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Systems, methods and devices are described for controlling a vehicle electrical generator. A regulator for controlling a generator in response to an input signal received from a control module suitably includes a discriminator module, a processing module and a switching circuit. The discriminator de

Systems, methods and devices are described for controlling a vehicle electrical generator. A regulator for controlling a generator in response to an input signal received from a control module suitably includes a discriminator module, a processing module and a switching circuit. The discriminator determines whether the regulator is operating in voltage or torque control mode. If the input signal is a voltage control, the output generator produces a modulation signal to produce a desired voltage between two battery terminals. If the input signal is a torque control, the output generator produces one or more modulation signals (e.g. pulse width modulation signals) to control the torque of the generator. The modulation signals are applied across a field coil or other controllable element of the generator by a switching circuit that applies positive and/or negative voltage from the battery terminals as appropriate.

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What is claimed is: 1. 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 processi

What is claimed is: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. The regulator of claim 2, wherein the discriminator is a frequency discriminator. 4. The regulator of claim 2 wherein the first and second switches are transistors. 5. The regulator of claim 4 wherein the modulation signal comprises a first portion provided to the first switch and a second portion provided to the second switch. 6. 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. 7. The regulator of claim 6 wherein the switching circuit is further configured to provide a positive voltage across the field coil when the first and second transistors are active, and to provide a negative voltage across the field coil when the first and second transistors are inactive. 8. 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. 9. The generator assembly of claim 8 wherein the switching circuit is further configured to temporarily reverse the polarity of the battery voltage applied across the controllable element when the input signal is a torque control. 10. The generator assembly of claim 8 wherein the switching circuit comprises: a first transistor operatively located between the first battery terminal and a first terminal of the controllable element and operable to couple the first terminal of the controllable element 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 controllable element and operable to couple the second terminal of the controllable element to the second battery terminal in response to the second modulation signal; a first uni-directionally conducting device operatively located between the first transistor and the second battery terminal; and a second uni-directionally conducting device operatively located between the second transistor and the first battery terminal. 11. 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. 12. The regulator of claim 2, wherein the discriminator is a voltage amplitude discriminator. 13. The regulator of claim 2 wherein the first and second uni-directionally conducting devices are diodes.