Patent ID: 7915748

Claim:
An AC electrical generator system mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle having a prime mover controlled by a control system and a mechanical output operable to transfer rotational energy from the prime mover, wherein the rotational energy is transferred with a rotational speed in a finite range, the AC electrical generator system comprising: an AC electrical generator operable to produce AC electrical energy at a target frequency when rotated a target speed; a frequency sensor operable to determine the frequency of the AC electricity generated by said AC electrical generator a continuously variable transmission, coupling the mechanical output to said AC electrical generator; said continuously variable transmission having a finite variable transmission ratio; and a controller coupled to said continuously variable transmission operable to control said finite variable transmission ratio based at least in part on the determined frequency of the AC electricity generated by said AC electrical generator such that the rotational energy from the mechanical output rotates said AC electrical generator substantially at the target speed to generate AC electricity at the target frequency.