Control device for a motor vehicle generator with the ability to accurately detect the temperature of the generator

摘要

A control device for an automotive alternator includes a switch, a controller, an error condition detector and a PWM signal generator. The switch is selectively turned on and off to intermittently energize the generator. The controller controls the ON / OFF operation of the switch to bring an output power of the generator in accordance with a set value. The error condition detector detects a fault condition of the generator. The PWM signal generator generates and outputs a PWM signal having a duty ratio determined as a function of a duty ratio of the ON / OFF operation of the switch, and has a frequency determined based on whether an error condition of the Generator was detected using the error state detector. As a result, the controller may inform an external controller of the duty cycle of the ON / OFF operation of the switch and the fault state of the generator with the aid of the single PWM signal.