Hybrid amperage regulation power system

• US 10,442,311 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Bryan Lewis
• Original Assignee: David Bryan Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, David Bryan, Fries, David Patrick, Uhlig, Andrew Paul, Novoa, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou, Zixuan
• Application Number:
  US15/233,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20180043784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 320103, 320109, 320166, 320167
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A power system includes an input node connected to a power source of a vehicle, an output node connected to a load of the vehicle, a super capacitor connected to the output node, a battery connected to a first node, and a contactor coupled between the battery and the super capacitor. The contactor is configured to be turned on to charge the super capacitor with power from the battery in a fast charge mode.

Claims

1. A process of regulating amperage to charge a power system, the power system comprising a power source of a vehicle, a battery, a super capacitor and a load, the method comprising:

determining whether the super capacitor needs to be charged;

determining whether the load is being operated;

determining whether to charge the battery;

in response to a determination to charge the super capacitor and in response to determination to charge the battery based on a charge mode of vehicle ignition power and load operation, determine one of a plurality of current paths to charge the super capacitor and the battery; and

operating the power system in a fast charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is being operated,

wherein operating the power system in the fast charge mode comprises;

switching on a contactor coupled to the battery and the super capacitor to establish a first current path of the plurality of current paths between the battery and the super capacitor; and

after the first current path is established between the battery and the super capacitor, charging the super capacitor with power from the battery via the contactor.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the fast charge mode is terminated when a voltage of the super capacitor is not less than a voltage of the battery.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising operating the power system in a slow charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged while the load is not being operated,

wherein the operating the power system in the slow charge mode comprises:

switching off the contactor;

boosting power from the power source or the battery; and

charging the super capacitor with the boosted power via a second current path of the plurality of current paths.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the boosting the power comprises:

determining whether the vehicle ignition power is on or off;

boosting the power from the power source when the vehicle ignition power is on; and

boosting the power from the battery when the vehicle ignition power is off.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle ignition power is on;

determining whether the battery needs to be charged; and

operating the power system in a battery charge mode when the vehicle ignition power is on, the super capacitor does not need to be charged and the battery needs to be charged,

wherein the operating the power system in the battery charge mode comprises;

boosting the power from the power source; and

charging the battery with the boosted power.

6. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium embodying a computer readable program having computer readable instructions which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a process of operating a power system, the power system comprising a power source of a vehicle, a battery, a super capacitor and a load, the instructions comprising:

instructions for determining whether the super capacitor needs to be charged;

instructions for determining whether the load is being operated;

instructions to determine whether to charge the battery;

in response to a determination to charge the super capacitor and in response to determination to charge the battery based on a charge mode of vehicle ignition power and load operation, instructions for determining one of a plurality of current paths to charge the super capacitor based on a charge mode of the vehicle; and

instructions for operating the power system in a fast charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is being operated,

wherein the instructions for operating the power system in the fast charge mode comprise;

instructions for switching on a contactor coupled to the battery and the super capacitor to establish a first current path of the plurality of current paths between the battery and the super capacitor; and

after the first current path is established between the battery and the super capacitor, instructions for charging the super capacitor with power from the battery.

7. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 6, the instructions further comprise instructions for terminating the fast charge mode when a voltage of the super capacitor is not less than a voltage of the battery.

8. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 6, the instructions further comprise instructions for operating the power system in a slow charge mode when the super capacitor needs to be charged and the load is not being operated,

wherein the instructions for operating the power system in the slow charge mode comprise:

instructions for boosting power from the power source or the battery; and

instructions for charging the super capacitor with the boosted power.

9. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions for boosting the power comprise:

instructions for determining whether the vehicle ignition power is on or off;

instructions for boosting the power from the power source when the vehicle ignition power is on; and

instructions for boosting the power from the battery when the vehicle ignition power is off.

10. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 6, the instructions further comprising:

instructions for determining whether the vehicle ignition power is on;

instructions for determining whether the battery needs to be charged; and

instructions for operating the power system in a battery charge mode when the vehicle ignition power is on, the super capacitor does not need to be charged and the battery needs to be charged,

wherein the instructions for operating in the battery charge mode comprise;

instructions for boosting the power form the power source; and

instructions for charging the battery with the boosted power.