Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to vehicle braking systems, and more particularly to achieving regenerative braking in vehicles, without a Battery Management System (BMS) and an Intelligent Alternator module (IAM).

BACKGROUND
[002] Regenerative braking in vehicles utilizes engine braking energy for charging a battery present in the vehicle with high voltage (i.e., converting wasted power to useful power). Currently, regenerative braking in vehicles is achieved by using a Battery Management System (BMS) and an Intelligent Alternator module (IAM), wherein the BMS receives a brake signal, calculates vehicle coasting input, and sends a command to set alternator generating voltage as 14.5V, when braking/vehicle coasting is done.
OBJECTS
[003] The principal object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for achieving regenerative braking in vehicles using a relay, without using a Battery Management System (BMS) and an Intelligent Alternator module (IAM).
[004] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[005] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[006] FIGs. 1A and 1B depict a system 100 in a vehicle for controlling regenerative braking, wherein the current flow through a regenerative diode is depicted, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[007] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[008] The embodiments herein achieve methods and systems for achieving regenerative braking in vehicles using a relay, without using a Battery Management System (BMS) and an Intelligent Alternator module (IAM). Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1A through 1B, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[009] FIGs. 1A and 1B depict a system (100) in a vehicle for controlling regenerative braking, wherein the current flow through a regenerative diode is depicted. The system (100), as depicted, comprises an Energy Management System (EMS), Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (101), a main brake switch (102A), a redundant brake switch (102C), a fuse (103), a stator (104), a plurality of main diodes (105), a regenerative diode (D) (106), a capacitor (C) (107), a regulator (108), a rotor (109), an indicator (WL) (110), an ignition switch (111), a battery (112), and a regenerative braking relay (113). The alternator (114) comprises the stator (104), the plurality of main diodes (105), the regenerative diode (D) (106), the capacitor (C) (107), the regulator (108), the rotor (109), the indicator (WL) (110), the ignition switch (111), and the battery (112).
[0010] In an example herein, the fuse (103) can be a 15A fuse. The regenerative diode (106) can be a normally closed relay. The regenerative diode (106) can be connected to a reference pin of the regulator (108). In an example herein, the regenerative diode (106) can be connected to the reference pin B of the regulator (108). In an embodiment herein, the regulator (108) can be a multi-function built-in regulator. The indicator (WL) (110) can be used to provide an indicator to the user and other persons in the vicinity of the vehicle in the form of a visual alert (such as a light, a brake light, an indicator in the instrument console of the vehicle, and so on).
[0011] FIG. 1A depicts a scenario, wherein the brake pedal is not pressed; i.e., the main brake switch (102A) and the redundant brake switch (102B) are not pressed manually (i.e., by a driver of the vehicle) or automatically (by an automated braking system, such as autonomous braking, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), autonomous driving systems, and so on). In the depicted scenario, the brake switch is in open condition, and the regenerative diode (106) (which functions as a relay) is normally closed. The current flow is along path X. Accordingly, the output voltage of the alternator can be a first voltage level. In an example herein, the output voltage of the alternator is -13.5V. As the brake pedal has not been pressed, the regenerative braking is not activated; i.e., the regenerative braking relay (113) is closed.
[0012] FIG. 1B depicts a scenario, wherein the brake pedal is pressed; i.e., the main brake switch (102A) and the redundant brake switch (102B) are pressed manually (i.e., by a driver of the vehicle) and/or automatically (by an automated braking system, such as autonomous braking, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), autonomous driving systems, and so on). In the depicted scenario, the brake switch is in closed condition, and the regenerative diode (106) (which functions as a relay) is normally open. The current flow is along path Y. The addition of the regenerative diode (106) to the reference pin of the regulator (108) can increase set voltage of the alternator to a second voltage level (wherein the second voltage level is greater than the first voltage level) (for example, 14.1V), which results in achieving regenerative braking in the vehicle. This results in the regenerative braking relay (113) being open, hereby achieving regenerative braking.
[0013] Embodiments herein achieve regenerative braking using a relay, wherein no special ECU algorithm is required. Further, embodiments herein do not require the BMS and IAM to achieve regenerative braking, hereby reducing cost.
[0014] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehegnded within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments and examples, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments and examples disclosed herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, C , C , Claims:We claim,
1. A system (100) for achieving regenerative braking in a vehicle, the system (100) comprising:
at least one brake switch (102A, 102B);
a regenerative braking relay (113); and
an alternator (114) comprising a regenerative diode (106) connected to a reference pin of a regulator (108);
wherein regenerative braking is achieved by increasing set voltage of the alternator (114) to a second voltage level by the regenerative diode (106), when the brake switch (102A, 102B) is being pressed.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regenerative diode (106) is a normally closed relay.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regenerative diode (106) is connected to a reference pin B of the regulator (108).
4. The system(100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulator (108) is a multi-function built-in regulator.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set voltage of the alternator (114) being the second voltage level causes the regenerative braking relay (113) to be open, thereby achieving regenerative braking.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein voltage of the alternator (114) is at a first voltage level, on the brake switch (102A, 102B) not being pressed, wherein the second voltage level is greater than the first voltage level.