US 12,463,579 B2
Exciter circuit for an externally excited synchronous machine, motor vehicle, and method for de-exciting an exciter winding
Daniel Ruppert, Lenting (DE)
Assigned to AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/465,783.
Claims priority of application No. 102022123264.6 (DE), filed on Sep. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0088821 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. H02P 9/10 (2006.01); B60L 3/00 (2019.01); H02P 29/032 (2016.01)
CPC H02P 29/032 (2016.02) [B60L 3/0061 (2013.01); H02P 2207/05 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An exciter circuit for an externally excited synchronous machine, comprising:
two voltage supply terminals for a voltage supply;
two exciter current terminals to be connected to an exciter winding of the externally excited synchronous machine;
a bridge circuit hooked up to the voltage supply terminals;
a controller; and
a protective layout at a side of the exciter circuit with the exciter current terminals,
wherein the protective layout, includes:
a semiconductor switch, which in operation, is switched in series with the exciter winding, and switched in parallel with a protective diode which is blocking in an exciter current flow direction; and
a cut-off voltage decay path running in parallel with the exciter winding and having a connection point between the bridge circuit and the semiconductor switch, wherein the cut-off voltage decay path includes at least one Zener diode layout which is blocking in the exciter current flow direction, which defines a breakdown voltage and includes at least one Zener diode, and
wherein the controller, in operation, opens the semiconductor switch when a rapid de-exciting signal is present.
 
10. A motor vehicle, comprising:
an externally excited synchronous machine;
an exciter circuit associated with the externally excited synchronous machine,
wherein the exciter circuit includes:
two voltage supply terminals for a voltage supply;
two exciter current terminals to be connected to an exciter winding of the externally excited synchronous machine;
a bridge circuit hooked up to the voltage supply terminals;
a controller; and
a protective layout at a side of the exciter circuit with the exciter current terminals; and
wherein the protective layout, includes:
a semiconductor switch, which in operation, is switched in series with the exciter winding, and switched in parallel with a protective diode which is blocking in an exciter current flow direction; and
a cut-off voltage decay path running in parallel with the exciter winding and having a connection point between the bridge circuit and the semiconductor switch, wherein the cut-off voltage decay path includes at least one Zener diode layout which is blocking in the exciter current flow direction, which defines a breakdown voltage and includes at least one Zener diode,
wherein the controller, in operation, opens the semiconductor switch when a rapid de-exciting signal is present; and
a power electronics layout including an inverter connected to a voltage network associated with the synchronous machine.
 
17. A method for de-exciting an exciter winding of an externally excited synchronous machine, the method comprising:
providing an exciter circuit for the externally excited synchronous machine, the exciter circuit including:
two voltage supply terminals for a voltage supply;
two exciter current terminals to be connected to an exciter winding of the externally excited synchronous machine;
a bridge circuit hooked up to the voltage supply terminals;
a controller; and
a protective layout at a side of the exciter circuit with the exciter current terminals; and
wherein the protective layout, includes:
a semiconductor switch, which in operation, is switched in series with the exciter winding, and switched in parallel with a protective diode which is blocking in an exciter current flow direction; and
a cut-off voltage decay path running in parallel with the exciter winding and having a connection point between the bridge circuit and the semiconductor switch, wherein the cut-off voltage decay path includes at least one Zener diode layout which is blocking in the exciter current flow direction, which defines a breakdown voltage and includes at least one Zener diode; and
opening the semiconductor switch when a rapid de-exciting signal is present.