Systems and methods for control of vehicle electrical generator

A regulator for controlling a generator having a controllable element in response to an input signal received from a control module, the regulator comprising:

• a discriminator configured to determine whether the input signal is a voltage control or a torque control;
• a processing module configured to convert the input signal to a modulation signal using a first conversion technique if the input signal is a voltage control and a second conversion technique different from the first conversion technique if the input signal is a torque control;
• and
• a switching circuit configured to modulate the controllable element of the generator in response to the modulation signal to thereby control the generator, wherein the switching circuit comprises:
• a first switch operatively located between a first reference voltage and a first terminal of the controllable element;
• a second switch operatively located between a second reference voltage and a second terminal of the controllable element;
• a first uni-directionally conducting device operatively located between the first switch and the second reference voltage;
• and
• a second uni-directionally conducting device operatively located between the second switch and the first reference voltage.

A regulator for controlling a vehicle alternator having a field coil to produce a desired voltage between a first and a second battery terminal in response to an input signal received from a control module, the regulator comprising:

• an input port configured to receive the input signal;
• a discriminator module configured to produce a mode selection signal indicating whether the input signal is a voltage control or a torque control;
• a processing module configured to convert the input signal to a first modulation signal and a second modulation signal different from the first conversion technique using a conversion routine selected in response to the mode selection signal;
• and
• a switching circuit configured to modulate the controllable element of the generator in response to the first and second modulation signals to thereby control the generator, wherein the switching circuit comprises:
• a first transistor operatively located between the first battery terminal and a first terminal of the field coil element and operable to couple the first terminal of the field coil to the first battery terminal in response to the first modulation signal;
• a second transistor operatively located between the second battery terminal and a second terminal of the field coil and operable to couple the second terminal of the field coil to the second battery terminal in response to the second modulation signal;
• a first diode operatively located between the first transistor and the second battery terminal;
• and
• a second diode operatively located between the second transistor and the first battery terminal.

A generator assembly for a vehicle having an engine, a battery having first and second battery terminals with a battery voltage therebetween, and a control module configured to produce an input signal, the generator assembly comprising:

• an alternator configured to convert mechanical energy from the engine to electrical energy, wherein the alternator comprises a controllable element;
• a rectifier configured to convert the electrical energy from the alternator to a direct current (DC) voltage applied across the first and second battery terminals;
• and
• a regulator comprising:
• a discriminator configured to determine whether the input signal is a voltage control or a torque control;
• a processing module configured to convert the input signal to a modulation signal using a first conversion technique if the input signal is a voltage control and a second conversion technique different from the first conversion technique if the input signal is a torque control;
• and
• a switching circuit configured to modulate the controllable element of the alternator in response to the modulation signal by switchably applying the battery voltage from the first and second battery terminals to the controllable element to thereby control the generator.

A device for controlling a generator having a field coil in response to an input signal received from a control module, the device comprising:

• means for determining whether the input signal is a voltage control or a torque control;
• means for converting the input signal to a modulation signal using a first conversion technique if the input signal is a voltage control and a second conversion technique if the input signal is a torque control;
• and
• means for modulating the field coil of the generator in response to the modulation signal to thereby control the generator.