Field current profile
An output of a generator may vary according to the speed of the engine, physical characteristics of the engine, or other factors. A profile for a generator that describes a periodic fluctuation in an operating characteristic for the generator is identified. A field current of an alternator associated with the generator is modified based on the profile for the generator in order to counter variations in the output of the generator.
1. A method comprising:
accessing a profile from memory, the profile based on data measured by a detection circuit and indicative of a characteristic of an alternator; and
applying the profile to a parameter of the alternator.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
modifying the profile in response to data measured by the detection circuit.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is a field current of the alternator.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is a duty cycle for a switch command.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the switch command is increased for a first portion of the profile and decreased for a second portion of the profile.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the duty cycle depends on a slope of the profile.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit detects movement of a component.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the component is a crankshaft, a gear box, a transmission, an armature, or a rotor.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit includes a torque sensor, a deflection sensor, a dynamometer, a positional sensor, or a revolution sensor.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit includes an air to fuel ratio sensor.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile describes a speed associated with the alternator.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the alternator is an output voltage of the alternator.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile is a continuous function, a set of discrete values, or a piecewise function.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the profile to the parameter of the alternator reduces harmonic distribution on an output of the alternator.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory includes a plurality of profiles associated with different types of generators, different loads, different operating environments, or different sets of output tolerances.
16. An apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store the profile for a rotor, the profile based on data indicative of an operating characteristic for the rotor; and
a controller configured access the profile for the rotor and apply the profile to a parameter of the alternator.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the parameter is a duty cycle for a switch command.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the duty cycle depends on a slope of the profile.
19. A method comprising:
receiving data measured by a detection circuit and indicative of a characteristic of an alternator;
generating a profile based on the data measured by the detection circuit, the profile operable to modify a parameter of the alternator; and
storing the profile in a memory.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the parameter of the alternator is a field current or a duty cycle.