System and method for control for regenerative energy generators

A power electronics system for use with a system including an electrical power generator and an electrical load, the power electronics system comprising:

• one or more circuits having different impedance states;
• one or more switches that connect the electrical power generator to any one of the circuits having different impedance states;
• and
• a controller that selectively operates the one or more switches to selectively connect the electrical power generator to one of the circuits to control the average impedance on the electrical power generator, and simultaneously selectively operates the switches to control an amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load, wherein the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load is controlled independently of the average impedance on the electrical power generator.

A system comprising:

• at least one electrical power generator operatively linked to a movable component of the system such that adjustment of an effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator controls the kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator which affects movement of the movable component;
• at least one electrical load including one or more electrical components of the system;
• and
• a control circuit having an electrical power output to deliver energy to the at least one electrical load and at least one input connected to the at least one electrical power generator, the control circuit including one or more circuits that set an average load across terminals of the at least one electrical power generator, wherein the average load across terminals of the at least one electrical power generator is set independently of an impedance of the at least one electrical load, and wherein the control circuit selectively operates one or more switches to control an amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load, wherein the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load is controlled independently of the effective impedance on the electrical power generator.

A method for controlling power generation and output in a system, comprising:

• providing at least one electrical power generator coupled to a moveable component of a mechanical system, wherein adjusting an effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator controls a kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator which influences motion of the moveable component;
• receiving electrical power generated by the at least one electrical power generator where the received electrical power is unequal to electrical power output to the electrical load;
• and
• controlling a connection of each of the at least one electrical power generator to a plurality of different impedance states so as to independently control the effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator and provide a controllable amount of electrical power to the electrical load.

A method for controlling a plurality of regenerative power generators, comprising:

• providing at least one electrical power generator coupled to a respective moveable component of a mechanical system, wherein adjusting an effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator controls a kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator which influences motion of the moveable component;
• selecting a desired kinematic characteristic for the at least one electrical power generator;
• controlling an effective impedance on each of the at least one electrical power generator based on the selected desired kinematic characteristic;
• and
• providing electrical power produced by the at least one electrical power generator to one or more electrical loads such that control of the effective impedance for the at least one electrical power generator is independent of electrical power provided to the one or more electrical loads.