Power controller for a vehicle

• US 20010019224A1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Masaki, Ryoso, Morooka, Yasuo, Amano, Masahiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,806,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0896 Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A power controller for a vehicle can operate electrical load upon stopping of engine or turning OFF of a key switch, and lowering of remaining capacity of a main battery can be prevented. The control system has a control portion controlling operation of a power generator and an electrical load mounted on an automotive vehicle. The control system also includes remaining capacity measuring means for measuring a remaining capacity of a battery. The control portion drives a predetermined power load when an engine is stopped or a key switch is held OFF, and operation of the power load is stopped when a remaining capacity of the battery measured by the remaining capacity measuring means becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A control system for an automotive power source system having a control portion controlling operation of a power generator and an electrical load mounted on an automotive vehicle, comprising:

remaining capacity measuring means for measuring a remaining capacity of a battery,

said control portion driving a predetermined power load when an engine is stopped or a key switch is held OFF, and operation of said power load being stopped when a remaining capacity of the battery measured by said remaining capacity measuring means becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

2. A control system for an automotive power source system as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said control portion sets a plurality of threshold values of the remaining capacity corresponding preference of said power load to sequentially stop the power load having low preference in sequential order according to lowering of remaining capacity of the battery.

3. A control system for an automotive power source system as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said control portion operates a predetermined power load when the engine is stopped or the key switch is held OFF to start up the engine when the remaining capacity of the battery is lowered below a predetermined value.

4. A control system for an automotive power source system as set forth in

claim 3

, which comprises a switch for determining whether starting up of engine is permitted or not when the key switch is held OFF,

said control portion starts up the engine only when said switch is ON, when said key switch is OFF.

5. A control system for an automotive power source system as set forth in

claim 3

, which further comprises means for inputting a remaining amount information of fuel,

said control portion stops the engine when remaining amount of fuel becomes smaller than a predetermined value after starting up the engine.

6. A control system for an automotive power source system as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said control portion stops operation of said power load when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes smaller than a predetermined value, and stops operation of said control system per se.

7. A control system for an automotive power source system as set forth in

claim 6

, wherein said control portion resumes operation when the key switch is turned ON after once stopping the operation of the control portion per se.

8. A control system for an automotive power source system having a control portion controlling a power generator or power load mounted on an automotive vehicle, comprising:

remaining capacity measuring means for measuring a remaining capacity of a battery, a main battery, an auxiliary battery and a voltage converter for charging from the main battery to the auxiliary battery,

said control portion operating said voltage converter when engine is stopped or key switch is held OFF and stopping operation of said voltage converter when remaining capacity of the main battery is lowered below a predetermined value.