Apparatus for supplying power for a vehicle

• US 20050099160A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Horii, Hiroaki, Asaumi, Hisao
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying power for a vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery, a switching device, a monitoring device and a control device. The first battery is electrically connected to load devices which are mounted on the vehicle. The second battery serves as a backup power source. The switching device switches the first and second batteries. The monitoring device monitors remaining capacity for each of the first and second batteries. When the control device determines that the remaining capacity of the second battery is less than the remaining capacity of the first battery based on information monitored by the monitoring device, the control device controls the switching device so as to conduct switching of the first and second batteries.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying power for a vehicle comprising:

a first battery electrically connected to load devices which are mounted on the vehicle;

a second battery serving as a backup power source;

a switching device for switching the first and second batteries;

a monitoring device for monitoring remaining capacity for each of the first and second batteries; and

a control device, wherein when the control device determines that the remaining capacity of the second battery is less than the remaining capacity of the first battery based on information monitored by the monitoring device, the control device controls the switching device so as to conduct switching of the first and second batteries.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power generator mounted on the vehicle for charging the first and second batteries; and

a charge controller for controlling charging of the first and second batteries such that the second battery is charged more than the first battery.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the vehicle is in operation, the charge controller controls such that one of the power generator and the first battery continuously supplies a predetermined amount of power to the second battery.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the charge controller has charge protection against charging of the first battery conducted by the second battery.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency switching device which executes switching from the first battery to the second battery when the remaining capacity of the second battery is greater than the remaining capacity of the first battery.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load devices comprise a by-wire system for controlling electromechanical components of the vehicle by electric signals.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the by-wire system comprises a steer-by-wire system.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the by-wire system comprises a brake-by-wire system.