Abstract: A voltage regulator for a generator drivable by an internal combustion engine is proposed, in which the triggering of the end stage transistor for varying the exciter current is done with the aid of a pulse width modulator. The digital pulse width modulator employed is a component of a closed-loop control circuit for the exciter current, which uses the generator voltage as the actual value and regulates the pulse width ratio duty factor as a function of the generator voltage detected, and in addition a system damping is performed, in that one entire period of the duty factor can be turned off in overriding fashion. This overridingly turned-off period can be adapted in its duration to the duty factor, thus resulting in a voltage change that is independent of the duty factor. The maximum current rise rate can thus be limited by limiting the maximum rate of change of the pulse width modulator.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for measuring voltage signals in an energy storage device is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of battery segments forming the energy storage device. An amplifier circuit is connected across one of the battery segments for converting a differential voltage to a reference current. A sense resistor is associated with the amplifier circuit to convert the reference current to a voltage signal which is proportional to the voltage across the battery segment. A voltage measurement node associated with the sensing resistor may be used for measuring the voltage signal. In one embodiment of the invention, a multiplexing and sampling circuit provides digitized voltage samples to a processor. The voltage level of each cell within the battery pack can then be monitored by the processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the voltage resolution of a PWM controller wherein the controller controls pulse width as a function of a PWM register count having a maximum count X where 1 part in X affords insufficient resolution, the method including receiving a high resolution voltage request count from within the range 0 through count Y where the voltage corresponding to count Y is equal to the voltage corresponding to count X and where count Y is greater than count X, the method including dividing the request signal by a divisor (Y/X) to generate an output value and a remainder, identifying a pseudo-random number within the range of possible remainder values, comparing the pseudo-random number to the remainder, where the pseudo-random number is less than the remainder, incrementing the output value, providing the output value to the PWM register as the register count and repeating the aforementioned steps.

Abstract: A MOSFET control circuit for use in generators with dual windings. The MOSFET switch consists of two or more MOSFETs connected between the upper and lower windings of a three-phase generator to permit the windings to operate in series or in parallel. The gate of one of the MOSFETs is controlled by a gate drive circuit that turns the MOSFET ON when the windings are to operate in series. The MOSFET is OFF when the windings are to operate in parallel.

Abstract: An AC generator control apparatus for automobiles includes a car battery charged by the rectified output from an AC generator for automobiles; a voltage regulator circuit for intermittently controlling the exciting current flowing through the field coil of the AC generator and adjusting the generated output voltage into a set value; and a set signal output unit for outputting to the voltage regulator circuit an output voltage value set signal of the AC generator depending on the detection results of various operation states of automobiles.

Abstract: Two generation systems 3, 8 each including inverter 8 are switched over between series connection and parallel connection by switching section 5. Reference waveform signals are mutually communicated between the two generation systems through communication lines 6. When a phase difference between these two reference waveform signals is within a predetermined range, the inverters are driven to generate an output alternating current. One of the conduction angles of thyristors 3a, 3a in two converters 3, 3 which is larger than the other is inputted to a deviation detector 42. Based on a deviation of the conduction angle inputted from a target conduction angle, an updated target rotational speed is set in a calculator 44. A throttle controller 48 controls a throttle opening angle so that an actual rotational speed converges into the target rotational speed.

Abstract: An arrangement including an AC generator 1 whose output voltage is regulated with a control quantity for a field current flowing through a field coil 102 of the AC generator, a switching element 308 for performing on/off-control of the field current flowing through the field coil 102 with a predetermined duty ratio, a voltage detecting means 305 for detecting an output voltage of the AC generator 1, and a gradually increasing control means 4A for increasing gradually a conducting rate by increasing gradually the duty ratio in dependence on the detected output voltage, and a rotation speed detecting means 13 for detecting a rotation speed of the generator 1, wherein the gradually increasing control means 4A is designed to increase the gradually increasing rate of the duty ratio in conformance with increasing of the rotation speed detected by the rotation speed detecting means 13.

Abstract: A method is described for regulating a generator, in particular a three-phase generator which has an excitation coil through which the regulatable excitation current (IE) used to generate the excitation field flows, and has stator coils in which currents are produced that are conveyed to the consumers via pulse inverters. By controlling the pulse inverters, the stator current can be impressed with respect to value and phase in relation to the excitation current so that the output power of the generator is optimized in the required speed range.

Abstract: A cross current compensation system for controlling reactive currents in a generator is provided. A control system for receives voltage feedback from a first generator of a plurality of generators and cross current feedback from at least a second generator of the plurality of generators. The control system determines a phase angle based on the voltage feedback from the first generator and cross current feedback from the at least a second generator. The control system determines a compensation signal corresponding to the phase angle and cross current feedback. The control system modifying a generator excitation signal for the first generator based on the respective compensation signal and a bi-linear transformation technique.

Abstract: In a control device of an a.c. generator for a vehicle which is designed in such a way that for a first time right after an engine having been started, an output of the a.c. generator is suppressed to a minimum value, and for a second time following the first time, the output of the a.c. generator is gradually increased from the minimum value up to a maximum value to stabilize the revolution of the engine, the invention is intended to shorten a period of time required to suppress the output of the generator at high temperatures to thereby prevent a reduction in the charging performance of a battery. At high temperatures, a time interval of a timer 402, to which the first period of time is set, and a discharging time constant of a capacitor 407, which defines the second period of time, are both shortened on the basis of an output a of a temperature sensor 410.

Abstract: A controller for a car AC generator which eliminates the need for a drive signal supplied by a key switch and stabilizes the power generation of an AC generator at the start of an internal combustion engine. The voltage regulator of the controller comprises trigger means for supplying a field current from a battery to a field coil by detecting a drop in battery voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating, consistent with variations in cooling conditions, protection and limit functions of a generator. Limits of the capability curve of the generator, including the overexcited region, underexcited region and region limited by stator current heating, are modified in response to changes in coolant pressure or temperature depending on the type of generator being compensated. Feedback signals and setpoints being provided to fixed protection and limit functions are intercepted and modified in accordance with the relationship between generator rated values and generator performance in view of altered coolant conditions. Protection and limit functions are automatically coordinated. As a result, overall generator performance is improved.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: An alternator regulator controls both output voltage and output current, limits input drive power and torque, and maintains output power within a prescribed range while operating over a wide ambient temperature range and shaft speed range. Voltage, shaft speed, and temperature signals are monitored, and the results are processed to determine the output current and to control the output power without exceeding the programmed limits for output voltage, output current, temperature, output power, drive power, torque, and shaft speed. This provides a predictable output power characteristic for the alternator and it eliminates high input drive power and torque excursions that occur at low temperature and certain shaft speeds. If programmed limits are exceeded over a specified interval, and the alternator does not respond to the control changes imposed by the regulator, the regulator will turn off the alternator's field current, activate an alarm circuit, and set fault codes.

Abstract: A battery charging system may include a permanent magnet alternator. The system uses controlled rectifiers to supply charging output from an alternator to the battery, to control the charging current and to provide a taper charge. The system may also use a voltage regulator coupled with the controlled rectifiers. The voltage regulator progressively deactivates the controlled rectifiers, in response to the state of charge of the battery, to provide a taper charge. The alternator may be used in vehicles, including automobiles, and for other electrical generating purposes.

Abstract: A device for controlling the output voltage of a rotary current generator is disclosed, in which a generator without exciter diodes is used, and the exciter current is furnished by the rectifier bridge of the generator. The exciter current is regulated with the aid of a first integrated circuit. In addition, a smart power high-side switch, which is regulated by an integrated circuit (IS2), is located in the exciter current circuit.

Abstract: The generator regulator includes a transistor power end stage (14) connected to the excitation winding (12) of the generator to provide a pulsed excitation current that passes through the excitation winding during operation and a device for activating and deactivating the transistor power end stage to turn on and off the excitation current in order to provide a predetermined pulse width for the pulsed excitation current passing through the excitation winding so as to maintain a constant output voltage. The device for activating and deactivating the transistor power end stage includes a comparator (16) for comparing a saturation voltage (U.sub.SAT) of the transistor power end stage (14) picked up between the transistor power end stage and the excitation winding with a reference voltage (U.sub.

Abstract: An improved three-phase bridge inverter DC link converter power circuit for a portable generator, preferably the generator system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,276 to Scott et al. Dual voltage and variable frequency inverter designs and improved converter designs are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention avoid a capacitor induced center voltage drift problem found in certain prior art inverter designs.

Abstract: The excitation current in the rotor winding of a motor vehicle alternator is regulated by this method. The alternator produces a rectified output voltage to be regulated, this output voltage being a periodic voltage having a period T consisting of a first phase T.sub.1 in which the battery voltage is applied to the rotor winding, and a second phase T.sub.2 in which the battery voltage is not applied to the rotor winding. The method includes: measuring the rectified voltage by sampling during each period T; comparing the measured value with a calculated reference value; and deducing from this comparison three numerical values. The first of these corresponds to the difference between the measured value of the rectified voltage and the reference value. The second of these numerical values is a closed loop excitation value calculated in each period T by adding the corresponding value measured in the preceding period to the first numerical value, to which a first correcting factor is applied.

Abstract: An integrated system for comprehensive control of an electric power generation system utilizes state machine control having particularly defined control states and permitted control state transitions. In this way, accurate, dependable and safe control of the electric power generation system is provided. Several of these control states may be utilized in conjunction with a utility outage ride-through technique that compensates for a utility outage by predictably controlling the system to bring the system off-line and to bring the system back on-line when the utility returns. Furthermore, a line synchronization technique synchronizes the generated power with the power on the grid when coming back on-line. The line synchronization technique limits the rate of synchronization to permit undesired transient voltages.

Abstract: The voltage supply device for the motor vehicle electrical system includes e.g. a self- or separately-excited generator having stator windings (10,11,12) and an excitation coil (E); a main bridge rectifier device connected to the stator windings having a first connector (B+) at which a first voltage (UB+) is delivered; an exciter bridge rectifier device connected to the stator windings; an exciter voltage regulator device connected between the exciter bridge rectifier device and the excitation coil (E) for regulation of an excitation current passing through the excitation coil; an additional rectifier device connected to the stator windings (10,11,12) having a second connector (B2+) at which a second voltage (UB2+) is tapped and a device for regulating a load current delivered by the generator to the first connector (B+) or the second connector (B2+) that includes a thyristor (Th0,Th4) connected to the first or second connector and a triggering device (A) whereby the generator has an optimal power output.

Abstract: A vehicle generator controller for regulating the output voltage from a generator which charges a battery mounted on a vehicle comprises battery voltage detection means for detecting the drop of a battery voltage, a switching element for controlling the field current of the generator, gradual increase control means for gradually increasing the current generated by the generator by gradually increasing the switching element by intermittently operating the switching element when the battery voltage drops and gradual increase prohibition means for canceling the gradual increase control at the beginning of the drop of the battery voltage and gradually increases the field current after the conducting ratio of the switching element is set to 100%. With this arrangement, the vehicle generator controller suppresses a torque shock caused in response to the turn-on of an electric load as well as sufficiently suppresses the drop of a battery voltage.

Abstract: An electric power supplying apparatus includes an alternating-current generator having a stator and a rotor, a rotary driving mechanism engaging with a rotor of the alternating-current generator to be rotatable for driving the rotor to rotate so as to put the alternating-current generator in operation for generating electric power, and a voltage to current convertor connected between an output end of the alternating-current generator and a load for supplying the load with the electric power obtained from the alternating-current generator in such a manner that an output voltage of the alternating-current generator is arranged to be relatively high and an output current of the alternating-current generator is arranged to be relatively small.

Abstract: The method of regulation includes:starting to measure the rectified voltage at the output of the alternator during each period T of this voltage,performing this measurement by sampling over a predetermined period T.sub.e,comparing this measured value of the rectified voltage with a calculated reference value, anddeducing from this comparison the duration of the first phase T.sub.1 for the next following period T, this first phase being the one in which the battery voltage of the vehicle is applied to the alternator rotor winding. The sampling measurement of period T.sub.e ends, in each period T, at an instant T-.epsilon., where .epsilon. is a period of time which is very short by comparison with the length of the period T.

Abstract: A bicycle dynamo with a rotary-current generator having a stator and a rotor which can be rotated relative to the stator. The stator or the rotor has radially extending pole fingers which are wound individually with one surrounding magnetic coil winding respectively. The ratio of the number of poles of the rotor to the number of poles of the stator is a non-integer value, and the ratio of the number of poles of the stator to the number of poles of the rotor is a non-integer value. This permits the implementation of a bicycle dynamo of a high efficiency even at a relatively low riding speed, which may be used, for example, to power bicycle lighting systems.

Abstract: A lightweight engine-driven generator set including a stator having at least first and second windings (preferably three-phase) and a rotor having a soft magnetic core and a plurality of high energy product permanent magnets, separated by consequence poles, disposed proximate the stator such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the rotor to interact with and induce current in the stator windings. The first winding includes a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a first predetermined voltage output; and the second winding includes a predetermined number of turns corresponding to a second predetermined voltage output, the respective windings being grouped together as a unit and wound about the core such that the respective winding coils are wound in continuous close thermal contact with each other.

Abstract: A system and method according to the present invention monitors battery status and engine conditions and controls the alternator to selectively charge the battery depending upon specified battery and engine conditions to optimize the health and operating characteristics of the battery and engine, resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

Abstract: A boosting switch circuit is constituted by a plurality of MOSFETs of which drains are respectively connected to a plurality of output terminals of an AC magneto and sources are connected to each other or together. The MOSFETs each have a parasitic diode in a drain-source circuit thereof. The parasitic diodes and a plurality of rectification diodes are subjected to bridge connection, to thereby provide a rectifying circuit for rectifying an AC output voltage of the AC magneto. The MOSFETs are fed at a gate thereof with a drive signal of a rectangular waveform, resulting in being concurrently subjected to on-off operation. This permits the output voltage of the AC magneto to be boosted and then rectified through the rectifying circuit. The output voltage thus boosted and rectified is then fed to a load.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: A variable speed, constant frequency (VSCF) system utilizes a doubly-fed machine (DFM) to maximize the output power of the system. The system includes a power converter that provides a frequency signal and a current signal to the DFM. The power converter is controlled by an adaptive controller. The controller signals the converter to vary its frequency signal and thereby the rotor speed of the DFM until a maximum power output is sensed. The controller also signals the converter to vary its current signal and thereby the portions of power carried by the respective windings until a maximum power output is sensed. The control can be augmented to not only maximize power and efficiency, but also provide for harmonic and reactive power compensation.

Abstract: Rectifying elements that constitute a full-wave rectifier of an on-vehicle alternator are constituted by Schottky barrier diodes. The Schottky barrier diode has on one hand the drawback that rectifying characteristics thereof deteriorate due to the heat generation resulting from large avalanche breakdown current that is produced due to surge voltage, with the result that leakage current that occurs when reverse voltage is applied increases. However, according to the present invention, since the surge voltage is absorbed by a voltage regulation diode connected in parallel with the Schottky barrier diode, the voltage regulation diode is broken down when surge voltage has been applied. Accordingly, it does not happen that reverse voltage that exceeds the breakdown voltage of the voltage regulation diode is applied to the Schottky barrier diode. Therefore, it does not happen that the current due to surge voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage thereof flows in the Schottky barrier diode.

Abstract: A turn-on/turn-off stage for an electronic voltage regulator operates (i) between a battery voltage and a ground, and (ii) responsively to a control signal received from an alternator, in order to (1) turn on the voltage regulator, enabling regulation of the alternator, and also to (2) turn off the voltage regulator, presenting a high impedance to a battery. For an "A"-Type Voltage Regulator ("B"-Type Voltage Regulator) the stage includes, in electrical parallel between the battery voltage and the ground, (1) a first resistor in electrical series with (2) a "two-legged" circuit. The (2) "two-legged" circuit includes (2a) a first leg consisting of a first diode forward-biased to the battery voltage in electrical series with (a second diode forward-biased to the battery voltage in electrical series with) a second resistor, in electrical parallel with (2b) a second leg consisting of a second (third) diode forward-biased to the battery voltage and a capacitor.

Abstract: In a power generating system having an AC power generator, a quantity which is related to the state of power generation of the power generator and varies according to the supply of a leading phase current to the power generator, is detected. When the passage of the leading phase current through each armature winding is determined as necessary based on the detected status quantity, the leading phase current is supplied to each armature winding (an increase in the amount of supply of the leading phase current is included). If passage is determined as unnecessary, then the supply of the leading phase current to each armature winding is stopped (a decrease in the leading phase current is included). If so, then a change (improvement) in the state of power generation such as an increase in output or the like due to the above supply can be achieved by supplying the leading phase current thereto when its change is required.

Abstract: An exciting current controlling transistor or a high-side switch or low-side switch of a three-phase full-wave rectifier for an on-vehicle a.c. generator is formed of a MOS power transistor made of a monocrystalline SiC semiconductor. Further, at high output condition time, for example, a state wherein the generator is in a condition of low temperature and a battery capacity is decreased, a controller suppresses the duty ratio of the exciting current controlling transistor to thereby limit a field coil exciting current. As a result, an increase in cross-sectional area of the electric wire or a temporary rapid increase in torque of the engine load is avoided. Also, by limiting the rate of increase in the duty ratio, the controller prevents a fall in the engine speed.

Abstract: Reverse current is supplied from a battery to armature coils of a three-phase synchronous power generator, via semiconductor switching devices of a three-phase full-wave rectifier, by controlling the switches. By this control, the reverse current will reduce waveform distortion of armature current of each phase so as to reduce the electromagnetic force pulsation and, therefore, reduce vibration or noise.

Abstract: A three phase four pole alternating current generator includes an AC exciter including a series winding for each phase of the main generator windings and a shunt winding for each of the main phase windings. The series exciter windings includes two coils. In a high Y connection of the winding, the two coils are connected in series with each other and with the main phase winding. In the low voltage Y connection, series coils are separated and each is located in a paralleled leg of the same main phase winding. The shunt winding is connected directly across a corresponding main phase winding. An electronic voltage regulator includes phase voltage sensing which is coupled to a reference control circuit to produce a control signal if the voltage varies from a reference voltage. The current to the shunt winding of the exciter is controlled to maintain the desired output voltage.

Abstract: An idling speed control method and apparatus in which the field current of an alternator is turned on and off to control the power generation rate of the alternator in accordance with the terminal voltage of a battery, and the air intake of an internal combustion engine is increased and decreased to keep the engine speed at a target speed during an idle operation of the engine such that the field current of the alternator is gradually increased toward a field current value corresponding to an electric load when the electric load is increased suddenly. A battery current consumption value is estimated from the detected state of the battery, a generated current value of the alternator is detected, the value of an electric load current to be outputted from the alternator is obtained in accordance with the sum of the estimated battery current consumption value and the generated current value of the alternator, and the air intake is increased when a set value is exceeded by the electric load current value.

Abstract: To improve the resistance against external low-frequency disturbance (represented by generator output change), the power system stabilizer for a generator, for inputting a voltage regulating signal (e), as an auxiliary signal, to an automatic voltage regulator to control a generator terminal voltage at a target voltage (V.sub.o), comprises: an angular acceleration observer for calculating an estimated angular acceleration change rate (.DELTA.as) of the generator on the basis of at least one of stabilizing signal change rates (.DELTA.P and/or .DELTA..omega.) of the generator; and a power stabilizer circuit for calculating a corrected voltage regulating signal (e) applied to the automatic voltage regulator on the basis of the estimated angular acceleration change rate value (.DELTA.as) calculated by the angular acceleration observer. Further, it is preferable to provide a plurality of observers and a plurality of power stabilizer circuits, separately for each fluctuation frequency.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an AC generator of a motor vehicle of high reliability having substantially no adverse influence to an onboard battery and an onboard high-voltage load by suppressing to a passible minimum variation of a regulating voltage which may occur as contacts of a detection voltage change-over switch are degraded. An AC generator of a motor vehicle includes a rectifier circuit for rectifying an output of the AC generator including a field coil, an output change-over switch for changing over an output of the rectifier circuit to either one of a battery and a high-voltage electric load mounted on the motor vehicle, and a voltage regulator for regulating an exciting current supplied to the field coil in dependence on a terminal voltage of the battery as detected on a charging line connected to the battery by way of the output change-over switch upon charging of the battery from the output of the rectifier circuit, to thereby regulate the output voltage of the AC generator.

Abstract: A power supply system equipped with a power generating unit including an alternating-current generator and a rectifier for rectifying the generated output of the alternating-current generator. In addition, a switching relay is provided between a low-voltage load and a high-voltage load for selectively supplying the generated output from the power generating unit to one of the low-voltage load and high-voltage load. A field current control unit controls a field current flowing into a field winding of an AC generator and a high-voltage load control unit controls a switching operation of the switching relay and further controls the field current control unit in accordance with a state of the high-voltage load.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical generation system for a motor vehicle provides voltage regulation in a normal mode to maintain a sensed battery voltage at a target value. Also, the system maintains effective fault mode voltage regulation at a target value in the event that the signal representing sensed battery voltage becomes corrupted. The system allows the normal mode target value and the fault mode target value to be chosen as closely together as desired. The system further allows, if desired, temporary voltage regulation at a higher voltage for higher-voltage electrical loads.

Abstract: An error amplifier feedback capacitor located between the signal output and the signal input of an error amplifier stage of a voltage regulator is removed, particularly preventing that charge stored on this capacitor should act through an overload protection circuit of a voltage regulator so protected so as to undesirably turn off the output driver (as if there was an overload) in an oscillatory manner, undesirably causing a "pulsing" or "hunting" upon the occasion(s) of high alternator field drive currents. Meanwhile, a new capacitor that is located across a leg of the input voltage divider stage of the voltage regulator and that is called a voltage divider capacitor, is substituted. The combined effect of the (i) removal and (ii) substitution substantially eliminates "ghosts", or such low frequency noise as is commonly called "commutator noise", in any voltage regulator, including those that are optionally protected against failure due to overload.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a primary side circuit, a transformer, a secondary side circuit and a control circuit. The secondary side circuit includes a first output unit and a second output unit. The battery charges a main battery and an auxiliary battery. The first output unit, which is connected to a main battery, includes an integrated rectifier-converter and a smoothing circuit. The integrated rectifier-converter is formed using MOSFETs. When charging the auxiliary battery with power from the main battery, power from the main battery is converted by the integrated rectifier-converter to AC power which induces power in an output winding of a transformer connected to the auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A multi-battery charging system for reduced fuel consumption and emissions for an automotive vehicle. The system starts the vehicle with a start battery in a fuel savings manner, removing electrical torque from the alternator shaft, and allows a second (run) battery to provide all or some of the current required by the vehicle loads as a fuel savings measure. The system also utilizes an electrically heated catalytic converter (EHC) and a third (EHC or storage) battery to provide a 3 to 15 second preheat and/or a 20 second current, during vehicle start, to the EHC heater coil, e.g., of a small EHC located in series with a standard catalytic converter for emissions reduction to reduce emissions during start. The start battery is recharged after start and switched out of the system fully charged for future vehicle starts.

Abstract: A highly reliable and low cost power supply unit for vehicles is provided which allows the control operation of a high voltage load controller to be carried out easily. When electric power is supplied from a generator 1A to a high voltage load 5, a change-over relay 4A is switched so that a battery 6a is connected to the high voltage load 5 to excite a field winding 12 of the generator. A first diode 21 and a second diode 22 are provided so that when the electric power generated by the generator the current generated by the generator is prevented from flowing into a vehicle system voltage load 6 including a battery 6a.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: A state of a plurality of switches for performing application and cutoff of a plurality of electrical loads is stored in a memory circuit. A pattern of supply power after application of the load for each of the plurality of electrical loads and a load response priority order assigned previously to each of the electrical loads are stored in a memory table. A control circuit identifies a newly applied load on the basis of the turned-on state of the plurality of switches stored in the memory circuit and instructs an electric power supply circuit to supply electric power in accordance with the supply power pattern corresponding to the identified load, while the control circuit prohibits application of the newly applied electrical load when an electrical load having the load response priority order higher than that of the newly applied electrical load has been already applied. The memory table may store consumption power and an application priority order assigned previously to each of the electrical loads.

Abstract: A method for determining gross engine horsepower of an internal combustion engine coupled in driving relationship to an alternating current electric alternator, the alternator supplying electric power to variable loads, comprises measuring the field current and average per phase armature current supplied by the alternator; computing the magnitude of electric power supplied by the alternator from the measured values of field current and armature phase current; determining the engine efficiency at the computed magnitude of electric power; and converting the computed electric power to engine horsepower at the determined efficiency.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for a DC power generation system which is comprised of a prime mover driven generator producing an AC voltage output which is rectified to a DC voltage output for use by the system senses the AC voltage output and the DC voltage output, and selects the lower of these two for comparison with a voltage reference to produce a voltage error output signal for use in controlling the DC voltage output. The voltage regulator further comprises tuned compensation of the error output signal prior to use in controlling the DC voltage output. The tuned compensation comprises a proportional-integral lead-lag network. The voltage regulator additionally senses the AC current generated by the generator, and adjusts at least one zero location of the compensation network in response thereto to improve stability margins during light loading conditions, and to improve transient performance requirements under heavier loading conditions.

Abstract: A control scheme for a wound rotor synchronous generator whereby feedback signals corresponding to the exciter field current and the generator output voltage potential combine together to control the generator output voltage in such a way that at lower generator speeds and lower load requirements, exciter field current saturation is eliminated by reducing generator output voltage. The generator control scheme includes a circuit for sensing exciter field current in logic cooperation with a circuit for sensing generator voltage. Both sensing circuits regulate the current applied to the exciter field which corresponds to the rectified current applied to the field windings of the power generator. During steady state operations the generator output voltage is regulated using the generator output voltage as a feedback signal.