are arranged close to the drive transistor 9 and overheat detection is performed using the temperature characteristics of the diode group D. .

  The forward voltage Vd of the diode generally has a temperature characteristic of −2 mV / ° C., and the forward voltage Vd decreases as the ambient temperature increases. When a plurality of diodes are connected in series, the voltage fluctuation gradient corresponding to the temperature change also increases. Therefore, when the ambient temperature rises from the standard temperature, the forward voltage Vd of the diode group D decreases, so the comparator 10c compares the voltage of the diode group D with a predetermined comparison target voltage Vr2, and the comparison target voltage It is determined whether or not overheating has been detected by determining whether or not the voltage has fallen below Vr2.

  When it is determined that the state is overheated, the abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality detection signal to the control circuit 7 as in the case of overcurrent detection, and the control circuit 7 controls the gate drive signal at the time of abnormality to control the drive transistor 9. Output to the terminal. Therefore, when the abnormality detection circuit 10 detects an abnormal state, the exciting current of the rotor coil 4 gradually decreases and the power generation amount decreases. When the abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality detection signal to the control circuit 7, the control circuit 7 notifies the external electronic control unit A via the interface circuit 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a voltage detection circuit 12 is configured in the regulator 3. The voltage detection circuit 12 detects the voltage of the battery 2. The control circuit 7 determines whether the detection voltage of the voltage detection circuit 12 is higher than a predetermined voltage (overvoltage) or lower than a predetermined voltage (undervoltage). The control circuit 7 determines whether or not there is an abnormality according to the determination result. When the control circuit 7 detects an abnormality in the voltage of the battery 2, the control circuit 7 notifies the electronic control device A of a diagnosis through the interface circuit 13.

  If the control circuit 7 determines that it is an overvoltage, it controls the duty ratio of the PWM drive signal to be low so as to suppress the power generation amount. Conversely, when the control circuit 7 determines that the voltage is low, the control circuit 7 increases the power generation amount by controlling the duty ratio of the PWM drive signal to be high.

  Further, the control circuit 7 of the regulator 3 connects a detection line (not shown) to a terminal of one phase (for example, 5 W) of the stator coils 5U, 5V, and 5W, detects an application signal of the coil, and detects whether there is an abnormality. It has a function to determine. When this abnormality is detected, the control circuit 7 of the regulator 3 transmits a diagnosis indicating a mechanical abnormality to the electronic control unit A. The regulator 3 performs, for example, LIN communication with the electronic control device A. When an abnormality occurs during the LIN communication, the regulator 3 notifies the electronic control device A of a diagnosis indicating the abnormality.

  The reference drawing is returned to FIG. 1 to explain the configuration in the rectifier 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the rectifier 6 includes a short-circuit transistor (a switch, an impedance changing unit, corresponding to a MOS transistor) 14, an abnormality detection circuit 15, a low voltage detection circuit 16, together with the rectifying unit 6 a shown in FIG. A gate circuit 17, a delay gate 18, an SR flip-flop 19 and the like are provided. The transistor 14 is composed of, for example, an N channel type MOS transistor. The abnormality detection circuit 15 detects energization current and heat generation of the MOS transistor constituting the rectifier 6, and detects abnormalities such as overcurrent and overheating.

  As the means for detecting an abnormality by the abnormality detection circuit 15, the same means as the abnormality detection (the overcurrent detection means shown in FIG. 4 and the overheat detection means shown in FIG. 5) of the above-described abnormality detection circuit 10 can be applied. Different circuits may be used. When detecting an abnormality, the abnormality detection circuit 15 outputs an abnormality detection signal “H” to the inverting inputs of the gate circuit 17 and the delay gate 18.

  The low voltage detection circuit 16 includes, for example, a reference voltage source and a comparator. The low voltage detection circuit 16 detects the voltage of the common connection node N1 of the drive transistor 9 and the freewheeling diode 11, and the PWM drive signal is turned off (approximately 0V) ( A low voltage detection signal “H” is output to the gate circuit 17 when a voltage lower than a predetermined voltage (corresponding to “minimum voltage”) is detected.

  When the gate circuit 17 detects the abnormality detection signal “H” of the abnormality detection circuit 15 and the low voltage detection signal “H” of the low voltage detection circuit 16, the gate circuit 17 outputs the set signal “H” to the set terminal of the SR flip-flop 19. To do.

  When receiving the set signal “H” from the gate circuit 17, the SR flip-flop 19 turns on the shorting transistor 14. When the SR flip-flop 19 turns on the shorting transistor 14 to change the input impedance of the rectifier 6, the exciting current of the rotor coil 4 that becomes the output current of the regulator 3 also flows to the transistor 14 side.

  Therefore, after an abnormality such as overheating or overcurrent is detected on the rectifier 6 side, the shorting transistor 14 is turned on when the low voltage detection circuit 16 detects a low voltage section ("L" section) of the PWM signal. As a result, the exciting current of the rotor coil 4 flows to the transistor 14 side.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the operation during normal power generation and the rectifier protection operation during power generation suppression. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the rectifier. FIG. 8 shows the flow of current during normal power generation.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the electronic control unit A instructs the regulator 3 to start up through the interface circuit 13 to the regulator 3 ((1) in FIG. 6). In addition to instructing the regulator 3 to start, the electronic control unit A instructs the regulator 3 to control the amount of power generation through the interface circuit 13. In this control instruction, the electronic control unit A instructs an appropriate power generation mode by, for example, instructing the control voltage of the battery 2, the increase speed of the power generation amount, the control current value of the excitation current, and the like.

  When the regulator 3 receives the activation instruction, the regulator 3 is activated, and the control circuit 7 gives a PWM drive signal to the control terminal of the drive transistor 9 through the gate circuit 8. When the drive transistor 9 is driven on and off, the excitation current rises in the on section and decreases in the off section, and the power generation amount is controlled accordingly, and the steady state is maintained (NO in S1 of FIG. 7).

  FIG. 8 shows the regenerative operation by the rectifier. As described above, when the drive transistor 9 is turned off, the return current flows from the return diode 11 to the rotor coil 4, but the parasitic diode (body diode) 14a of the shorting transistor 14 of the rectifier 6 is connected from the ground to the node N1 (regulator 3). Therefore, the return current flows from the parasitic diode 14a of the transistor 14 to the rotor coil 4 together with the return current from the return diode 11.

  In this case, the exciting current of the rotor coil 4 is distributed to the free wheeling diode 11 in the regulator 3 and the parasitic diode (body diode) 14 a of the transistor 14. The heat generation in the regulator 3 depends on the power consumption in the regulator 3, which also depends on the amount of current flowing through the freewheeling diode 11. Therefore, if the return current is distributed to the parasitic diode 14a side of the shorting transistor 14 (see the dotted line in FIG. 8), the heat generation of the regulator 3 can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the duty ratio of the PWM drive signal gradually increases, the power generation amount also gradually increases and the excitation current is controlled to be substantially constant (normal power generation section in FIG. 6). After that, when the energizing current of the MOS transistor 6T constituting the rectifier 6 and the energizing current of the parasitic diode DT rise due to some influence and the package of the rectifier 6 generates heat, the anomaly detection circuit 15 detects an anomaly and detects an anomaly detection signal. “H” is output (time (2) in FIG. 6: YES in S1 in FIG. 7).

  Even if the abnormality detection signal “H” is detected, if the drive transistor 9 is turned on and the voltage at the node N1 is close to the standard voltage of the battery 2, the low voltage detection circuit 14 sets the voltage at the node N1 to 0 V (low voltage: Preferably, the minimum voltage) is not detected. Therefore, at this time (2), the low voltage detection circuit 14 does not output the low voltage detection signal “H”, and the gate circuit 17 does not detect the low voltage detection signal “H”. For this reason, at the time (2), the gate circuit 17 does not output the set signal “H”.

  Thereafter, when the driving transistor 9 shifts from the on state to the off state, the voltage at the node N1 decreases. The low voltage detection circuit 14 detects that the drive transistor 9 is turned off by detecting that the voltage of the node N1 has dropped below a predetermined voltage (YES in S2 of FIG. 7). Then, the gate circuit 17 outputs a set signal “H” to the SR flip-flop 19, and the SR flip-flop 19 drives the gate of the shorting transistor 14 with the Q output to turn on the shorting transistor 14 (FIG. 6). (3) Time point: S3 in FIG.

  When the shorting transistor 14 is turned on, the node N1 is almost conductively connected to the ground. At the timing when the shorting transistor 14 is turned on, the drive transistor 9 is turned off and the voltage at the node N1 is lower than a predetermined voltage, so that the current flowing through the shorting transistor 14 can be kept small.

  Thereafter, when the gate drive signal “H” is applied to the gate of the drive transistor 9, the drive transistor 9 is turned on, and the energization current of the drive transistor 9 flows mainly to the shorting transistor 14 (at time (4) in FIG. 6: (See dotted line in FIG. 1).

  Since the on-resistance of the transistor 14 is several Ω or less, a large current tends to flow, but the abnormality detection circuit 10 in the regulator 3 performs an abnormality detection process by detecting a signal based on this large current as an abnormality detection signal. . The abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality to the control circuit 7 in response to the abnormality detection. The control circuit 7 masks the second half of the PWM signal through the gate circuit 8 and outputs a PWM signal having a duty ratio of about several percent (see the ON section of the drive transistor 9 in FIG. 6). As a result, while both the drive transistor 9 and the shorting transistor 14 are turned on, a dead short current mainly flows to the shorting transistor 14 side (see timings after (4) in FIG. 6).

  The exciting current of the rotor coil 4 gradually decreases, and power generation can be suppressed. When the abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality detection signal to the control circuit 7, the control circuit 7 notifies the electronic control device A of a diagnosis through the interface circuit 13 (see timing (5) in FIG. 6). When the control circuit 7 of the regulator 3 notifies the electronic control device A of the diagnosis, the electronic control device A receives the diagnosis, and then outputs a power generation stop command to the regulator 3 (see timing (6) in FIG. 6). Then, the control circuit 7 of the regulator 3 stops the output of the PWM drive signal (duty ratio = 0%), and the rectifier 6 stops generating power (YES in S5 in FIG. 7).

  In this example, the alternator 1 stops power generation, but the heat generation and energization current of the rectifier 6 may be suppressed by some influence. In such a case, the abnormality detection circuit 15 does not detect the abnormality in the rectifier 6, but at this time, the rectifier 6 returns to normal (YES in S4 of FIG. 7). When the delay time elapses by the delay gate 18 (YES in S6 of FIG. 7), the SR flip-flop 19 controls the transistor 14 to be turned off. When the transistor 14 is turned off, the rectifier 6 operates normally, starts normal power generation again, and returns to the abnormality detection operation indicated by S1 in FIG. As a result, normal recovery can be achieved.

<Summary of main features of this embodiment>
According to the present embodiment, the abnormality detection circuit 15 detects an abnormality of the rectifier 6, and the rectifier 6 detects an abnormality through the output terminal 3 a of the regulator 3 after the abnormality detection circuit 15 detects the abnormality. A signal is transmitted to the regulator 3. For this reason, even if an abnormality occurs on the rectifier 6 side, the abnormality can be notified from the rectifier 6 through the output terminal 3 a of the regulator 3. For this reason, an abnormality can be notified without increasing the dedicated diagnostic communication line.

  Furthermore, even if an abnormality occurs on the rectifier 6 side, the abnormality can be notified to the electronic control unit A through the regulator 3. For this reason, it is possible to notify the electronic control device A of a diagnosis when the rectifier 6 is abnormal.

  In particular, when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection circuit 15, the rectifier 6 controls the transistor 14 (switch) connected in parallel to the rotor coil 4 to short-circuit between the terminals of the rotor coil 4 to the regulator 3. Anomaly detection processing is performed. That is, when an abnormality is detected on the rectifier 6 side, abnormality detection processing is performed in the regulator 3 as if the abnormality occurred in the regulator 3.

  When the abnormality detection signal is given to the abnormality detection circuit 10, the regulator 3 transmits the abnormality detection signal to the control circuit 7, and therefore the PWM for the control circuit 7 to suppress and control the excitation current of the rotor coil 4. A drive signal is applied to the gate of the drive transistor 9. For this reason, power generation can be suppressed.

  Further, the timing when the rectifier 6 turns on the transistor 14 is within the interval in which the voltage between the terminals of the rotor coil 4 (the voltage at the output terminal 3a of the regulator 3) is almost the lowest voltage (≈0V). The energization current of the transistor 14 at the ON timing of 14 can be reduced.

  Further, since the transistor 14 is composed of a MOS transistor with a parasitic diode (body diode) 14a, the forward current path of the parasitic diode (body diode) 14a of the transistor 14 is shown in FIG. Becomes the return current path of the rotor coil 4. For this reason, the energization current of the rotor coil 4 can be distributed to the regulator 3 side and the rectifier 6 side, and in particular, heat generation on the regulator 3 side can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is that abnormality detection is performed on the rectifiers 6U, 6V, and 6W for each of the U phase, V phase, and W phase. Each of the circuits 15 is provided, and the abnormality detection signal of the abnormality detection circuit 15 is configured to be transmitted to the abnormality reception circuit 21 of another phase, for example, via the bus 20. Here, the U-phase rectifier is defined as 6U, the V-phase rectifier is defined as 6V, and the W-phase rectifier is defined as 6W. Parts that are the same as or similar to those in the previous embodiment are given the same or similar reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. Hereinafter, different parts are described.

  FIG. 9 shows an electrical basic configuration diagram of an alternator in place of FIG. 2 in the description of the above embodiment. In this embodiment, U-phase MOS transistors 6uu and 6ud are housed in one package, V-phase MOS transistors 6vu and 6vd are housed in one package, and W-phase MOS transistors 6wu and 6wd are housed in one package. Yes. That is, a plurality of rectification units each including the MOS transistor 6T and the parasitic diode DT are housed in the package for each phase.

  FIG. 10 shows the electrical configuration of the main parts of the rectifiers 6U, 6V, and 6W of the U phase, V phase, and W phase. As shown in FIG. 10, the rectifiers 6U, 6V, and 6W of the respective phases have the same electrical configuration therein, and the rectifiers 6U, 6V, and 6W of the respective phases have abnormality detection circuits, respectively. 15 is provided.

  Among these phases, the abnormality detection circuit 15 of one phase transmits an abnormality notification signal to the abnormality reception circuit 21 of the other phase through the bus 20, and the abnormality reception circuit 21 receives the abnormality notification signal. When the abnormality receiving circuit 21 of a certain phase receives an abnormality notification signal from the abnormality detecting circuit 15 of another phase through the bus 20, it can recognize that the other phase is abnormal by receiving this abnormal state. When the abnormal reception circuit 21 receives an abnormal state of another phase, the abnormality detection signal “H” is output through the gate (OR gate) 22 to the gate circuit 17 and the delay gate 18 of its own phase.

Then, the rectifiers 6U, 6V, 6W of each phase turn on the transistor 14 of its own phase at the timing when the driving transistor 9 is turned off.
Since the on-resistance of the transistor 14 of each phase is several Ω or less, a large current tends to flow, but the abnormality detection circuit 10 in the regulator 3 detects an abnormality by detecting a signal based on this large current as an abnormality detection signal. Process. The abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality to the control circuit 7 in response to the abnormality detection. Then, the control circuit 7 notifies the electronic control device A of the diagnosis.

  On the other hand, when the transistor 14 is turned on, the dead short current described in the above embodiment is shared through the transistors 14 of one phase and the other phase. In particular, if the transistor 14 is turned on in all phases, a dead short current flows through the transistors 14 in all phases. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of the dead short current amount of each transistor 14 in each phase rectifier 6U, 6V, 6W.

<Summary of main features of this embodiment>
When the abnormality detection circuit 15 detects an abnormality in any one of a plurality of phases, it transmits an abnormality of one phase to the other phase, and it is in an abnormal state when receiving an abnormality of the one phase in the other phase. Accept. Thereby, the abnormal state of one phase can be notified to other phases. In addition, the rectifiers 6U, 6V, 6W of each phase (one phase and the other phase) turn on the transistor 14, thereby causing a dead short to flow through the transistor 14 when the terminals of the rotor coil 4 are short-circuited. Current can be shared by each phase (one phase and the other). Thereby, the burden of dead short current amount can be reduced.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the second embodiment is that the transistor 14 is formed only in one phase, and the transistor 14 is formed in the rectifier of the other phase. The abnormality detection circuit 15 and the abnormality reception circuit 21 are configured. Parts having the same or similar functions as those of the above-described embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 11 shows an electrical configuration of a part of FIG. 1 or a main part instead of FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the U-phase rectifier 6U has the same configuration as the rectifier 6U of the second embodiment. On the other hand, the V-phase and W-phase rectifiers 6V and 6W are configured with an abnormality detection circuit 15 and an abnormality reception circuit 21, but other configurations (transistor 14, low voltage detection circuit 16, The gate circuit 17, the delay gate 18, and the SR flip-flop 19) are not configured.

  In this case, if the abnormality detection circuit 15 of the V-phase rectifier 6V and the abnormality detection circuit 15 of the W-phase rectifier 6W respectively perform abnormality detection processing such as overcurrent and overheating, the abnormality of the U-phase rectifier 6U is detected. An abnormal state is notified by transmitting an abnormality detection signal to the receiving circuit 21. When the abnormality receiving circuit 21 of the U-phase rectifier 6U receives an abnormality notification signal from the abnormality detecting circuit 15 of another phase through the bus 20, it can recognize that the other phase is abnormal by receiving this abnormal state.

  Then, the U-phase rectifier 6U controls to turn on the U-phase transistor 14 at the timing when the drive transistor 9 is turned off. Since the on-resistance of the transistor 14 is several Ω or less, a large current tends to flow, but the abnormality detection circuit 10 in the regulator 3 performs an abnormality detection process by detecting a signal based on this large current as an abnormality detection signal. . The abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality to the control circuit 7 in response to the abnormality detection. Then, the control circuit 7 outputs a diagnosis to the electronic control unit A. Thereby, substantially the same operation effect as the above-mentioned embodiment is obtained, and the abnormal state of other phases can be recognized.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Portions having the same or similar functions as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different portions are described below.
FIG. 12 shows an electrical configuration of a main part instead of FIG. The difference from the above embodiment is that the drive transistor 9 is configured on the low side of the ground side on the regulator 3 side. Further, the rotor coil 4 is connected in series to the high side on the battery 2 side. On the rectifier 6 side, a shorting transistor 14 is formed on the high side and connected in parallel to the rotor coil 4.

  In such a configuration, when the abnormality detection circuit 15 of the rectifier 6 detects an abnormality, the shorting transistor 14 is turned on, so that a dead short current can flow through the transistor 14. Therefore, the abnormality detection circuit 10 can detect an overcurrent flowing through the transistor 14 when the driving transistor 9 is turned on as an abnormality detection signal.

  The abnormality detection circuit 10 outputs an abnormality to the control circuit 7 in response to the abnormality detection. Then, the control circuit 7 notifies the electronic control unit A of a diagnosis. Thereby, there exists an effect similar to the above-mentioned embodiment. Further, power generation can be suppressed as in the above embodiment. In normal operation, the return current flows to the high-side return diode 11 and also to the parasitic diode 14a of the transistor 14, and the return current is distributed, so that the same effect as that of the previous embodiment can be obtained.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the following modifications or expansions are possible.
The transistors 9 and 14 are not limited to MOS transistors but may be changed to other switching devices (semiconductor switches, various switches such as mechanical relays). In addition, the shorting transistor 14 does not need to short-circuit between the terminals of the rotor coil 4 in particular, and a configuration (for example, a low impedance circuit (about several Ω)) for changing the impedance between the terminals of the rotor coil 4 is applied to the rotor coil 4. For example, a parallel connection may be applied.

  In the second and third embodiments, the rectifying unit 6a is shown as being separated into a plurality of packages by U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase rectifiers 6U, 6V, and 6W. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, when an abnormality is detected on the rectifier 6 side, it is as if an abnormality has occurred in the regulator 3 in response to intentionally short-circuiting the terminals of the rotor coil 4. Although abnormality detection processing is performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and any circuit configuration may be adopted as long as an abnormality detection signal can be transmitted from the rectifier 6 side to the regulator 3 side through the output terminal 3a. That is, for the rectifier 6, the embodiment in which the configuration in which the transistor 14 is driven and controlled using the low voltage detection circuit 16, the AND gate 17, the delay gate 18, and the SR flip-flop 19 has been described. An analog mixed circuit may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the regulator 3 performs a diagnosis output to the electronic control device A, and the power generation is stopped after receiving the power generation stop command from the electronic control device A. However, the regulator 3 voluntarily stops driving (drive duty ratio). 0%).

  The rectifier 6 has been described by taking a three-phase configuration as an example, but the number of phases is not particularly limited, and may be changed practically according to specifications, applications, etc., such as 5, 6. Although the embodiment using the drive output terminal 3a of the rotor coil 4 has been described as the terminal for abnormal communication between the rectifier 6 and the regulator 3, other output terminals provided in the regulator 3 may be used.

  In the drawings, 1 is an alternator, 2 is a battery, 3 is a regulator, 3a is an output terminal of the regulator, 4 is a rotor coil, 6 is a rectifier, 6a is a rectifier, 6U is a U-phase rectifier, and 6V is a V-phase. Rectifier, 6W is a W-phase rectifier, 6uu, 6ud, 6vu, 6vd, 6wu, 6wd are MOS transistors (semiconductor switches), 9 is a drive transistor, 11 is a freewheeling diode, 14 is a short transistor (impedance changing means, 14a is a parasitic diode (second parasitic diode), Duu, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd are parasitic diodes (first diode, first parasitic diode), and A is an electronic control device.

Claims (18)

A regulator (3) that suppresses and controls the exciting current of the rotor coil (4) through the output terminal when an internal abnormality is detected;
A first diode (Du, Dud) for a plurality of phases of AC voltage generated in the stator coil (5U, 5W, 5V) according to the exciting current of the rotor coil (4) energized through the output terminal (3a) of the regulator (3). , Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) is a rectifier (6) that rectifies and charges the battery (2) by a rectifier (6a) using an rectifier (6), and detects an abnormality of the rectifier body (15) A rectifier (6) with
After the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection circuit (15), the rectifier (6) notifies the abnormality detection signal to the regulator (3) through the output terminal (3a) of the regulator (3),
When the abnormality detection signal is notified from the rectifier (6), the regulator (3) notifies a diagnosis signal corresponding to the abnormality detection signal to the electronic control unit (A). The alternator according to claim 1, wherein
The first diodes (Du, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) include first parasitic diodes (Du, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) that are parasitic on the semiconductor switch that constitutes the rectifier.
An alternator characterized in that the battery (2) is charged by rectifying using a semiconductor switch (6uu, 6ud, 6vu, 6vd, 6wu, 6wd) in which the first parasitic diode is parasitic. The alternator according to claim 1 or 2,
The rectifier (6) comprises impedance changing means (14) connected to the rotor coil (4),
After the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection circuit (15), the rectifier (6) changes the impedance of the rotor coil (4) by changing the impedance of the rotor coil (4) by the impedance changing means (14). ) Is changed, and an abnormality detection signal corresponding to the impedance change is transmitted to the regulator (3) to cause the regulator (3) to perform an abnormality detection process. The alternator according to claim 3,
The impedance changing means (14) includes a switch (14) connected between the terminals of the rotor coil (4), and causes an abnormality in the regulator (3) by short-circuiting the terminals of the rotor coil (4). An alternator characterized by performing detection processing. The alternator according to claim 4, wherein
The rectifier (6) is an alternator characterized in that the on-timing of the switch (14) is in a section where the DC voltage between the terminals of the rotor coil (4) is the lowest voltage. In the alternator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The rectifier (6) includes a plurality of rectification units (6U, 6V, 6W) for rectifying a plurality of phases of AC voltage, and charges the battery (2). A plurality of rectification units (6U, 6V, 6W) is configured for each phase using a plurality of packages,
The abnormality detection circuit (15) is configured to detect an abnormality for each phase by detecting overheating or / and overcurrent of the plurality of packages,
When the abnormality detection circuit (15) detects an abnormality in any one of the plurality of phases, the abnormality of the one phase is transmitted to the other phase, and the abnormality of the one phase is received in the other phase. An alternator characterized by receiving an abnormal state by The alternator according to claim 4 or 5 ,
The rectifier (6) includes a plurality of rectification units (6U, 6V, 6W) for rectifying a plurality of phases of AC voltage, and charges the battery (2). A plurality of rectification units (6U, 6V, 6W) is configured for each phase using a plurality of packages,
The abnormality detection circuit (15) is configured to detect an abnormality for each phase by detecting overheating or / and overcurrent of the plurality of packages,
When the abnormality detection circuit (15) detects an abnormality in any one of the plurality of phases, the abnormality of the one phase is transmitted to the other phase, and the abnormality of the one phase is received in the other phase. An alternator characterized by receiving an abnormal state by The alternator according to claim 7 , wherein
When the abnormality of the one phase is received in the other phase, the rectifier (6) turns on the switch (14) to short-circuit the terminals of the rotor coil (4). . In the alternator according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The rectifier (6) includes a rectifying unit (6a) that rectifies a plurality of phases of AC voltage and charges the battery (2), and the rectifying unit (6a) is configured in one package,
The anomaly detection circuit (15) detects an anomaly by detecting overheating or / and overcurrent of the one package . Regarding the multiple-phase AC voltage generated in the stator coil (5U, 5V, 5W) in accordance with the excitation current supplied to the rotor coil (4) through the output terminal (3a) from the regulator (3) capable of detecting internal abnormality, A rectifier (6) for rectifying by a rectifying unit (6a) using a first diode (Duu, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) and charging the battery (2),
Provided with an abnormality detection circuit (15) for detecting an abnormality in the rectifier body,
After an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection circuit (15), an abnormality detection signal is transmitted to the regulator (3) through the output terminal (3a) of the regulator (3), and the abnormality detection signal is transmitted through the regulator (3). A rectifier characterized by notifying the electronic control unit (A) of a diagnostic signal corresponding to the above . In rectifier of claim 1 0 wherein,
The first diodes (Du, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) include first parasitic diodes (Du, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) parasitic on the semiconductor switch constituting the rectifier body. ,
The rectifier body (6) is rectified using a semiconductor switch (6uu, 6ud, 6vu, 6vd, 6wu, 6wd) in which the first parasitic diode (Duu, Dud, Dvu, Dvd, Dwu, Dwd) is parasitic. A rectifier that charges the battery (2) . According to claim 10 or 11 SL placing the rectifier,
Comprising impedance changing means (14) connected to the rotor coil (4) ;
After the abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection circuit (15), the impedance between the terminals of the rotor coil (4) is changed by changing the impedance on the rotor coil (4) side by the impedance changing means (14). The rectifier is configured to transmit an abnormality detection signal corresponding to the impedance change to the regulator (3) to cause the regulator (3) to perform an abnormality detection process. In rectifier of claim 12 Symbol mounting,
The impedance changing means (14) includes a switch (14) connected between the terminals of the rotor coil (4), and causes an abnormality in the regulator (3) by short-circuiting the terminals of the rotor coil (4). A rectifier characterized by performing detection processing . In rectifier of claim 13 Symbol mounting,
The rectifier characterized in that the on-timing of the switch (14) is within a section in which the DC voltage between the terminals of the rotor coil (4) is the lowest voltage . In rectifier mounting serial to any one of claims 10 to 12,
A plurality of rectification units (6a) for rectifying a plurality of phases of AC voltage are provided to charge the battery (2), and the plurality of rectification units (6a) are configured for each phase using a plurality of packages. ,
The abnormality detection circuit (15) is configured to detect an abnormality for each phase by detecting overheating or / and overcurrent of the plurality of packages,
When the abnormality detection circuit (15) detects an abnormality in any one of the plurality of phases, the abnormality of the one phase is transmitted to the other phase, and the abnormality of the one phase is received in the other phase. The rectifier is characterized by accepting abnormal conditions . According to claim 13 or 14 SL placing the rectifier,
A plurality of rectification units (6a) for rectifying a plurality of phases of AC voltage are provided to charge the battery (2), and the plurality of rectification units (6a) are configured for each phase using a plurality of packages. ,
The abnormality detection circuit (15) is configured to detect an abnormality for each phase by detecting overheating or / and overcurrent of the plurality of packages,
When the abnormality detection circuit (15) detects an abnormality in any one of the plurality of phases, the abnormality of the one phase is transmitted to the other phase, and the abnormality of the one phase is received in the other phase. The rectifier is characterized by accepting abnormal conditions . The rectifier according to claim 16, wherein
In the other phase, when the abnormality of the one phase is received, the switch (14) is turned on to short-circuit the terminals of the rotor coil (4). In the rectifier according to any one of claims 10 to 14,
A rectifier (6a) for rectifying a plurality of phases of AC voltage is provided to charge the battery (2), and the rectifier (6a) is configured in one package,
The rectifier characterized in that the abnormality detection circuit (15) detects an abnormality by detecting overheating or / and overcurrent of the one package.

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