Patent ID: 7795825

Claim:
A method of voltage supply management for an electric drive system, the electric drive system including a fuel-driven engine having an output for driving an electrical power generator, the electrical power generator providing power to one or more electric drive motors via a supply link, the method comprising: receiving a voltage signal indicative of a voltage in the supply link; receiving one or more condition signals indicative of an operating condition of the electric drive system; calculating a desired voltage value based on the voltage signal and the one or more condition signals; differencing the desired voltage value and the voltage signal to yield a voltage error signal indicating an extent to which the voltage signal diverges from the desired voltage value; and determining whether the voltage error signal is indicative of an over-voltage condition or of an under-voltage condition and dissipating power from the supply link if the voltage error signal is indicative of the over-voltage condition, and imposing a torque command limit with respect to the one or more electric drive motors if the voltage error signal is indicative of the under-voltage condition.