Abstract: Two or more alternators—each typically of an economical cost and of any mixture of types and capacities—are turned by a single power source—normally the engine of a large commercial truck or bus burning fuel so as to produce minimum emissions and thus operating at such higher combustion temperature as does raises the ambient temperature of the engine compartment to 125° Celsius. The several alternators are electrically connected in tandem-parallel across a battery/load. A corresponding number of identical electronic voltage regulators, preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,972 modified according to the present invention, respectively individually control the alternators. One electronic voltage regulators externally programmed to become a designated “master” produces a “universal” control signal in response to variations in a voltage across the battery/load.

Abstract: A Frequency-On-Demand type voltage regulator firstly has its power output circuit configured as a resettable monostable multivibrator that provides (1) a stable time-base that serves as an internal “OFF”-period reference; preferably also with (2) short-circuit protection to the output power transistor; and (3) a pulse train with sharply defined “ON” and “OFF” transitions as the result of the interaction between the Output and Input Stages of the Power Output Circuit through a first AC Feedback Network. The “ON” and “OFF” transitions are preferably rounded-off. Secondly, yet another, second, AC feedback network is added between the Output Stage of the Power Output Circuit and the Error-Detector/Voltage Divider Stage of the Frequency-On-Demand type voltage regulator.

Abstract: An output stage of a conventional Frequency-on-Demand electronic voltage regulator, such as a voltage regulator of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,033, is reconfigured as a bi-stable multivibrator, or flip-flop. An oscillator provides a reset pulse of pre-defined pulse width and pulse period to initiate an “on” period of the output stage; a conventional error amplifier synchronously switches the output stage “off” when a system voltage reaches a preset value. Voltage regulation by a constant-frequency, pulse-width-modulated, output signal is thus realized at reduced cost and complexity. Total capacitance between the gate-source terminals of a preferred MOS power output transistor serves to slow both negative- and positive-going output control signal transitions, introducing a minimum of electrical noise into the vehicle's electrical system.

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: Two or more alternators--each typically of an economical cost and of any mixture of types and capacities--are turned by a single motive power source--normally the engine of a large commercial truck or bus. The several alternators are electrically connected in tandem-parallel across a battery/load. A corresponding number of electronic voltage regulators, preferably of the type described in patent application Ser. No. 08/645,611, respectively individually control the alternators. One electronic voltage regulator that is modified to become a designated master produces a "universal" control signal in response to variations in a voltage across the battery/load. This "universal" control signal is further used in the master electronic voltage regulator itself to develop a conventional signal providing regulation to an associated alternator.

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: An electronic voltage regulator, particularly a regulator of the voltage of a field coil of an alternator within a motor vehicle, is protected against catastrophic failure of its output transistor due to a short-circuit overload by action of a direct current (d.c.) electrical path within the circuit of the regulator. The d.c. path, preferably a single diode, discharges an existing capacitor present within an alternating current (a.c.) feedback path between the regulator's output transistor and its error amplifier stage. This discharge causes the output transistor to break into a safe, and non-destructive, oscillation for the duration of any overload. The same electronic voltage regulator is further, optionally, protected against a catastrophic failure of its output transistor due to a loss of the reference voltage supplied to the regulator. This protection is obtained by action of yet another, second, direct current (d.c.) electrical path. This second d.c.