Architecture and control system for electrically-powered accessories of a non-hybrid vehicle

Inventors: Joseph E. Paquette (Columbus, IN); Martin T. Books (Columbus, IN); Mahesh Madurai Kumar (Columbus, IN); Jaroslaw Leonarski (Columbus, IN); Gary L Parker (Columbus, IN); Erik L Piper (Columbus, IN)

Assignee: Cummins Inc.

H02J7/14 B60R16/033 H02K7/1004 H02K7/116 H02K7/1815 H02M7/04

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12706466
App. No.: 18/243,491
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system for a non-hybrid vehicle is provided. The system includes at least one electrically-powered accessory of a vehicle. The at least one electrically-powered accessory is configured to: receive electrical power generated by an electromagnetic device coupled to an engine; and receive, from a controller, a command configured to control the at least one electrically-powered accessory independent of another electrically-powered accessory of the at least one electrically-powered accessory, whereby the command is independent of an output of the engine.

Claims (23)

1 . A system comprising:

at least one electrically-powered accessory of a vehicle, the at least one electrically-powered accessory configured to:

receive, from a junction box coupled to an AC-to-DC inverter, electrical power comprising at least regulated DC power, wherein the AC-to-DC inverter converts AC power generated by an electromagnetic device coupled to an engine to the regulated DC power, and wherein the junction box receives the regulated DC power from the AC-to-DC inverter and provides the regulated DC power to a plurality of electrical paths electrically coupling the junction box to a plurality of electrically-powered accessories, including the at least one electrically-powered accessory; and

receive, from a controller, a command configured to control the at least one electrically-powered accessory at or above 28 volts independent of another electrically-powered accessory using the regulated DC power from the junction box, wherein the junction box provides the regulated DC power at or above 28 volts to the at least one electrically-powered accessory based on electrical power consumption of the at least one electrically-powered accessory, and wherein the command to control the at least one electrically-powered accessory is independent of an output of the engine.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically-powered accessory receives the electrical power from the AC-to-DC inverter via a first electrical path coupled to the at least one electrically-powered accessory and the AC-to-DC inverter.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically-powered accessory receives the electrical power from the AC-to-DC inverter via a second electrical path coupled to the at least one electrically-powered accessory and the AC-to-DC inverter, wherein the second electrical path includes a second inverter configured to convert DC electrical power to AC electrical power.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically-powered accessory receives the electrical power from the AC-to-DC inverter via a third electrical path coupled to the at least one electrically-powered accessory and the AC-to-DC inverter, and wherein the at least one electrically-powered accessory receives the electrical power at a reduced voltage via the third electrical path.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical power is at or above the 28 volts.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a non-hybrid/non-electrical vehicle.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic device is a motor-generator or a generator.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic device is an alternator.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output of the engine is a mechanical output of the engine.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic device is coupled to the engine via a drive mechanism including at least one of a gearing system or a pulley system structured to transfer a mechanical output from the engine into a mechanical input received by the electromagnetic device.

11 . A method, comprising:

receiving, by at least one electrically-powered accessory of a vehicle, from a junction box coupled to an AC-to-DC inverter, electrical power comprising at least regulated DC power, wherein the AC-to-DC inverter converts AC power electrical power generated by an electromagnetic device coupled to an engine to the regulated DC power, and wherein the junction box receives the regulated DC power from the AC-to-DC inverter and provides the regulated DC power to a plurality of electrical paths coupled to the junction box to a plurality of electrically-powered accessories, including the at least one electrically-powered accessory; and

receiving, by the at least one electrically-powered accessory from a controller, a command configured to control the at least one electrically-powered accessory at or above 28 volts independent of another electrically-powered accessory of the at least one electrically-powered accessory using the regulated DC power from the junction box, wherein the junction box provides the regulated DC power at or above 28 volts to the at least one electrically-powered accessory based on electrical power consumption of the at least one electrically-powered accessory, and wherein the command to control the at least one electrically-powered accessory is independent of an output of the engine.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the electrical power comprises receiving, by the at least one electrically-powered accessory, the electrical power from the AC-to-DC inverter via a first electrical path coupled to the at least one electrically-powered accessory and the AC-to-DC inverter.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the electrical power comprises receiving, by the at least one electrically-powered accessory, the electrical power from the AC-to-DC inverter via a second electrical path coupled to the at least one electrically-powered accessory and the AC-to-DC inverter, wherein the second electrical path includes a second inverter configured to convert DC electrical power to AC electrical power.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the electrical power comprises receiving, by the at least one electrically-powered accessory, the electrical power from the AC-to-DC inverter via a third electrical path coupled to the at least one electrically-powered accessory and the AC-to-DC inverter, wherein the at least one electrically-powered accessory receives the electrical power at a reduced voltage via the third electrical path.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor associated with an electrically-powered accessory of a vehicle to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a junction box coupled to an AC-to-DC inverter, electrical power comprising at least regulated DC power, wherein the AC-to-DC inverter converts AC power generated by an electromagnetic device coupled to an engine of the vehicle to the regulated DC power, and wherein the junction box receives the regulated DC power from the AC-to-DC inverter and provides the regulated DC power to a plurality of electrical paths electrically coupling the junction box to a plurality of electrically-powered accessories, including the at least one electrically-powered accessory; and

receiving a command configured to control the electrically-powered accessory at or above 28 volts independent of another electrically-powered accessory using the regulated DC power from the junction box, wherein the junction box provides the regulated DC power at or above 28 volts to the at least one electrically-powered accessory based on electrical power consumption of the at least one electrically-powered accessory, and wherein the command to control the electrically-powered accessory is independent of an output of the engine.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the electrical power is at or above the 28 volts.