Patent ID: 7283899

Claim:
A method for controlling an amount of torque loading of a vehicle alternator on an engine, the alternator having a rotor, a stator, and a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator having a microprocessor, the method comprising: determining a first value indicative of a rotational speed of the rotor at the first time, utilizing the microprocessor in the voltage regulator; determining a second value indicative of an amount of current being output by the stator of the alternator at substantially the first time, utilizing the microprocessor; determining a first torque loading value that is indicative of a relative amount of torque loading associated with the alternator, based on first and second values, utilizing the microprocessor; determining a third value indicative of a rotational speed of the rotor at a second time, utilizing the microprocessor, the second time being after the first time; determining a fourth value indicative of an amount of current being output by the stator of the alternator at substantially the second time, utilizing the microproccessor; determining a second torque loading value that is indicative of the relative amount of torque loading associated with the alternator, based on third and fourth values, utilizing the microprocessor; and adjusting a duty cycle of a signal being applied to the field coil of the rotor based on the first and second torque loading values such that the amount of torque loading of the alternator is maintained within a desired torque loading range.