JP2000341998A - Power generation controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase quantity of power generation with satisfactory responsiveness without the instability of the rotating speed of an internal combustion engine, even if the required electric load of electric equipment increases rapidly. SOLUTION: When an on-state signal of a power steering switch 10 is detected, a quantity of power generation of an alternator 7 is increased to a maximum in no time, and a quantity of air is increased by ΔQ along with normal control (ISC control) of an engine 1. Even if the power steering switch 10 is turned on and therefore a required electric load of an electric equipment rapidly increases, the drop in the battery voltage and the head lamp voltage becomes smaller, and the duration of the drop is also shortened and therefore a quantity of power generation of the alternator 7 can be increased with satisfactory veness, without the instability of the rotating speed of the engine 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power generation control device for a generator driven by an internal combustion engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle is equipped with various electric devices such as lamps, a drive motor for driving an air-conditioning blower and a power device. In order to supplement the power consumed by the electric equipment, the vehicle has an internal combustion engine (engine).
A generator (alternator) driven by is provided. The operation (power generation amount) of the alternator is normally controlled according to the electric load of various electric devices.

That is, when the required electric load increases,
The amount of power generation is gradually increased (gradual excitation control). The execution of the gradual excitation control prevents the engine speed from dropping due to a sudden increase in the power generation amount of the alternator, thereby preventing engine stall or the like.

[0004] In a state where the engine speed is low such as during idling, when the required electric load increases, the opening of the idle speed control valve is adjusted to increase the air amount (idle speed control control: IS
C control), and the idle speed is stabilized (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-113479).

[0005]

In a vehicle equipped with an electric power steering device, the driving current of the electric motor is large, so that when the electric power steering device is operated during the gradual excitation control, the battery voltage is reduced. Will decrease. At this time, since the alternator is under the gradual excitation control, the battery voltage rises only gradually.For example, when the headlamp is turned on, the headlamp voltage also decreases and the illuminance of the headlamp decreases. The illuminance will be restored only gradually.

In the conventional power generation control device, when the electric power steering device is operated, the alternator is controlled so that the power generation amount of the alternator is maximized within the range of the ISC control so that the idling speed is not unstable. I have. However, because the control is performed when the vehicle is stopped and idling, the amount of intake air by ISC control is not so large, and high responsiveness cannot be expected.Therefore, there is a limit to the increase in alternator power generation, and the electric power steering device operates. When the electric load suddenly increases, such as when starting to perform, the increase in the power generation amount of the alternator cannot be sufficiently followed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and increases the amount of power generated by a generator with good responsiveness without making the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine unstable even when the required electric load of electric equipment suddenly increases. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power generation control device capable of performing the following.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a configuration of the present invention is to control a power generation amount of a generator driven by an internal combustion engine in accordance with a required electric load of electric equipment of a vehicle, and to generate a required electric power. A power generation control device having a gradual excitation means for gradually increasing the power generation amount when the load increases, and an output control means for normally controlling the output of the internal combustion engine according to the power generation amount of the generator, and An output that increases the output of the internal combustion engine separately from the normal control of the output by the output control means while inhibiting the gradual excitation control for a predetermined time when an increase of not less than a predetermined value is detected and generating an amount of power generation that exceeds the required electric load. A control device for performing control is provided.

[0009] Preferably, the output control when the amount of power generation equal to or more than the required electric load is generated is performed in addition to the normal control of the output by the output control means. Further, the time for performing the output control is set to a time shorter than a predetermined time for generating the amount of power generation equal to or more than the required electric load.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of a power generation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the power generation control device, and FIG. Is shown in a time chart.

As shown in FIG. 1, an internal combustion engine (engine)
A throttle valve 3 is provided in an intake passage 2 connected to one intake port, and a bypass passage 4 is provided in the intake passage 2 to bypass the upstream side and the downstream side of the throttle valve 3. The bypass path 4 is provided with an idle speed control valve (ISC valve) 5,
By adjusting the opening of the C valve 5, the number of revolutions of the engine 1 in an idling state is controlled. ISC valve 5
Of the ISC based on a command from the control device (ECU) 6
A signal is output and electrically controlled.

A required electric load from various electric devices such as a headlamp is input to the ECU 6 and a power steering switch 10 which is turned on by detecting an output of an electric motor 9 of the electric power steering device 8 which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Is input. On the other hand, a generator (alternator) 7 driven by the crankshaft of the engine 1 is provided. The alternator 7 has a power generation rate controlled based on a command from the ECU 6 according to a required electric load including a signal from the power steering switch 10. (Power generation control device).

[0013] The state of the alternator 7 is changed from the G terminal to the ECU.
The power generation control duty signal is output from the ECU 6 to the FR terminal in accordance with the required electric load, and is controlled so that the power generation rate corresponds to the required electric load. When the required electric load increases, the power generation amount of the alternator 7 is gradually increased (gradual excitation means). In the case of the present embodiment, when an increase of the required electric load by a predetermined value or more is detected, and when the ON signal of the power steering switch 10 is detected, the gradual excitation control for gradually increasing the power generation amount is performed for a predetermined time t2.
During the power generation control duty signal to 100%,
Make the maximum power generation rate (generate power generation more than required electric load).

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the ON signal of the power steering switch 10 is detected has been described as an example of detecting the increase in the required electric load by a predetermined value or more. Detection of an increase above a predetermined value
It is also possible to apply detection of an ON signal of an air-conditioning blower switch, a radiator fan switch, a power window switch, an electric sunroof switch, or the like. It is also possible to detect an increase in the total of various required electric loads. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the power generation control duty signal is set to 100% only during the predetermined time t2 so that the maximum power generation rate is obtained, but the power generation control duty signal is not limited to 100% and may be set to an arbitrary rate. It is possible to set. Further, it is also possible to add a predetermined ratio to the current ratio of the power generation control duty signal.

On the other hand, depending on the amount of power generated by the alternator 7,
The ECU 6 is provided with output control means for adjusting the opening of the C valve 5 and controlling the output of the engine 1 normally (ISC control). Further, when the power generation control duty signal is set to 100% by detecting the ON signal of the power steering switch 10, the ISC valve 5 is opened only for a predetermined time t1 (t2> t1) separately from the normal control of the output of the engine 1. The output control (increase of the air amount ΔQ) for increasing the output is performed according to a command from the ECU 6.

The output control for increasing the output is as follows.
Means other than increasing the amount of air may be taken, such as advancing the ignition timing or changing the lean burn mode to the stoichiometric burn mode in an engine having the lean burn mode.

The operation of the above-described power generation control device will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, it is determined in step S1 whether the required electric load has exceeded a predetermined amount, that is, whether an on signal of the power steering switch 10 has been detected, and the power steering switch 10 is off. If it is determined in step S2, in step S2, the gradual excitation control for gradually increasing the power generation amount of the alternator 7 according to the required electric load can be executed, and the normal control of the output of the engine 1 (ISC control) is enabled.

If it is determined in step S1 that the ON signal of the power steering switch 10 has been detected (see FIG. 3A),
In step S3, the power generation amount of the alternator 7, that is, the power generation control duty signal is set to 100% to inhibit the gradual excitation control to the maximum power generation rate, and the air amount is increased by ΔQ in addition to the ISC control of the engine 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the ON signal of the power steering switch 10 is detected,
The power generation control duty signal of the alternator 7 is set to a predetermined time t2.
During this time, the ISC signal is turned on only for a predetermined time t1, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
As shown by the solid line in (f), the air amount is increased by ΔQ. At this time, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. 3 (e) and (f), the ISC
Control is also performed at the same time.

After the power generation amount of the alternator 7 is maximized in step S3 and the air amount of the engine 1 is increased by ΔQ, it is determined in step S4 whether the timer has reached t1. If it is determined that the timer has reached t1, ISC
When it is determined that the predetermined time t1 for increasing the output while the valve 5 is in the open state has elapsed, ΔQ is set to zero in step S5 to eliminate the increase in the amount of air. That is, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 (e), the ISC signal for obtaining ΔQ is turned off, and FIG.
The normal ISC control is performed as shown by the dotted line.

After ΔQ is made zero in step S5, it is determined in step S6 whether or not the timer has reached t2.
Note that the count of the timer at this time is such that the power generation amount of the alternator 7 is maximized in step S3 and the engine 1
Is started when the air amount of the air is increased by ΔQ. Timer is
If it is determined that it has reached t2, it is determined that the predetermined time t2 for maximizing the power generation amount of the alternator 7 has elapsed, and in step S7, the power generation amount of the alternator 7 is set to be the required electric load amount. Then, gradual excitation control for gradually increasing the power generation amount of the alternator 7 according to the required electric load is executed, and normal control of the output of the engine 1 (ISC control).
Is executed.

When the power generation control device having the above configuration detects the ON signal of the power steering switch 10, the power generation amount of the alternator 7 is instantaneously maximized, and in addition to the ISC control of the engine 1, the preset air amount is controlled. It increases by ΔQ. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d), the amount of drop of the battery voltage and the headlamp voltage is reduced and the time of the drop is shortened.
There is no engine stall. Further, the predetermined time t1 for increasing the air amount by ΔQ is shorter than the predetermined time t2 for setting the power generation control duty signal of the alternator 7 to 100%, so that the air amount does not increase more than necessary. Excessive rotation speed can be prevented.

It should be noted that the air amount ΔQ can be appropriately selected according to the required electric load or the power generation control duty ratio within a range not less than the air amount finally obtained by the normal ISC control.

Therefore, in the above-described power generation control device, even if the power steering switch 10 is turned on and the required electric load suddenly increases, the power generation amount of the alternator 7 is instantaneously maximized regardless of the control range of the ISC control. Since the air amount is increased by ΔQ, the power generation amount of the alternator 7 can be increased with good responsiveness without making the engine speed unstable. For this reason, the drop amount of the battery voltage and the headlamp voltage is reduced, and the drop time is shortened.
When the headlamp is turned on, the dimming degree of the headlamp can be reduced.

[0025]

According to the power generation control device of the present invention, the power generation amount of the generator driven by the internal combustion engine is controlled in accordance with the required electric load of the electric equipment of the vehicle, and the power generation amount is gradually increased when the required electric load increases. A power generation amount control device having a gradual excitation means for increasing the output, and an output control means for normally controlling the output of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the power generation amount of the generator, and when an increase in the required electric load of a predetermined value or more is detected. A control device that inhibits the gradual excitation control only for a predetermined time, generates an amount of power generation equal to or more than the required electric load, and performs output control for increasing the output of the internal combustion engine separately from the normal control of the output by the output control means. Therefore, when the required electric load of the electric device suddenly increases, it is possible to generate a power generation amount equal to or more than the required electric load and increase the output of the internal combustion engine. As a result, even if the required electric load of the electric device suddenly increases, it becomes possible to increase the power generation amount of the generator with good responsiveness without making the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine unstable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a power generation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the power generation control device.

FIG. 3 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the power generation control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internal combustion engine (engine) 2 Intake path 3 Throttle valve 4 Bypass path 5 Idle speed control valve (ISC valve) 6 Control device (ECU) 7 Generator (Alternator)

Continued on front page F term (reference) 5G060 AA05 CA08 CA10 CA21 DB03 DB07 5H590 AA02 AA21 AB07 CA07 CA23 CC01 CC18 CE05 CE08 CE10 DD64 EA13 EB02 EB14 EB21 FA01 FA06 FB03 GA02 GA06 GB05 HA02 HA06 JA02 JA09

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A generator driven by an internal combustion engine and a power generation amount of the generator are controlled in accordance with a required electric load of electric equipment mounted on a vehicle, and the electric power generation amount is gradually increased when the required electric load increases. A power generation amount control device having a gradual excitation means for increasing power, and an output control means for normally controlling the output of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the power generation amount of the generator, and detecting an increase of the required electric load by a predetermined value or more. Then, the gradual excitation control of the generator by the gradual excitation means is prohibited only for a predetermined time to generate a power generation amount equal to or more than a required electric load, and the output of the internal combustion engine is controlled separately from the normal control of the output by the output control means. A power generation control device, comprising: a control device that performs output control for increasing power.