Vehicle power controller

• US 20090167216A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Hiroshi, Soma, Takaya, Mogari, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,120,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/376
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A power controller alleviating change of braking feeling caused by reduced regenerative braking force is provided. Energy generated by regenerative braking is used for charging a capacitor. The charging power P(C) is calculated and whether P(C) has reached a maximum value WMAX of predetermined limit control value WIN(C) or not is determined. If P(C) is determined to have reached WMAX WIN(C) is regulated to be smaller from that time point.

Claims

1. A power controller for a vehicle including a rotating electric machine for running that generates electric power at the time of regenerative braking, said controller comprising:

a capacitor connected to said rotating electric machine and charged with energy of said generated electric power; and

a control unit connected to said capacitor;

wherein

said control unit calculates charging power to said capacitor,

determines whether said charging power has reached a predetermined limit charging power to said capacitor or not, and

regulates said limit charging power to said capacitor to be smaller from the time point when said charging power has reached said limit charging power to said capacitor.

2. The power controller according to claim 1, further comprising

a detecting unit detecting a voltage of said capacitor;

wherein

said control unit regulates said limit charging power to said capacitor to be made small in accordance with the voltage of said capacitor, in control of said charging power.

3. The power controller according to claim 2, wherein

said control unit regulates said limit charging power to said capacitor to be made smaller when the voltage of said capacitor is high than when the voltage is low, in control of said charging power.

4. The power controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a converter connected to said rotating electric machine in parallel with said capacitor, for converting and outputting voltage of energy of said generated electric power; and

a secondary battery connected to said converter and charged with said converted energy.

5. The power controller according to claim 4, wherein

said control unit switches between preferentially charging said secondary battery with said energy of generated electric power and preferentially charging said capacitor with said energy of generated electric power, by controlling said converter.

6. The power controller according to claim 4, wherein

said control unit increases limit charging power to said secondary battery as said limit charging power to said capacitor is made smaller, by controlling said converter.

7. A power controller for a vehicle including a rotating electric machine for running that generates electric power at the time of regenerative braking, said controller comprising:

a capacitor connected to said rotating electric machine and charged with energy of said generated electric power;

means for calculating charging power to said capacitor;

means for determining whether said charging power has reached a predetermined limit charging power to said capacitor or not; and

control means for regulating said limit charging power to said capacitor to be smaller from the time point when said charging power has reached said limit charging power to said capacitor.

8. The power controller according to claim 7, further comprising

means for detecting a voltage of said capacitor;

wherein

said control means includes means for regulating said limit charging power to said capacitor to be made small in accordance with the voltage of said capacitor.

9. The power controller according to claim 8, wherein

said control means includes means for regulating said limit charging power to said capacitor to be made smaller when the voltage of said capacitor is high than when the voltage is low.

10. The power controller according to claim 7, further comprising:

a converter connected to said rotating electric machine in parallel with said capacitor, for converting and outputting voltage of energy of said generated electric power; and

a secondary battery connected to said converter and charged with said converted energy.

11. The power controller according to claim 10, further comprising

means for switching between preferentially charging said secondary battery with said energy of generated electric power and preferentially charging said capacitor with said energy of generated electric power, by controlling said converter.

12. The power controller according to claim 10, comprising

means for increasing limit charging power to said secondary battery as limit charging power to said capacitor is made smaller, by controlling said converter.