IP Library Granted Patent US 12,113,473
Granted Patent B2
US 12,113,473 · App. 17/800,037 · Granted Oct 8, 2024

Method for operating a heated catalytic converter, and heated-catalytic-converter control system

Inventor: Rainer Knorr (Munich, DE)
Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
H02P9/48H02P9/02F01N3/0892F01N3/2006F01N3/2013F01N5/02F01N2240/04F01N2240/16F01N2550/22F01N2900/0418F01N2900/0422H05B3/20H05B45/325H05B45/33
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,113,473
App. No.
17/800,037
Granted
Oct 8, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling an electrically heatable catalytic converter that is supplied, by a starter generator, with an output power belonging to the starter generator, wherein the output power of the starter generator is increased by a PWM method, wherein the eCAT monitors an on-board electrical system supply voltage that arises on account of the increase in the output power, the eCAT is activated if the on-board electrical system supply voltage exceeds an upper threshold value, and the eCAT is deactivated if the on-board electrical system supply voltage falls below a lower threshold value.

Claims (26)

1. A method for controlling an electrically heatable catalytic converter that is supplied, by a starter generator, with an electrical output power belonging to the starter generator, the method comprising:

increasing the output power of the starter generator by a PWM method,

monitoring, by the eCAT, an on-board electrical system supply voltage that arises on account of the increase in the output power of the starter generator,

activating the eCAT if the on-board electrical system supply voltage exceeds an upper threshold value, and

deactivating the eCAT if the on-board electrical system supply voltage falls below a lower threshold value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the eCAT continues to monitor the on-board electrical system supply voltage in the deactivated state, and the eCAT is activated again if the on-board electrical system supply voltage exceeds the upper threshold value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the activation and/or deactivation of the eCAT is conducted as a PWM method.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the PWM method for the starter generator is slower than the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT is at least 10 times faster than the PWM method for the starter generator.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the PWM method for the eCAT has a constant frequency.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an inductance of the on-board electrical system is also taken into account in the activation and deactivation of the eCAT.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT is suitable for and intended to phase in and phase out, in terms of energy, high-current loads in the on-board electrical system without large voltage dips.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the charging voltage of a battery is kept at a safe level by way of the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT.

10. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT is used as an on-board electrical system protection device against overvoltages.

11. An electrically heatable catalytic converter that is supplied, by a starter generator, with an electrical output power belonging to the starter generator, wherein the eCAT has a supply monitoring unit that monitors an on-board electrical system supply voltage, which arises, for the eCAT and is designed to carry out a method comprising:

increasing the output power of the starter generator by a PWM method,

monitoring, by the eCAT, an on-board electrical system supply voltage that arises on account of the increase in the output power of the starter generator,

activating the eCAT if the on-board electrical system supply voltage exceeds an upper threshold value, and

deactivating the eCAT if the on-board electrical system supply voltage falls below a lower threshold value.

12. A vehicle having an electrically heatable catalytic converter that is supplied, by a starter generator, with an electrical output power belonging to the starter generator, wherein the eCAT has a supply monitoring unit that monitors an on-board electrical system supply voltage, which arises, for the eCAT and is designed to carry out a method comprising:

increasing the output power of the starter generator by a PWM method,

monitoring, by the eCAT, an on-board electrical system supply voltage that arises on account of the increase in the output power of the starter generator,

activating the eCAT if the on-board electrical system supply voltage exceeds an upper threshold value, and

deactivating the eCAT if the on-board electrical system supply voltage falls below a lower threshold value.

13. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT is at least 100 times faster than the PWM method for the starter generator.

14. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the PWM method for activating and/or deactivating the eCAT is at least 1000 times faster than the PWM method for the starter generator.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2025
From: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 072774/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2022
From: KNORR, RAINER
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 061333/0517 →