US 12,261,474 B2
Management method of an automotive alternator and system
Luís Carlos Monteiro Sales, Belo Horizonte (BR)
Assigned to FCA FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMÓVEIS BRASIL LTDA, Betim (BR)
Appl. No. 18/003,269
Filed by FCA Fiat Chrysler Automóveis Brasil Ltda, Betim (BR)
PCT Filed Jun. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/BR2021/050261
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/258172, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 012713-6 (BR), filed on Jun. 22, 2020; and application No. 10 2021 011561-0 (BR), filed on Jun. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0253817 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. H02J 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 7/1446 (2013.01) 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A management method of an automotive alternator operatively connected to a battery and to an electrical control unit (ECU) of an internal combustion engine (ICE), wherein said method comprises:
determining a battery charge level of the battery, between BC1 (corresponding to a fully charged condition of the battery); BC2 (corresponding to a working battery charge level); and BC3 (corresponding to a low battery charge level);
determining a displacement speed of the ICE; and
determining a gear change of the ICE; and
determining an engine rotation speed;
wherein the electrical control unit is configured for:
at level BC1, maintaining the alternator in and electrically and mechanically uncoupled state;
at level BC3, coupling the alternator electrically to the battery and mechanically to a belt operatively driven by the ICE; and
at level BC2, occurring sequentially is:
the alternator is mechanically coupled to the belt when (i) the displacement speed of the automotive increases to a value greater than a predetermined value (VLim) after at least one gear change, and (ii) subsequent to the at least one gear change, during the period of time in which the clutch pedal is activated and a consecutive gear change occurs, and
after the alternator is mechanically coupled to the belt, electrically coupling the alternator to the battery when the vehicle is being driven in cut-off mode and the engine rotation speed is above a predetermined limit value (RLim);
wherein the cut-off mode maintains rotation of the ICE without using the accelerator pedal.