Electrically Powered Vehicle

• US 20090184681A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuno, Hiromichi
• Application Number:
  US12/227,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/28 polyphase motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 : Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2209/01 : Motors with neutral point connected to the power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

In a charge/discharge mode, an inverter performs power conversion between a power storage device and a commercial power supply electrically connected to a neutral point through a power line. In the charge/discharge mode, ECU sets a carrier frequency of the inverter to a frequency higher than in a running mode. Further, in the charge/discharge mode, a drive circuit drives the inverter using a gate resistance higher than in the running mode.

Claims

1. An electrically powered vehicle, comprising:

a rotating electric machine;

an inverter device capable of driving said rotating electric machine;

a power storage device supplying/receiving electric power to/from said inverter device; and

a controller controlling said inverter device either in a first operation mode in which said rotating electric machine is driven to rotate, or in a second operation mode in which said inverter device is operated as a voltage converter supplying and receiving electric power between said power storage device and a power supply or an electric load outside the vehicle;

wherein

in said second operation mode, said controller reduces prescribed noise generated from said inverter device than in said first operation mode, by changing either switching frequency or switching speed of a switching element included in said inverter device from that in the first operation mode.

2. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said prescribed noise is sound noise;

and

in said second operation mode, said controller changes said carrier frequency in a direction closer to inaudible range than in said first operation mode.

3. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said controller sets said carrier frequency to a first frequency in said first operation mode, and sets said carrier frequency to a second frequency higher than said first frequency in said second operation mode.

4. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

said second frequency is in inaudible range.

5. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

in said second operation mode, said controller changes said carrier frequency only in a preset late night hours.

6. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising

a noise sensor for detecting noise level around the vehicle;

wherein

in said second operation mode, said controller changes said carrier frequency only when the noise level detected by said noise sensor is lower than a reference value.

7. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising

an instruction input unit allowing a user to input instruction to inhibit change of said carrier frequency;

wherein

said controller stops change of said carrier frequency when the change of said carrier frequency is inhibited by said instruction input unit.

8. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said prescribed noise is noise to said power supply or to said electric load caused by surge voltage generated in association with an on/off operation of said switching element;

and

in said second operation mode, said controller lowers switching speed of said switching element than in said first operation mode.

9. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising

a drive circuit driving said switching element in accordance with an instruction applied from said controller;

wherein

said drive circuit includes

a first gate resistance used in the first operation mode, and

a second gate resistance used in the second operation mode, having a resistance value larger than said first gate resistance.

10. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said rotating electric machine includes a star-connected first poly-phase winding as a stator winding;

said electrically powered vehicle further comprising;

another rotating electric machine including a star-connected second poly-phase winding as a stator winding; and

a connecting device configured to allow electric power supply and reception between a first neutral point of said first poly-phase winding, a second neutral point of said second poly-phase winding and said power supply or said electric load;

wherein

said inverter device includes

a first inverter capable of driving said rotating electric machine, and

a second inverter capable of driving said another rotating electric machine; and

said controller controls said first and second inverters such that in said second operation mode, electric power is supplied and received between said power storage device and said power supply or said electric load connected to said first and second neutral points by said connecting device.

11. The electrically powered vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

when said power storage device is charged from said power supply in said second operation mode, said controller boosts a voltage supplied from said power supply by using said first and second poly-phase windings as reactors and controlling said first and second inverters such that said first and second inverters operate as legs of said voltage converter.